What was so special about Joseph’s Coat?
MAN WARNING! THIS POST WILL BE ABOUT CLOTHES…
This last weekend I went to see the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in San Diego.
It was an extremely nostalgic experience for me, since as a child I watched this show countless times at the theatre, as well as performing in it in a summer school production. Naturally, in that production I played the role of Pharaoh, the show’s coolest character by far. I even had my own backup dancers and everything! 🙂
In preparation for the trip to see the show, a few days before in Bible Study, we read through the Biblical text of the story found at the end of Genesis, beginning around chapter thirty-seven and continuing for about ten chapters.
Not quite as I remember….
As we read through the text and discussed it, I was surprised by the description of the coat given to Joseph by his father:
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a long robe with sleeves. – Genesis 37:3
Huh…I didn’t remember the coat being described like that before. I didn’t ever recall any mention of the sleeves. I always remembered it as matching the description given in the musical, as being “a coat of many colours”. Where did that description come from?
Lost in translation
After a little bit of digging I found that many Bible translations do render this passage a little differently. Back in my Protestant days, I favoured the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible:
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. – Genesis 37:3 (NIV)
Well, that was a little closer, but it wasn’t until I looked at King James Version (KJV) that I found the description for which I was looking:
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 – Genesis 37:3 (KJV)
After a little more research, it turned out that the Hebrew phrase being translated here, kethoneth passim, is somewhat obscure, being used only one other time in the Bible to describe a garment worn by King David’s daughter. It appears that the range of meanings of kethoneth passim include:
- a full-sleeved robe
- a coat of many colors
- a coat reaching to his feet
- an ornamented tunic
- a silk robe
- a fine woolen cloak
The Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Septuagint (LXX), translated the Hebrew into the Greek word ποικίλος (poikilos), which Strong’s Lectionary indicates means multicoloured, lending some support to the KJV’s choice of translation.
What are the consequences?
Whichever translation you use, the actual impact on the meaning of this text in Genesis isn’t really significant. Whether you want to translate kethoneth passim as a “long robe with sleeves” or as “a coat of many colours”, it doesn’t really matter.
However you translate it, the coat was a precious gift from Jacob to Joseph, a gift which caused his brothers to despise him and ultimately want to kill him, thus teaching us the invaluable lesson that, if you’re going to have a favourite child, it’s best to keep it a secret 🙂
I needed some clarification on where the coat came from. I know that the people in that region were noted for their dying techniques and especially the color purple. I thought he bought the garment from them. This passage cleared that misconception up.
Hey Doris,
Welcome to Restless Pilgrim! I’m glad my article could help.
God bless,
David.
The coat of many colors made them jealous bc of the power it held. It included the garments of Adam/Eve from the garden that GOD made with His very own hands. Noah being the 10th generation from Adam saved the garments on the Ark. When Ham committed his terrible act against his father, he left the family & stole the garments which should’ve went the oldest brother. Hams grandson Nimrod was able to conquer all he did bc he always had the garments going into battle. If I’m not mistaken it’s Jacobs son Esau who fights Nimrod and brings the garments back to the rightful family but I may be wrong about that part..read the Apocrypha- it tells the whole story of Adams garments & the coat of many colors. It may be in the book of Jasher but I’m not sure, I can’t remember which book it’s in but its in one of the books in the Apocrypha which are not part of the Bible bc they’re holy books, they’re more like historical books that give accurate accounts written by some of the same authors that support the Bible giving more context & information helping to better understand the stories in the Bible. But with everything, don’t take my word, take it to the Lord first. Have a blessed day! 🎚️📖🕊️
Do you have any evidence to back up these claims?
She gave the sources of her claims. She’s actually correct. Why would they be angry enough to sell their brother over a coat if it was just purple even if the dye was expensive?
She said “It may be in the book of Jasher but I’m not sure”. Is it? If it is, is Jasher authoritative? Why?
Despite the “style” of the coat, whatever it is. I’m pleased. So many searches have described the Thomas Blackshear painting of the “Coat if Many Colors” as being worn by Jesus. It is Josephs coat, hundreds of years befort Christ was born.
Do you know where that picture of Joseph in the Coat of many colors can be purchased? We are looking to get a version for our office. Thanks!
You’ll have to do a bit of hunting, but it’s a painting of Christ by Thomas Blackshear called “Coat of Many Colors”.
What was the purpose of the long sleeves?
Warm, protection from the sun and, I think crucially in this case, style and demonstration of opulence.
The coat was not actually a coat that had many colors. The translation is a bit slurred. The Coat was actually a coat with markings…. the markings were and are sacred. The Act of Jacob giving Joseph the coat to wear was a priestly act that gave Joseph special endowed powers upon him. The coat was divine, and sanctified and purified Joseph. It connected the powers of Heaven to Joseph. As such, it made Joseph more wiser and intelligent than his brethren. If one was to look at the countenance of Joseph with the spiritual eye, Joseph countenance was glorious beyond description….
The coat was a priestly garment, binding Joseph to the powers of Light.
The coat was actually a sacred priestly vestment that God gave and preserved only for Israel. The pattern was derived from God and God Instructed Joseph as the birthright son to wear the divine priestly vestments.
Interesting ideas. What evidence can you present to back up these various claims?