Genesis 37:31

31 So they took Joseph's robe, killed a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood.

Genesis 37:31 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:31

And they took Joseph's coat
After they had told Reuben what they had done with him, who being willing to make the best of things as it was, joined with them in the following scheme: by this it appears, that when they took Joseph out of the pit they did not put his coat on him, but sold him naked, or almost so, to the merchants: and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
that being, as the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi observe, most like to human blood.

Genesis 37:31 In-Context

29 When Reuben came back to the cistern and saw that Joseph was no longer there, he tore his clothes in grief.

30 He went back to his brothers and said, "The boy isn't there! What am I going to do?"

31 So they took Joseph's robe, killed a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood.

32 Then they brought the special robe with long sleeves to their father and said, "We found this. You better examine it to see whether it's your son's robe or not."

33 He recognized it and said, "It is my son's robe! A wild animal has eaten him! Joseph must have been torn to pieces!"