Genesis 37:3

My Notes

What Does Genesis 37:3 Mean?

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours." Jacob's FAVORITISM is stated openly: he loved Joseph MORE than all his other sons. The reason: Joseph was the son of his OLD AGE (born when Jacob was elderly, to Rachel, the wife Jacob loved most). The EXPRESSION of the favoritism: a special coat — the famous 'coat of many colours' (ketonet passim — a long-sleeved, ornamental robe indicating status above manual labor). The favoritism. The reason. The symbol. The setup for catastrophe.

The phrase "Israel loved Joseph more than all his children" (veYisra'el ahav et Yoseph mikkol banav — Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons) states the favoritism WITHOUT SOFTENING: Jacob LOVED Joseph MORE. Not 'had a special bond' or 'appreciated uniquely.' LOVED MORE. The comparative love is EXPLICIT. The other sons KNEW it (verse 4 — 'they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him'). The favoritism wasn't hidden. It was VISIBLE. The love that should have been EQUAL was RANKED.

The "coat of many colours" (ketonet passim — a tunic of extremities/palms, a long-sleeved or ornamental robe) is the VISIBLE SYMBOL of the invisible favoritism: the coat ANNOUNCES to every brother, every day, that Joseph is PREFERRED. The garment is the favoritism made WEARABLE. Every time Joseph walks into the room wearing the coat, the other brothers see the father's preference walking toward them. The coat is the daily reminder of the ranking.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What favoritism is producing resentment in your family or community?
• 2.What does loving one child MORE teaching about the destructive power of comparative love?
• 3.How does the coat being a DAILY VISIBLE symbol of favoritism model how preference produces hostility?
• 4.What 'coat' are you giving one person that the others can see — and what is it producing?

Devotional

Jacob loved Joseph MORE. Because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a special coat. The favoritism is STATED, EXPLAINED, and SYMBOLIZED — openly, visibly, without apology. The other sons saw the coat. The other sons knew the ranking. The favoritism that should have been hidden was DISPLAYED on the favorite's body.

The 'loved Joseph more than all his children' is the favoritism that DESTROYS families: the love isn't WRONG (Joseph is lovable). The MORE is what causes the damage. The COMPARATIVE love — ranked, measured, preferring one over all others — produces the hatred (verse 4), the conspiracy (verse 18), the selling (verse 28), and the decades of family devastation. The favoritism doesn't just affect the FAVORITE. It affects EVERYONE.

The 'son of his old age' is the REASON but not the EXCUSE: Joseph was born to Jacob's old age AND to Jacob's beloved wife Rachel. The combination — late-life child AND favorite wife's son — produced the excessive attachment. The reason is UNDERSTANDABLE. The expression (making it visible through the coat) is DESTRUCTIVE. Understanding WHY doesn't make the what ACCEPTABLE.

The 'coat of many colours' is the SYMBOL that daily provokes: the ketonet passim — whether a long-sleeved robe or an ornamental coat — marked Joseph as ABOVE his brothers in status. The coat said: this son doesn't work in the field like you do. This son is SPECIAL. The garment was the favoritism made WEARABLE. The preferring made VISIBLE. The ranking made DAILY.

What favoritism — visible, symbolic, daily-expressed — is producing hatred in the family around you?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture