Why did Jacob give Joseph a coat of many colors?

Answer

“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 colors” «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 NKJV). The question of why Jacob gave a coat of many colors is one with many aspects to consider. A study of the parental mistakes of Bible characters could be in itself a full-length volume. As examples of parental shortcomings, the erratically behaved Samson was a product of overly indulgent parents. Eli, the high priest of Shiloh, refused to discipline his lecherous sons Hophni and Phinehas. Abraham rashly acted upon his wife’s ill-conceived plan by fathering an illegitimate son. (It is worth noting that Abraham’s two sons continue their struggle to this day.)

But it was Isaac, the son of Abraham, who committed the parental sin of sins. He and his wife, Rebekah, divided their family by showing favoritism between their sons. Isaac preferred the older son, Esau, while Rebekah loved the younger son, Jacob. Ultimately, the bad blood that existed between Esau and Jacob festered into a full-blown hatred between their offspring, the Edomites and the Israelites. Students of Bible prophecy are well aware that much of modern-day Israel’s troubles can be traced to the child-rearing mistakes made by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

As to the coat of many colors itself, the most common outer garment of this type was nothing more than a long cloth with a hole in its middle. After draping the long cloth over the shoulders, a rope or a belt was fastened around the waist. Some expositors argue that this particular coat was especially valued because sleeves were sewn into the garment. Others believe the coat was ornamented by many colors. The real issue was the favoritism shown by Jacob to Joseph, which caused resentment among his other sons.

Joseph’s coat, of course, has nothing to do with colors or sleeves. Jacob presented the special garment to Joseph as a sign that Joseph was esteemed above his brothers. The coat symbolized Joseph as Jacob’s choice as the future head of the clan—an honor typically given to the firstborn son.

There is irony in the passage above, as Jacob (Israel) had been raised by parents who each had their favorites. The favoritism that had disrupted the peace of his childhood home was now threatening to destroy his own family. One might assume that Jacob would have learned about the perils of favoritism, but this was not the case. Jacob turned out to be a stubborn, impulsive man and a very inadequate father. Despite having eleven other sons, Jacob clearly favored Joseph, the second-youngest. Jacob’s love for Joseph surpassed that of all his other sons. Predictably, this blatant favoritism caused a rift among the brothers. The older sons harbored animosity towards Joseph because he received all of their father’s attention and affection. Their resentment towards Joseph created a bond that led to a family rebellion and Joseph’s hostile exile into Egyptian slavery.

In reality, Joseph’s character stood out among Jacob’s other sons; he was the most exceptional among those born to Jacob. In many aspects, his outstanding qualities mirror those of our Lord Jesus. It is noteworthy that Scripture does not mention any fault or sin of Joseph. (The only other Old Testament figure to receive such a positive portrayal is the prophet Daniel.) Joseph’s life exemplified character, courage, conviction, and commitment. Whether imprisoned in a dismal dungeon or reigning from a lofty throne, this noble man submitted himself to God’s will. What an exceptional hero! It is understandable why Jacob favored him over the others; however, Jacob’s imbalanced affections led to significant family sorrow and tragedy. This serves as a valuable lesson.

For all parents—never show favoritism toward any child. Much harm can come from it.