Genesis 37:32 kjv

And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.

Genesis 37:32 nkjv

Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, "We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son's tunic or not?"

Genesis 37:32 niv

They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, "We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe."

Genesis 37:32 esv

And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, "This we have found; please identify whether it is your son's robe or not."

Genesis 37:32 nlt

They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: "Look at what we found. Doesn't this robe belong to your son?"

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 32 Meaning

Genesis 37:32 describes the chilling moment when Joseph's brothers bring the blood-soaked coat of their younger brother to their father Jacob. This act is the climax of their malicious conspiracy, meticulously designed to deceive Jacob into believing that his beloved son, Joseph, has been torn apart by a wild beast. The verse lays bare their cold-hearted intention to crush Jacob's spirit and eradicate the evidence of their jealousy and treachery. It is a calculated lie, presented with feigned innocence, designed to produce a profound emotional response from Jacob, confirming his son's perceived death.

Genesis 37 32 Context

This verse is a pivotal moment in the Genesis narrative, immediately following the brothers' decision to sell Joseph into slavery instead of killing him, largely due to Judah's intervention. Having sold Joseph, they needed to explain his disappearance to their father, Jacob. The context of Genesis 37 reveals Jacob's profound favoritism for Joseph, evidenced by the unique "coat of many colours." This favoritism bred deep jealousy and hatred among Joseph's older brothers. Their act of presenting the blood-soaked coat to Jacob is the culmination of their malevolent scheme. It's an act of deep familial betrayal, aimed at inflicting maximum emotional pain and removing Joseph permanently from their father's favor and attention, believing him to be dead. Culturally, the immediate identification of a garment with an individual, particularly one of unique distinction, would make the visual evidence highly convincing. The act highlights the extreme depths of human depravity driven by envy and the devastating impact of such lies on a family, a theme recurrent throughout biblical history.

Genesis 37 32 Word analysis

• And they sent (וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ - vayishlechu): A Hiphil conjugation, meaning "and they caused to send." This emphasizes their deliberate and active agency in the dispatching of the coat, not merely a passive sending. It underscores the malicious intent behind their action. This was not an impulsive act but a calculated maneuver.
• the coat of many colours (כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים - ketonet passim): The term ketonet refers to a tunic or robe. Passim is widely debated but generally understood to imply either a long robe with sleeves reaching to the hands and feet (symbolizing one not expected to work), or a richly ornamented/embroidered garment. In either case, it marked Joseph as uniquely favored and distinct from his working brothers. It represented Jacob’s love and Joseph’s special status, making its supposed violent destruction particularly poignant for Jacob.
• and they brought it (וַיָּבִיאוּ - vayavi'u): Again, Hiphil, "and they caused to bring." This reinforces the active and deliberate nature of their bringing the coat directly into their father's presence. They didn't just send it; they ensured it was delivered and presented to him face-to-face.
• to their father (אֶל-אֲבִיהֶם - el avihem): This specifies the victim of their deception – their own father. The act of lying to a parent, especially in such a cruel manner, deepens the treachery involved. It attacks the very foundation of family trust and reverence.
• and said (וַיֹּאמְרוּ - vayomeru): Simple statement of speech, but contextually, it is the voice of their collective deception.
• This have we found (זֹאת מָצָאנוּ - zot matsa'nu): The perfect tense indicates a completed action. By claiming they "found" it, they distance themselves from any culpability in Joseph’s fate, presenting themselves as mere innocent discoverers of a tragedy, rather than its orchestrators. It is a carefully crafted phrase to create plausible deniability.
• know now (הַכֶּר-נָא - hakker na): The Hiphil imperative hakker means "cause to recognize," "discern," or "examine carefully." The particle na (נָא) adds a plea or request, feigning concern and politeness, masking their malevolent intent. They force Jacob to personally inspect the evidence and come to their intended conclusion, intensifying his emotional involvement and pain.
• whether it be thy son's coat or no (הַכְּתֹנֶת בִּנְךָ הִוא אִם-לֹא - hakketonet binkha hi im-lo): A direct and emotionally manipulative question. They frame it as an inquiry for Jacob’s own identification, making him confirm the worst. The possessive "thy son's" precisely targets Jacob's paternal affections and his unique bond with Joseph, maximizing the anguish.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they sent the coat... and they brought it to their father": This phrase highlights the calculated steps taken in their deception. They actively procured and prepared the evidence (dipped in blood) and personally presented it, showing premeditation and a desire for direct impact on Jacob. This was not a passive act but an aggressive, confrontational lie.
• "and said, This have we found: know now": This marks the delivery of their well-rehearsed lie. By claiming to have "found" it, they deflect immediate suspicion and present themselves as neutral parties. The imperative "know now" then places the burden of proof and identification directly on Jacob, a cruel twist that ensures his personal verification of Joseph's "death." This manipulation of Jacob's sensory and emotional experience heightens his suffering.
• "whether it be thy son's coat or no": This question is rhetorical, designed to guide Jacob to the devastating conclusion they intend. They emphasize "thy son's" to maximize the emotional shock and to force Jacob to acknowledge his direct loss. The question acts as the final blow, leveraging Jacob’s deep love for Joseph to confirm their fabricated tragedy.

Genesis 37 32 Bonus section

• The Deceptive Pattern: The brothers' use of a blood-soaked garment for deception has an ironic echo of Jacob's earlier life, where he used a disguise (animal skins and Esau's clothes) to deceive his blind father Isaac for the blessing (Gen 27). This suggests a painful and enduring cycle of deception within the patriarchal family line.
• Prophetic Foreboding: The brothers’ act of bringing the coat implies they had previously removed Joseph’s coat when they cast him into the pit or sold him (Gen 37:23). This pre-meditation underscores the depth of their depravity. The bloody garment itself foreshadows the true sacrifice that would one day secure blessing for all peoples, though here it is for malevolent ends.
• Lasting Guilt and Memory: This deceptive act was not easily forgotten by the brothers. Years later, when they are facing severe hardship in Egypt, they confess their guilt to one another, stating, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us" (Gen 42:21). The lie in Gen 37:32 became a persistent burden of conscience.

Genesis 37 32 Commentary

Genesis 37:32 encapsulates the brothers' heinous act of deception, a moment brimming with malice, envy, and cold calculation. This verse does not just report a lie; it describes a deeply personal and psychologically damaging assault on their own father. The "coat of many colours," a vibrant symbol of Jacob's favoritism and Joseph's distinction, is transformed into an instrument of deceit, soaked in animal blood to mimic a violent death. Their cunning extends to the delivery of the news; instead of stating outright that Joseph is dead, they feign accidental discovery and then compel Jacob to identify the garment himself. "Know now whether it be thy son's coat or no" is not a genuine inquiry but a sadistic demand, forcing Jacob to participate in the confirmation of his profound loss. This act showcases the corrupting power of sin, as brothers willingly betray filial piety and sibling bonds for selfish gain, plunging their family into years of grief and fractured relationships. Despite their evil intent, this seemingly destructive act ironically became a key step in God's overarching plan for the preservation of Jacob's family and the eventual redemption of Israel.