What does an ancient story about a colorful coat and family drama have to do with your life today? That’s what we’re here to find out.
Have you experienced intense family drama? Have you ever been picked last, overlooked, or misunderstood by your own family? Joseph gets it. His story begins not with power or prestige, but with jealousy, favoritism, and a fancy coat.
Joseph is one of the most well-known characters in the Bible because of his incredible journey: betrayal, slavery, prison, and eventually leadership in Egypt. His story shows us how God can stay faithful through the mess.
Where Is the Story of Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors in the Bible?
You can find Joseph’s story in the Old Testament, beginning in Genesis 37 and stretching through Genesis 50.
His story happens after the creation story, the fall, and God’s call to Abraham, Joseph’s great-grandfather. Joseph’s story closes the first book of the Bible, Genesis.
A Summary of the Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors Story
- Joseph is born to Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s favorite wife) in Jacob’s old age, making him Jacob’s favorite son.
- Jacob gives Joseph an ornate robe known as the coat of many colors, making Joseph’s older brothers jealous.
- Joseph shares two dreams with his family: In one, his sheaf of wheat rises above his brothers’; in the other, eleven stars and the sun and moon bow to him, implying he’ll rule over his family, one day.
- Joseph’s brothers agree to get rid of him. They throw Joseph into a pit, and then sell him for twenty shekels to traders heading to Egypt.
- The brothers dip Joseph’s coat in animal blood and bring it to their father. Jacob tears his clothes and weeps, thinking Joseph is dead.
- In Egypt, Joseph works his way up in the household of one of Pharaoh’s officials, but is wrongly imprisoned.
- He interprets one of Pharaoh’s dreams, predicting seven years of abundance and seven years of famine.
- Pharaoh appoints Joseph to a position of power, and Joseph oversees the storage of food during the years of abundance, preparing the land for the lean years to come.
- After the famine begins, Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt for food. When they’re brought before Joseph, they don’t recognize him at first.
- Joseph reveals his identity, forgives his brothers, and is reunited with his father, Jacob, and the rest of his family.
Key Bible Verse
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 NIV
This verse comes near the end of Joseph’s story and captures the heart of it. Even when others meant to hurt him, God never stopped working. What started with a coat and a betrayal ended with redemption and purpose.
A Deeper Dive Into the Joseph and the Coat Story
Joseph grew up as the favorite son of a shepherding family led by his father, Jacob. Jacob had sons with other wives, but Joseph was the oldest son of his favorite wife.
Was Jacob right to favor one son? Probably not. And the story seems to indicate that this treatment may have made Joseph a little too quick to point out his favored status among his brothers.
The Coat That Sparked a Crisis
Joseph was already favored when his father gave him an expensive, colorful coat. This wasn’t a coat for working the fields. It was long, colorful, and symbolized status. It was the kind of coat a ruler would wear.
This kind of gift might have been acceptable to give to the oldest son in the family, but not to Joseph.
In that time, families were hierarchical and patriarchal. The oldest son of each family was expected to inherit the majority of their father’s possessions and lead the family. But Joseph wasn’t the oldest; he was the second youngest of 12. This kind of gift might have been acceptable to give to the oldest son in the family, but not to Joseph.
The Jealousy of Joseph’s Brothers
On top of the expensive and controversial gift, Joseph told his brothers about his dreams, dreams where they bowed to him. It didn’t help.
Jealousy turned to hatred, and his older brothers made a plan to get rid of Joseph.
One day, when Joseph went out to find his brothers in the fields, they took off his robe and threw him into a pit. They considered killing him, but instead decided to sell him into slavery for twenty shekels.
They dipped Joseph’s coat in animal blood and took it home. Their father wept bitterly, believing his son had been torn apart by a ferocious animal.
This could have been the end for Joseph, but his life wasn’t over. God had more in store.
Joseph in Egypt
In Egypt, Joseph became a trusted slave of an influential household until he was wrongly accused of a crime and sent to prison. While in prison, he grew in influence and became a kind of prisoner manager. And when Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker were imprisoned, Joseph showed a special talent for interpreting dreams.
One day, Pharaoh had a disturbing dream that no one could interpret. So Joseph was brought before Pharaoh. Joseph told him the dream meant there would be a surplus of food for the next seven years, followed by seven years of famine.
Pharaoh was impressed and made Joseph part of his royal court, putting him in charge of managing the grain supply.
Joseph Forgives His Brothers
Years later, when the famine hit, Egypt was prepared. But Joseph’s family wasn’t. So the brothers traveled to Egypt to buy grain. When Joseph heard they’d come, he summoned them. By that time, it’d been decades, and the brothers didn’t recognize Joseph.
Joseph tested his brothers, desiring to know whether they’d changed for the better over the years. Only after seeing his brothers express true, sacrificial concern for one another did he reveal his identity. Naturally, Joseph’s brothers were terrified that he would have them imprisoned or executed. But Joseph forgave his brothers and welcomed his family to Egypt, where they were able to build a new life.
Why Is the Story of Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors in the Bible?
Joseph’s story closes the first book of the Bible, Genesis, with hope. Why? Well, remember—the Bible is a library of books, not just one big book. Genesis began with a good world corrupted by sin.
The first sin happened when someone refused to trust God and pursued their own greed, pleasure, and pride. Throughout Genesis, several key characters fall into the same trap and face awful consequences. But Joseph is a little different.
Joseph shows us that, in a sinful world, it’s still possible to live with integrity.
Joseph isn’t perfect, but he does give us a glimpse of what it looks like to trust God and fight temptation. Joseph had multiple opportunities to take advantage of situations for immediate gain, but he consistently chose integrity, kindness, and forgiveness. His story shows us that, in a sinful world, it’s still possible to live with integrity.
On a more functional level, the story is a setup for the book of Exodus, which takes place several generations after Joseph.
What Does the Story of Joseph and the Coat Teach Us?
1. Jealousy ruins relationships. Joseph’s brothers let their envy turn into hate. That hate broke their family and hurt everyone involved.
2. Pain doesn’t mean God is absent. Even when Joseph was betrayed and sold, God never left his side. He was with Joseph in the pit, the prison, and the palace.
3. Forgiveness can heal deep wounds. Joseph chose mercy instead of revenge. His willingness to forgive saved his family and brought peace.
4. God’s plans are bigger than our pain. What others tried to ruin, God used for redemption. Joseph’s journey reminds us that nothing is wasted in God’s hands.
Why Does the Story of Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors Still Matter Today?
We all know what it feels like to be overlooked, rejected, or hurt by someone close. Joseph and the coat of many colors shows us we’re not alone in that pain.
This story invites us to trust God’s timing, to choose forgiveness, and to believe that our pain can have a purpose.
This story invites us to trust God’s timing, to choose forgiveness, and to believe that our pain can have a purpose. No matter how broken your situation feels, God can bring healing, hope, and redemption.
Common Questions About Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors
Did Joseph actually have a coat of many colors?
Yes, according to Genesis 37:3, Joseph received an ornate robe from his father. Some translations call it a “coat of many colors,” while others describe it as richly ornamented or with long sleeves.
What does the coat of many colors symbolize?
It symbolized Jacob’s favoritism and Joseph’s elevated status. In ancient cultures, this kind of garment would be worn by someone not expected to do manual labor.
Why were Joseph’s brothers so angry?
The coat highlighted their father’s favoritism. When Joseph shared dreams that seemed to place him above his brothers, it pushed their jealousy into action.
What’s the message of Joseph’s story?
That God is faithful. Even when life doesn’t go according to plan, God can bring purpose out of pain.
Is Joseph connected to Jesus in any way?
Yes. Many Christians see Joseph as a “type” of Christ—a figure who was betrayed, suffered, and later became a source of salvation for others.
Reflect or Discuss
- What part of Joseph’s story do you relate to most?
- Have you ever seen God bring something good out of a hard situation?
- What would it look like to forgive someone who’s hurt you?