Genesis 37:31

31 Then they got Joseph's beautiful robe. They 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 Later, Reuben came back to the empty well. He saw that Joseph wasn't there. He was so upset that he tore his clothes.
30 He went back to his brothers and said, "The boy isn't there! Now what should I do?"
31 Then they got Joseph's beautiful robe. They killed a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.
32 They took it back to their father. They said, "We found this. Take a look at it. See if it's your son's robe."
33 Jacob recognized it. He said, "It's my son's robe! A wild animal has eaten him up. Joseph must have been torn to pieces."
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.