How Did Joseph’s Brothers Plot Against Him?
The plot against Joseph in Genesis 37 is one of the most dramatic betrayals in Scripture. It did not happen suddenly—rather, it grew out of years of jealousy, resentment, and anger fueled by favoritism, prophetic dreams, and wounded pride. When the moment finally came, the brothers acted with a mixture of rage, calculation, and cold deception.
Their plot against Joseph unfolded in several strategic steps, each revealing the depth of their hatred and the dangerous consequences of envy left unchecked.
1. The Perfect Opportunity: Joseph Sent to Check on Them
The plot began when Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers as they grazed the flock near Shechem (Genesis 37:13–14).
Why this moment mattered:
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Joseph often brought bad reports about them.
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He arrived wearing the coat of many colors, the symbol they despised.
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They were far from home—no witnesses, no intervention from Jacob.
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Their jealousy was already at the boiling point.
When the brothers saw him in the distance, they recognized the coat and saw their chance for revenge.
2. The Brothers’ First Plot: To Kill Joseph
Before Joseph even reached them, the brothers began to conspire.
“They conspired against him to kill him.” (Genesis 37:18)
Their plan:
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Kill Joseph.
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Throw his body into a pit.
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Claim that a wild animal killed him.
Their reasoning was not only emotional but personal:
“Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams.” (Genesis 37:20)
They believed killing Joseph would end the threat of his prophetic dreams and restore their family standing.
This first version of the plot was violent, immediate, and final.
3. Reuben’s Intervention: A Plan to Rescue Joseph Later
Reuben, the eldest brother, stepped in to stop the murder.
Reuben’s proposal (Genesis 37:21–22):
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Do not kill him.
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Throw him into an empty pit.
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Let him die “naturally” without shedding blood.
Reuben’s true intention, however, was to come back later and rescue Joseph.
Why Reuben intervened:
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As the eldest, he felt responsible before Jacob.
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He may have hoped to regain favor with his father.
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He was less hardened than some of the others.
So the first murder plot shifted into a plot of abandonment.
4. The Attack: Stripping Joseph of His Coat
When Joseph finally arrived:
“They stripped Joseph of his coat.” (Genesis 37:23)
This action was symbolic:
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They were tearing away the symbol of Jacob’s favoritism.
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It represented rejecting Joseph’s dreams and future.
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It revealed deep emotional hostility.
After attacking him, they threw him into a pit—dark, empty, and hopeless.
5. Judah’s Proposal: Sell Joseph Instead of Killing Him
As they sat down to eat, a caravan of Ishmaelite traders approached on their way to Egypt.
Judah suggested a new plan:
“Let us sell him… for he is our brother, our own flesh.” (Genesis 37:26–27)
Reasons for Judah’s proposal:
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They could get profit instead of gaining nothing from his death.
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They avoided becoming directly responsible for murder.
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They still removed Joseph from their lives completely.
This idea appealed to the brothers. It was a more calculated and financially smart form of betrayal.
6. Selling Joseph Into Slavery
The brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28). This transaction sealed Joseph’s fate and allowed the brothers to avoid direct violence while still achieving their goal.
Why this was the ultimate betrayal:
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They sent their own brother into a life of slavery.
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They severed him from family, inheritance, and freedom.
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They did so without remorse—Scripture shows no hesitation.
The plot was now complete.
7. The Final Step: Deceiving Jacob
To cover up their crime, the brothers staged a gruesome lie.
How they deceived their father:
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They dipped Joseph’s coat in goat’s blood.
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They presented it to Jacob and let him draw his own conclusion.
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Jacob believed Joseph had been torn by a wild animal.
The deception was deliberate and heartless:
“All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted.” (Genesis 37:35)
They allowed their father to suffer unbearable grief for years.
8. Summary of the Plot
Joseph’s brothers plotted against him through six major steps:
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Saw him coming and planned to kill him
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Modified the plan to throw him into a pit
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Stripped him of his coat
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Threw him into the pit
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Sold him to Ishmaelite traders
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Deceived Jacob using the bloodied coat
This was not a single action but a chain of escalating conspiracies driven by jealousy, anger, and bitterness.