Genesis 37:23
New International Version
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing—

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

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

Berean Standard Bible
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors he was wearing—

King James Bible
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the multicolored tunic that was on him;

NASB 1995
So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him;

NASB 1977
So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him;

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him;

Amplified Bible
Now when Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his tunic, the [distinctive] multicolored tunic which he was wearing;

Christian Standard Bible
When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the robe of many colors that he had on.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off his robe, the robe of many colors that he had on.

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

Contemporary English Version
When Joseph came to his brothers, they pulled off his fancy coat

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colours that was on him;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So when Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his special robe with long sleeves.

Good News Translation
When Joseph came up to his brothers, they ripped off his long robe with full sleeves.

International Standard Version
As it was, when Joseph arrived where his brothers were, they stripped off the tunic that Jacob had given him—that is, the richly-embroidered tunic that he was wearing.

Majority Standard Bible
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors he was wearing—

NET Bible
When Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his tunic, the special tunic that he wore.

New Heart English Bible
It happened, when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his robe, the long ornamented robe that he was wearing.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass when Joseph had come to his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him.

World English Bible
When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, when Joseph has come to his brothers, that they strip Joseph of his coat, the long coat which [is] on him,

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, when Joseph hath come unto his brethren, that they strip Joseph of his coat, the long coat which is upon him,

Smith's Literal Translation
And it shall be as Joseph came to his brethren, and they will strip off his tunic, the tunic reaching to the soles of the feet which was upon him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And as soon as he came to his brethren, they forthwith stript him of his outside coat, that was of divers colours:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, as soon as he came to his brothers, they very quickly stripped him of his tunic, which was ankle-length and woven of many colors,

New American Bible
So when Joseph came up to his brothers, they stripped him of his tunic, the long ornamented tunic he had on;

New Revised Standard Version
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come to his brothers, they stripped him of the rich robe that he was wearing;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when Yoseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of the coat of long sleeves that he was wearing;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colours that was on him;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass, when Joseph came to his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his many-coloured coat that was upon him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
22“Do not shed his blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this so that he could rescue Joseph from their hands and return him to his father. 23So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe— the robe of many colors he was wearing— 24and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, with no water in it.…

Cross References
Matthew 27:28-31
They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. / And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” / Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. ...

John 19:23-24
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. / So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing.” So that is what the soldiers did.

Mark 15:20
After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

Luke 23:11
And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

John 19:1-3
Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. / The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. / And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.

Matthew 27:35
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.

Mark 15:24
And they crucified Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.

John 19:5
When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

Acts 7:9
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

Psalm 22:18
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Zechariah 13:6
If someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your chest?’ he will answer, ‘These are the wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

Job 30:9-10
And now they mock me in song; I have become a byword among them. / They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

Psalm 69:4
Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

Psalm 105:17-19
He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. / They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons, / until his prediction came true and the word of the LORD proved him right.


Treasury of Scripture

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

stript.

Genesis 37:3,31-33
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 colours…

Genesis 42:21
And they said one to another, 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.

Psalm 22:18
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

colours.

Genesis 37:3
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 colours.

Jump to Previous
Coat Colors Colours Joseph Ornamented Reached Richly Robe Sleeves Strip Stripped Tunic Varicolored Vest Wearing Wore
Jump to Next
Coat Colors Colours Joseph Ornamented Reached Richly Robe Sleeves Strip Stripped Tunic Varicolored Vest Wearing Wore
Genesis 37
1. Joseph is loved by Jacob, but hated by his brothers.
5. His dreams and the interpretation.
12. Jacob sends him to his brothers, who counsel to slay him.
21. At Reuben's desire they cast him into a pit;
25. and afterwards sell him to the Ishmaelites;
29. while Ruben grieves at not finding him.
31. His coat, covered with blood, is sent to Jacob, who mourns him inordinately.
36. Joseph is brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar.














So when Joseph came to his brothers
This phrase sets the stage for a pivotal moment in Joseph's life. Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, is approaching his brothers, who harbor deep-seated jealousy and resentment towards him. The Hebrew name "Joseph" (יוֹסֵף, Yosef) means "He will add," reflecting Jacob's hope for God's continued blessing. This moment is a culmination of familial tension, highlighting the human propensity for envy and the consequences of favoritism within a family. Historically, this event takes place in the region of Dothan, a location that was a significant trade route, suggesting the brothers' intent to dispose of Joseph in a place where they could easily encounter traders.

they stripped him of his robe
The act of stripping Joseph of his robe is symbolic and deeply significant. The Hebrew word for "stripped" (פָּשַׁט, pashat) implies a forceful removal, indicating the brothers' violent intentions. The robe itself, a gift from Jacob, was a tangible symbol of Joseph's favored status. By removing it, the brothers are attempting to strip Joseph of his identity and the special love his father had for him. This act foreshadows the stripping away of Joseph's freedom and status, yet it also sets the stage for God's providential plan to unfold.

the robe of many colors
The "robe of many colors" (כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים, ketonet passim) is a garment that signifies honor and distinction. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, such a robe would have been a mark of nobility or leadership. The specific mention of "many colors" suggests a garment of great beauty and value, further inflaming the brothers' jealousy. This robe is central to the narrative, representing the cause of the brothers' envy and the catalyst for Joseph's journey into Egypt. It serves as a reminder of how material possessions can become sources of division and strife when they are symbols of unequal love or favoritism.

he was wearing
The phrase "he was wearing" (עָלָיו, alav) indicates that Joseph was actively clothed in this robe at the time of the encounter. This detail emphasizes the immediacy and personal nature of the betrayal. Joseph's wearing of the robe is a daily reminder to his brothers of their father's favoritism, and their act of stripping it from him is an attempt to erase that reminder. This moment is a turning point, as Joseph moves from a position of privilege to one of vulnerability. It underscores the theme of transformation and the unexpected ways in which God can work through human actions to fulfill His divine purposes.

Verse 23. - 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 - i.e. his coat of ends, or coat of pieces (vide on ver. 3) - that was on him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So
וַֽיְהִ֕י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

when
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ (ka·’ă·šer-)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

Joseph
יוֹסֵ֖ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

came
בָּ֥א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his brothers,
אֶחָ֑יו (’e·ḥāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

they stripped
וַיַּפְשִׁ֤יטוּ (way·yap̄·šî·ṭū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6584: To strip off, make a dash, raid

[him]
יוֹסֵף֙ (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

of his robe—
כֻּתָּנְתּ֔וֹ (kut·tā·nə·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3801: A shirt

the robe
כְּתֹ֥נֶת (kə·ṯō·neṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3801: A shirt

of many colors
הַפַּסִּ֖ים (hap·pas·sîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6446: Flat (of the hand or foot)

he was wearing—
עָלָֽיו׃ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Law: Genesis 37:23 It happened when Joseph came to his (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 37:22
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