Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Genesis 37:31 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 31. 31And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
The brothers kill a young goat and dip Joseph's distinctive garment in its blood. They manufacture evidence designed to support the wild-animal story without Joseph's body.
Read It With
- Genesis 37:12–36
Read verses 20 and 31–33 with Genesis 27:9–16. The original cover story, goat blood, garment, and Jacob's recognition work together; the earlier goat-and-garment deception deepens the family pattern.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The goat blood converts Joseph's garment from a status object into staged evidence, beginning the deception promised in verse 20.
Read Genesis 37:29–33 together
Why these verses belong together: Reuben's discovery, the goat-blood preparation, recognition request, and Jacob's false inference form the failed-rescue and deception movement.
Verse 29. 29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
Verse 30. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
Verse 31. 31 And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
Verse 32. 32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no.
Verse 33. 33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
What Remains True
Fabricated evidence is a lie even when the deceiver avoids saying the intended conclusion aloud.
How It Can Shape Life
- Do not alter, stage, omit, or selectively present evidence so another person reaches a false conclusion.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 37:12–36 — Joseph Is Sold and Jacob Is DeceivedSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? very strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed text, whole-story responsibility, remembered anguish, and later providence.
Exact location: Genesis 37:12–36; 39:1; 42:21; 45:4–8; 50:15–20 in the pinned standardized 1769 KJV
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Shalom, master of dreams, pit, profit, flesh, unstated verb subjects, recognition, Sheol, and court-title forms.
Exact location: WLC Genesis 37:12–36, especially vv. 14, 19, 22, 26–28, 32, 35–36
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: KJV and Hebrew idioms, verse 28 supplied subjects, garment delivery, Sheol, Medanite-Midianite variant, and Potiphar-title cautions.
Exact location: NET Genesis 37 notes 31–77
Open NET Genesis 37 ↗