Genesis 37:3 introduces the famous coat:
“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.”
The coat, often called a “coat of many colors” or a richly ornamented robe, was not just a decorative garment. It symbolized favor, status, and distinction. In ancient culture, such a garment indicated a position of honor and authority, setting Joseph apart from his brothers. Unlike a simple work tunic, this robe implied that Joseph was exempt from hard labor and was viewed as a future leader within the family.
The coat became a visible sign of Jacob’s favoritism toward Joseph, which deepened the jealousy and hatred of his brothers. Genesis 37:4 says:
“But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.”
The robe ultimately played a role in the brothers’ plot against Joseph. When they sold him into slavery, they stripped him of this garment and dipped it in blood to deceive their father (Genesis 37:31–33). The coat, which once represented favor, became a tool of deception and grief.
Spiritually, Joseph’s coat reminds us of God’s calling and the cost that can come with being set apart for His purposes. It points to how favor can provoke opposition, and how God uses even hostility to bring about His redemptive plan.
