Genesis 37 23

Genesis 37:23 kjv

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him;

Genesis 37:23 nkjv

So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him.

Genesis 37:23 niv

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe?the ornate robe he was wearing?

Genesis 37:23 esv

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.

Genesis 37:23 nlt

So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing.

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 23 meaning

Genesis 37:23 describes the pivotal moment when Joseph, upon approaching his brothers in the field, is forcibly divested of the distinctive garment his father, Jacob, had given him. This act was not merely the removal of a piece of clothing; it was a deliberate and public expression of the brothers' hatred, a stripping away of their father’s favor from Joseph, and the initiation of his long ordeal of suffering. It symbolized the abrupt end of Joseph's elevated status within the family and his subsequent descent into servitude.

Genesis 37 23 Context

Genesis 37 introduces the "generations of Jacob," but immediately focuses on Joseph, the son of Jacob’s old age and Rachel. Jacob openly favored Joseph, making him a "tunic of many colors" (kethoneth passim). This preferential treatment, combined with Joseph's prophetic dreams implying his brothers bowing down to him, fueled intense jealousy and hatred among his ten older brothers. This chapter sets the stage for a dramatic turning point in Joseph's life and, consequently, in the lineage of Abraham. Joseph's brothers saw him approaching them in Dothan, where they were tending the flock. The stripping of his tunic, detailed in this verse, is their immediate and direct response to their seething animosity, marking the practical execution of their sinister plan against him, which progresses to throwing him into a pit and ultimately selling him into slavery. Historically, clothing in the ancient Near East conveyed status, identity, and often family affiliation. Removing a special garment was a profound act of dishonor, signifying the severing of family ties and the stripping of dignity and authority.

Genesis 37 23 Word analysis

• So it came about, when Joseph came to his brothers:

  • וַיְהִי (vay'hi, "and it happened, so it came about"): A common Hebrew narrative connector, indicating a sequential event, often leading to a significant turning point.
  • כְּבוֹא יוֹסֵף (kevo' Yôsēf, "when Joseph came"): Emphasizes Joseph's physical presence and vulnerability. He approaches, unaware of the full depth of their hatred.
  • אֶל־אֶחָיו (ʾel-ʾeḥāyw, "to his brothers"): Highlights the familial betrayal. Those who should have protected him became his aggressors.

• that they stripped Joseph of his tunic,

  • וַיַּפְשִׁ֣יטוּ (vayyapšiṭū, "and they stripped"): From the root pāšaṭ (פָּשַׁט), meaning to strip off, pull off, draw off, despoil. This verb implies force, an act of unclothing. It’s an active, aggressive removal, not a passive act of being undressed. It's a forceful act of dehumanization and rejection.
  • אֶת־יוֹסֵף (ʾet-Yôsēf, "Joseph"): Directly identifies the victim. The brothers directly inflicted this humiliation upon him.
  • אֶת־כֻּתָּנְתּוֹ (ʾet-kuttānto, "his tunic"): This is the garment that distinguished him. The Hebrew kuttōnet (כֻּתֹּנֶת) refers to a long inner garment, like a shirt or tunic, usually reaching to the knees or ankles, and could have long or short sleeves. It's the same word used for Adam and Eve's coverings and for priestly garments.

• the tunic of many colors that was on him;

  • כְּתֹנֶת הַפַּסִּים (kethōnet happassîm, "tunic of the stripes/long sleeves/many colors"): This is the crucial descriptive phrase. While traditionally translated "of many colors," modern scholarship often interprets passîm (פַּסִּים) as referring to a long tunic reaching the palms of the hands and/or feet, implying a garment with long sleeves or ankle-length, distinct from simpler working tunics. This style was indicative of one who did not engage in manual labor, likely a garment of leisure, honor, or distinction—possibly even royal or high-status. It signified Jacob's unique favor, a gift implying inheritance rights or elevated status, provoking jealousy.
  • אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו (ʾăšer ʿālāyw, "which was on him"): Emphasizes that he was wearing it, making the act of stripping an immediate, visible defilement of his person and the paternal favor upon him.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "When Joseph came to his brothers": Sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation between the unsuspecting beloved son and his hateful siblings. It underlines Joseph's innocence and the brothers' treachery.
  • "They stripped Joseph of his tunic": This phrase details the initial act of aggression. The verb "stripped" (vayyapšiṭū) denotes an immediate, forceful, and public act of denigration, marking Joseph’s removal from their father's favor.
  • "The tunic of many colors that was on him": This specific garment is central to the narrative. It’s not just any tunic; it's the symbol of Jacob's special affection and possibly a sign of Joseph's elevated status among his brothers. Its forcible removal is a symbolic dismantling of his identity and perceived position of authority within the family. It implies the brothers are asserting their own will over their father's.

Genesis 37 23 Bonus section

• Foreshadowing of Christ: The forced stripping of Joseph's garment directly parallels Jesus's humiliation and stripping of His clothes by Roman soldiers before His crucifixion (Matt 27:28; Jn 19:23-24). Both were innocent, betrayed by their own people, and subjected to public dishonor. The "tunic of many colors" might be seen as prefiguring Christ's royal lineage and divine favor.
• The Symbolism of Clothing: In biblical narratives, clothing often symbolizes status, identity, honor, and even spiritual state. To be clothed (especially by a king or father) meant honor; to be stripped meant shame and disgrace (Eze 16:39; Hos 2:3). This act initiates Joseph's journey where he must lose everything before being divinely reclothed and re-honored.
• Act of Dehumanization: Stripping a person was a common practice in the ancient Near East to humiliate, expose, and render a victim powerless, often as a prelude to slavery or execution. It signals a complete lack of regard for the victim's personhood.

Genesis 37 23 Commentary

Genesis 37:23 marks the chilling beginning of Joseph’s suffering. The stripping of his special tunic, the kethoneth passim, was far more than disrobing; it was an act of profound symbolic violence. The garment represented Jacob's overwhelming favor and Joseph's perceived superiority, likely indicating he would receive a greater portion of the inheritance. By forcibly removing it, the brothers aimed to divest Joseph of his dignity, strip away his identity as a beloved son, and symbolically reject their father's preferential treatment. This calculated humiliation was the first step in their scheme to remove Joseph as a threat to their own status and future, transforming him from a privileged son into a naked, vulnerable object ready for sale. It powerfully foreshadows the stripping of Christ, who was likewise betrayed by His own, humiliated, and stripped of His garments before His ultimate suffering. This scene reminds us of how human envy can lead to heinous acts and the deconstruction of familial bonds.