Genesis 37:3 kjv

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.

Genesis 37:3 nkjv

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors.

Genesis 37:3 niv

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him.

Genesis 37:3 esv

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.

Genesis 37:3 nlt

Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph ? a beautiful robe.

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 3 Meaning

Genesis 37:3 introduces the foundational reason for the discord within Jacob's family and the subsequent unfolding of Joseph's life. It states that Israel (Jacob) deeply loved Joseph above all his other sons because Joseph was the child born to him in his advanced age through his most beloved wife, Rachel. As an overt expression of this preferential affection, Jacob commissioned and gifted Joseph a special, distinctive tunic, often translated as a "coat of many colors" or "long-sleeved robe." This singular act of partiality immediately distinguished Joseph, marking him with favor and unique status, thus becoming a direct catalyst for his brothers' intense envy and subsequent malicious actions.

Genesis 37 3 Context

Genesis 37:3 is the pivotal point in the story of Joseph, initiating the patriarchal narrative's shift from Jacob's personal history to the fortunes of his most prominent son. Chapter 37 begins by introducing Joseph, seventeen years old, working alongside his brothers in shepherding, bringing back a bad report about them to their father (Gen 37:1-2). This verse directly follows, establishing Jacob's unique love for Joseph as the core dynamic within the family. Historically and culturally, patriarchal families in the Ancient Near East often experienced power struggles, and while a father's deep love was natural, publicly displaying favoritism could destabilize family harmony and inheritance patterns, leading to intense sibling rivalry, a recurring theme in Genesis (e.g., Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau). The subsequent verses immediately detail the brothers' intense hatred (Gen 37:4) and Joseph's provocative dreams (Gen 37:5-11), which only escalate their animosity and lead to Joseph's eventual betrayal and sale into slavery, setting the stage for the fulfillment of God's wider redemptive plan for Israel.

Genesis 37 3 Word analysis

• Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el): While referring to Jacob, the text uses his divinely given name, "Israel" ("He struggles with God" or "God contends"), emphasizing his status as the covenant patriarch from whom the nation will descend. This use of "Israel" highlights the tragic irony: the chosen line, now unified under one father (Israel), is deeply divided internally due to favoritism.
• loved (אָהַב, 'ahav): Denotes a deep emotional affection and preference. The active verb "loved" underscores Jacob's personal and strong feeling, making his partiality undeniable. It's not passive, but a deliberate inclination.
• Joseph (יוֹסֵף, Yosef): Meaning "He adds" or "May he add," from the Hebrew verb yasaf. Rachel's naming him reflected her hope for another son (Gen 30:24). This name ironically foreshadows his role not only in adding wealth and power in Egypt but also in preserving and increasing his family, despite their intent to diminish him.
• more than all his children (מִכָּל-בָּנָיו, mikol-banaw): Literally, "from all his sons." This phrase makes Jacob's favoritism explicit and undeniable, distinguishing Joseph above the eleven other sons (excluding Benjamin, not yet born or too young for the "all his children" active context of this passage which focuses on the working sons). This direct comparison immediately establishes Joseph as the object of unique affection.
• because (כִּי, ki): A conjunction introducing the reason or explanation for Jacob's preferential love, making his motive clear.
• he was the son of his old age (בֶן-זְקֻנִים הוּא לוֹ, ben-zequnim hu lo): Literally, "a son of old age, he [was] to him." This phrase explains why Joseph was particularly dear. While not the last son born to Jacob (Benjamin was), Joseph was the first son of Rachel, Jacob's beloved wife, born after years of her barrenness and when Jacob himself was relatively advanced in years (around 90 years old). This often denotes a special child, often born when the parents might have given up hope, or a child that represents a culminating joy or legacy.
• he made him (וְעָשָׂה לוֹ, ve'asah lo): "And he made for him." This verb indicates a deliberate and public act, demonstrating the love tangibly through a gift, rather than merely feeling it.
• a coat (כְּתֹנֶת, ketonet): A tunic, a basic garment worn close to the skin. However, in this specific instance, its meaning is significantly elaborated by the following word.
• of many colors (פַּסִּים, passim): This Hebrew word's precise meaning is debated but carries significant implications.
  • Many colors: The most popular rendering (from the Greek Septuagint's "poikilon" meaning variegated), suggesting a vibrantly dyed, ornate, luxurious garment, standing out amidst simpler working clothes.
  • With long sleeves / Full length: Scholars also interpret passim as "reaching to the palms (of the hands) and soles (of the feet)." This implies a full-length, long-sleeved robe. Such a garment was impractical for physical labor and denoted a person of leisure, authority, or high social status, contrasting sharply with the attire of shepherds. This interpretation is strengthened by its only other use in 2 Sam 13:18, where it describes the robe of a virgin princess (Tamar).

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children": This phrase establishes the central relational dynamic of favoritism. It highlights Jacob's deep personal bias and underscores the violation of impartial love that should ideally bind a family, particularly one chosen by God to become a nation. This partiality creates a potent internal division.
• "because he was the son of his old age": This clause provides the parental rationale for the favoritism. It presents a human, relatable reason (a child of profound love and perhaps a perceived final blessing in life) for Jacob's otherwise detrimental actions. While explaining his emotional connection, it doesn't excuse the negative impact on the family.
• "and he made him a coat of many colors": This is the tangible, visible manifestation of Jacob's favoritism. The distinctive nature of the garment sets Joseph apart, symbolizing his elevated status and preferential treatment. This overt display turns an internal parental feeling into an external symbol, directly fueling the envy and resentment of the brothers and becoming a physical object of their wrath, which they later defile.

Genesis 37 3 Bonus section

The narrative of Jacob's favoritism in Gen 37:3 mirrors and fulfills patterns observed earlier in Genesis, specifically his parents' partiality towards him and Esau (Gen 25:28), demonstrating a recurring familial flaw and the cycle of sin within the chosen lineage. Despite this perpetuation of sin, the divine hand guides events. The "coat of many colors" (ketonet passim) is more than just a pretty garment; its probable meaning of a long-sleeved or full-length robe impractical for manual labor points to Joseph being seen by Jacob, and recognized by his brothers, as one destined for a life of ease or authority, further provoking resentment. This initial symbolic act of elevation paradoxically leads to Joseph's humbling journey into slavery and imprisonment, ultimately to be genuinely exalted by God. Thus, this single verse encapsulates the theological truths of human sin, familial strife, and the undeniable, yet often mysterious, sovereignty of God working out His plans for redemption and preservation even through the bitter fruit of human choices.

Genesis 37 3 Commentary

Genesis 37:3 serves as the narrative hinge, illuminating Jacob's flawed love and its profound consequences. His favoritism toward Joseph, explicitly stated and materially symbolized by the "coat of many colors," ignited an inferno of sibling rivalry, envy, and ultimately, hatred. This was not a subtle preference but a conspicuous public act that elevated Joseph to a status perhaps resembling a princely heir, differentiating him from his older, working brothers. The coat became a potent symbol, broadcasting Joseph's perceived special place, unfit for the ordinary life of a shepherd and marking him for greatness – albeit, a greatness achieved through suffering. This act of human failing by Jacob (Israel) becomes, paradoxically, a vital step in God's overarching plan for the preservation of His covenant people. It reveals how divine sovereignty often works through, and not despite, human sin and weakness, steering personal tragedy toward a greater redemptive purpose, setting the stage for Joseph's descent into Egypt, his rise to power, and the ultimate salvation of his family from famine. The suffering born from familial sin thus ultimately facilitates God's good intentions, leading to the preservation of Jacob's lineage.