Genesis 37:23
ESV
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.
NIV
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing—
NASB
So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the multicolored tunic that was on him;
CSB
When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the robe of many colors that he had on.
NLT
So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing.
KJV
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
NKJV
So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him.
What does Genesis 37:23 mean?
Finally, Joseph reaches his brothers. They have seen him coming and have been debating how to get rid of him once and for all (Genesis 37:12–20). One source of their fury toward Joseph is their father's blatant favoritism (Genesis 37:3–4). A lavish sign of this favor is the robe given to him by their father. The unique Hebrew words used to describe this garment imply colors, length, and variation. A typical tunic would have been sleeveless and plain; Joseph's is long and ornate. Intricate robes like this one were sometimes worn by the prince of a tribe or nation. The gift of the robe may have indicated that Jacob planned to make Joseph the primary heir and head of the clan.It's not surprising, then, that the first action taken by the brothers when Joseph arrives is to rip the robe from him. Their intent is to kill him outright. The oldest, Reuben, appeared to suggest they simply leave him to die in a dry well (Genesis 37:21–22). In truth, he plans to sneak Joseph out to return him to their father.
Genesis 37:12–36 describes how Joseph's wildly resentful brothers finally get rid of him. They hate Joseph for being Jacob's favorite (Genesis 37:3) and for his grandiose dreams (Genesis 37:5, 9). When Joseph arrives alone at the camp of his brothers, very far from home, they have an opportunity. Only Reuben's intervention keeps them from killing Joseph outright. Instead, while Reuben is absent, the brothers sell Joseph to passing slave traders and later convince their father he has been killed by a wild animal. Joseph becomes a slave in an Egyptian home. Genesis 39 will return to Joseph's story.
Joseph, 17, is deeply loved by his father Jacob and deeply resented by his ten older brothers thanks to Jacob's favoritism. Jacob gives Joseph a princely robe, and Joseph reports dreams that predict his family will one day bow before him. When alone with Joseph in the wilderness, the brothers decide to kill him. Reuben stops them, suggesting they throw him alive into a pit, instead. While Reuben is gone, however, the brothers sell Joseph to slave-traders, later convincing their father Joseph has been killed by a wild animal. Joseph is placed in the home of an Egyptian nobleman.
