Genesis 37:31

31 The brothers killed a goat and dipped Joseph's 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 came back to the well and Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes to show he was upset.
30 Then he went back to his brothers and said, "The boy is not there! What shall I do?"
31 The brothers killed a goat and dipped Joseph's robe in its blood.
32 Then they brought the long-sleeved robe to their father and said, "We found this robe. Look it over carefully and see if it is your son's robe."
33 Jacob looked it over and said, "It is my son's robe! Some savage animal has eaten him. My son Joseph has been torn to pieces!"
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.