Genesis 37:31

31 His brothers took Joseph's robe, slaughtered a male 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 returned to the cistern and found that Joseph wasn't in it, he tore his clothes.

30 Then he returned to his brothers and said, "The boy's gone! And I—where can I go now?"

31 His brothers took Joseph's robe, slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the robe in the blood.

32 They took the long robe, brought it to their father, and said, "We found this. See if it's your son's robe or not."

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