Genesis 37:31

31 Then they took the robe of Joseph and slaughtered 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 Then Reuben returned to the pit and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit. And he tore his clothes.

30 And he returned to his brothers and said, "The boy {is gone}! Now I, {what can I do}?"

31 Then they took the robe of Joseph and slaughtered a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood.

32 Then they sent the robe with long sleeves and they brought [it] to their father and said, "We found this; please examine [it]. [Is] it the robe of your son or not?"

33 And he recognized it and said, "The robe of my son! A wild animal has devoured him! Joseph [is] surely torn to pieces!"