How Did Joseph’s Brothers Respond to the Gift of the Coat?
When Jacob gave Joseph the famous “coat of many colors” (Genesis 37:3), it was much more than a piece of clothing. It was a public symbol of favor, authority, and preferred love. Joseph’s brothers immediately recognized its meaning, and their reaction set in motion one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible. Their response unfolded in several emotional and behavioral stages: jealousy, hatred, and ultimately betrayal.
1. The Coat Revealed Jacob’s Deep Favoritism
The first step in the brothers’ reaction was understanding what the coat represented.
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The coat was a mark of distinction, often associated with nobility.
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It indicated that Joseph, the youngest son of Rachel, was being treated as the future leader of the family.
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Jacob openly showed Joseph more affection than his other sons because he was “the son of his old age” and the beloved son of Rachel.
Joseph’s brothers would have immediately understood that the coat was not just a gift—it was a declaration that Joseph mattered more.
2. Their First Response: Deep Jealousy
Genesis 37:4 states plainly that after the gift of the coat:
“They hated him, and could not speak a kind word to him.”
The coat intensified an already tense family dynamic. The brothers became filled with envy, feeling dishonored and displaced. This jealousy would soon turn into resentment.
Why jealousy grew so quickly:
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The coat appeared to assign Joseph a position of superiority.
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Joseph already brought “bad reports” about his brothers to their father.
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Joseph’s prophetic dreams (which followed shortly) made it seem as if he would rule over them.
The coat was the spark that ignited long-smoldering tensions.
3. Their Hatred Intensified to Open Hostility
After receiving the coat, Joseph wore it regularly—each time reminding his brothers of Jacob’s favoritism.
Their hatred became:
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Visible – They openly refused to greet him kindly.
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Verbal – Harsh speech and criticism showed their resentment.
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Emotional – The brothers felt wounded, overlooked, and dishonored.
The coat highlighted everything they disliked about the family’s unequal treatment.
4. The Coat Became a Symbol of What They Despised
When Joseph approached them in the fields later (Genesis 37:23), the brothers’ immediate reaction was telling:
“They stripped Joseph of his coat.”
This action reveals how deeply they connected their hatred to the coat itself. Removing it was symbolic.
By tearing off the coat, they were:
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Rejecting Jacob’s favoritism
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Destroying the symbol of Joseph’s authority
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Expressing their long-suppressed anger
It was an emotional climax that showed how powerful the coat’s meaning had become in their minds.
5. Their Jealousy Led to Betrayal
After stripping Joseph of the coat, their hostility grew into a shocking plan:
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Some brothers wanted to kill him.
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Others proposed selling him into slavery.
Ultimately, they sold Joseph to passing merchants and watched as he was taken to Egypt.
The coat even played a part in their deception of Jacob. They dipped it in goat’s blood and showed it to their father, allowing him to believe Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.
Thus, the coat not only triggered their jealousy—it became an instrument in their deceit.
6. Summary of Their Response
Joseph’s brothers responded to the gift of the coat with:
Jealousy
They envied Joseph’s favored position.
Hatred
Their jealousy turned into deep hatred, to the point of refusing to speak peacefully to him.
Hostility
They assaulted him and forcefully stripped the coat from him.
Betrayal
They sold him into slavery and used the coat to deceive their father.
Conclusion
The gift of the coat of many colors exposed a deep fracture within Jacob’s family. Joseph’s brothers responded with jealousy, anger, and ultimately violence. Their reaction demonstrates how favoritism and unresolved conflict can destroy relationships. Yet, in God’s larger plan, this painful response eventually led Joseph to Egypt, where he would rise to power and save his family during famine.