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Genesis 37:3,23
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because hewas the son of his old age: and he made him a coat ofmany colours…

Proverbs 28:13
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsakeththem shall have mercy.

slaughtered a young goat
The slaughtering of a young goat is significant in the biblical narrative. Goats were commonly used in sacrificial practices, and their blood was often associated with atonement and deception. This act of slaughtering a goat for deceitful purposes contrasts with the later use of goat blood in the Day of Atonement rituals (Leviticus 16). The use of a goat here also echoes the deception Jacob himself perpetrated on his father Isaac, using goat skins to mimic Esau's hairy arms (Genesis 27). This cyclical theme of deception within the family highlights the consequences of sin and deceit.

and dipped the robe in its blood
Dipping the robe in blood is a deliberate act to deceive their father, Jacob, into believing that Joseph has been killed by a wild animal. Blood in the Bible often symbolizes life and death, covenant, and sacrifice. This act of deception is a pivotal moment that sets the stage for Joseph's journey to Egypt and eventual rise to power. The imagery of blood-stained garments is later mirrored inRevelation 19:13, where Christ is described as wearing a robe dipped in blood, symbolizing His righteous judgment and victory. This connection underscores the themes of redemption and divine justice woven throughout the biblical narrative.

• Joseph’s ornate robe (Genesis 37:3) symbolized his father’s unique affection; seizing it was the brothers’ first tangible step in stripping him of that favor.

• Their act fulfilled whatProverbs 27:4 warns about unchecked jealousy—“Who can stand before envy?”—showing how envy escalates into action.

• By removing the robe they prepared to erase Joseph’s perceived superiority, yet God would later exalt Joseph despite this (Genesis 50:20).

• The scene foreshadows Christ, whose garments were also taken by those who rejected Him (Matthew 27:28).

• The brothers chose a goat, the same animal Jacob once used to deceive Isaac (Genesis 27:9–17); what the father sowed, the sons now reap (Galatians 6:7).

• Killing the goat showed calculated premeditation, a willingness to shed innocent blood for a lie—a stark contrast to the sacrificial system where blood pointed to atonement (Leviticus 17:11).

• The goat’s life was expendable to them, underscoring how sin cheapens life and numbs conscience (1 John 3:12).

• Dipping the robe provided the physical “evidence” needed for their deception (Genesis 37:32–33).

• Blood-stained fabric would evoke horror in Jacob and prevent further questions, illustrating how lies often rely on dramatic props.

• The counterfeit blood-soaked robe points to a greater reality: Christ will one day appear “dressed in a robe dipped in blood” (Revelation 19:13), but His is genuine, purchased for redemption, not deception.

• This gesture also shows how Satan mimics holy things—here, the brothers mimic a sacrificial sign to cover sin, but only real atoning blood truly covers sin (Hebrews 9:22).

The verse records three deliberate actions: seizing Joseph’s symbol of favor, spilling a goat’s blood to support a lie, and presenting that lie as truth. Each move exposes human envy, echoes earlier family deceit, and anticipates both the costliness of sin and the ultimate triumph of God’s redemptive plan in Christ.