Genesis 37:31

Jacob Mourns Joseph

31 Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a young goat, and dipped the robe in its 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 returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes,

30 returned to his brothers, and said, “The boy is gone! What am I going to do?”

31 Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a young goat, and dipped the robe in its blood.

32 They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe or not.”

33 His father recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”