Genesis 37:23

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, [his] coat of [many] colours that [was] on him;

Complete Jewish Bible:

So it was that when Yosef arrived to be with his brothers, they stripped off his robe, the long-sleeved robe he was wearing,

Berean Standard Bible:

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors he was wearing—

American Standard Version:

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And it came to pass, when Joseph^{H3130} was come^{H935} unto his brethren^{H251}, that they stript^{{H6584}{H853}} Joseph^{H3130} out of^{H854} his coat^{H3801}, his coat^{H3801} of many colours^{H6446} that was on him;

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 37:23

Genesis 37:23 is part of the narrative concerning Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob (also known as Israel), and his eleven brothers. The verse describes a pivotal moment in the story of Joseph, where his brothers strip him of his coat of many colors, which was a symbol of their father's favoritism.

**Themes:**
1. **Jealousy and Favoritism:** Joseph's brothers are envious of the special treatment he receives from their father, as indicated by the unique garment. This favoritism creates tension and resentment among the siblings.
2. **Betrayal:** The act of stripping Joseph of his coat is a prelude to the brothers' plan to sell him into slavery, demonstrating a severe betrayal within the family.
3. **Identity and Loss:** The coat represents Joseph's identity and status within the family. Its removal signifies the loss of his position and the beginning of his journey from favored son to a foreign land.
4. **Providence and Sovereignty of God:** Although the brothers intend harm, this event is part of a larger divine plan that will eventually lead Joseph to a position of power in Egypt, setting the stage for the Israelites' future sojourn there.

**Historical Context:**
The story of Joseph is set in the patriarchal period, around the second millennium BCE. This era was characterized by nomadic lifestyles and the importance of family lineage and inheritance. The narrative reflects the dynamics of a semi-nomadic, extended family in the ancient Near East, where relations between half-brothers from different mothers could be complex and strained.

Joseph's story also provides a backdrop for understanding the origins of the Israelite presence in Egypt, which will later grow into the nation of Israel under the leadership of Moses. The account is part of the larger narrative of Genesis, which traces the beginnings of God's covenant relationship with the patriarchs and sets the stage for the Exodus and the formation of Israel as a people.

The coat of many colors itself may have been a luxurious or ceremonial garment, indicating Joseph's status within the family. Such garments were rare and expensive, suggesting Jacob's wealth and the importance of textiles in the ancient world as symbols of status and power. The historical context also includes the trade and political relationships between the Hebrews and other peoples of the region, such as the Egyptians and Canaanites.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3130
   There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹסֵף
   Transliteration: Yôwçêph
   Pronunciation: yo-safe'
   Description: future of יָסַף; let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites; Joseph. Compare יְהוֹסֵף.
   
2. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
3. Strong's Number: H251
   There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָח
   Transliteration: ʼâch
   Pronunciation: awkh
   Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6584
   There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּשַׁט
   Transliteration: pâshaṭ
   Pronunciation: paw-shat'
   Description: a primitive root; to spread out (i.e. deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e. unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.); fall upon, flay, invade, make an invasion, pull off, put off, make a road, run upon, rush, set, spoil, spread selves (abroad), strip (off, self).
   
5. Strong's Number: H853
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵת
   Transliteration: ʼêth
   Pronunciation: ayth
   Description: apparent contracted from אוֹת in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely); (as such unrepresented in English).
   
6. Strong's Number: H854
   There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵת
   Transliteration: ʼêth
   Pronunciation: ayth
   Description: probably from אָנָה; properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.; against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3801
   There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כְּתֹנֶת
   Transliteration: kᵉthôneth
   Pronunciation: keth-o'-neth
   Description: or כֻּתֹּנֶת; from an unused root meaning to cover (compare כָּתֵף); a shirt; coat, garment, robe.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6446
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פַּס
   Transliteration: paç
   Pronunciation: pas
   Description: from פָּסַס; properly, the palm (of the hand) or sole (of the foot) (compare פַּס); by implication (plural); a long and sleeved tunic (perhaps simply a wide one; from the original sense of the root, i.e. of many breadths); (divers) colours.