Genesis 37:3

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was the child of his old age, and he made him a robe of many colors.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָהַ֤ב אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִכָּל־בָּנָ֔יו כִּֽי־בֶן־זְקֻנִ֥ים ה֖וּא ל֑וֹ וְעָ֥שָׂה ל֖וֹ כְּתֹ֥נֶת פַּסִּֽים׃

Transliteration

And yiśrāʾēl ʾāhaḇ ʾeṯ-yôsēp̄ more than all-his bānāyw because-ben-zəqunîm he to him; and wə-ʿāśâ for him kəṯōneṯ passîm

Grammar Details

• *yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun, masculine singular - 'Israel' (Jacob's other name)
• *ʾāhaḇ*: verb, perfect 3rd masculine singular - 'loved'
• *bānāyw*: noun, masculine plural with 3rd masculine singular suffix - 'his sons'
• *ben*: noun, masculine singular construct - 'son of'
• *zəqunîm*: noun, masculine plural - 'old age'
• *wə-ʿāśâ*: waw-consecutive with perfect 3rd masculine singular - 'and he made'
• *kəṯōneṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - 'tunic/coat of'
• *passîm*: noun, masculine plural - 'colorful/long sleeves/ornamental'

Word Meanings

• *ben*-*zəqunîm*: son of old age/child of his old age/late-born son
• *kəṯōneṯ* *passîm*: coat of many colors/long-sleeved tunic/ornamental robe/special tunic

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old a: and he made him a coat of many colours.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  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.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And Israel loued Ioseph more than all his childern because he begat hym in his olde age and he made him a coote of many coloures.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Israel loued Ioseph more the all his childre because he had begotte him in his olde age, and he made him a cote of many coloures.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Nowe Israel loued Ioseph more then all his sonnes, because he begate him in his old age, and he made him a coat of many colours.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But Israel loued Ioseph more then all his chyldren, because he begate hym in his olde age: and he made hym a coate of many colours.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  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.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Israel hath loved Joseph more than any of his sons, for he `is' a son of his old age, and hath made for him a long coat;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now the love which Israel had for Joseph was greater than his love for all his other children, because he got him when he was an old man: and he had a long coat made for him.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because he was a son born to him late in life, and he made a special tunic for him.

Referenced Verses

• Gen 37:32 : 32 They sent the ornate tunic to their father and said, "We found this. Please examine it to see whether it is your son's tunic or not."
• Gen 37:23 : 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing.
• John 13:22-23 : 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain about whom He was speaking. 23 One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Him.
• 2 Sam 13:18 : 18 Now she was wearing a richly ornamented robe, for this was how the virgin daughters of the king dressed in those days. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her.
• Ps 45:13-14 : 13 The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; the wealthy among the people will seek your favor. 14 The royal daughter is glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold.
• Ezek 16:16 : 16 You took your garments and made colorful high places for yourself, and on them, you committed prostitution. Such things should not have happened, nor should they occur.
• John 3:35 : 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
• Gen 44:20-30 : 20 And we answered my lord, 'We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.'" 21 Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me so that I may set my eyes on him.'" 22 But we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father. If he leaves, his father will die.'" 23 But you said to your servants, 'If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again.' 24 When we went back to your servant, my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 Later, our father said, 'Go back and buy us a little more food.' 26 But we said, 'We cannot go down unless our youngest brother is with us. For we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.' 27 Then your servant, my father, said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons.' 28 'One of them went away from me, and I said, "Surely he has been torn to pieces," and I have not seen him since.' 29 'If you take this one also from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to the grave in sorrow.' 30 So now, if I come to your servant, my father, and the boy is not with us—since his life is so closely bound up with the boy's life—
• Judg 5:30 : 30 'Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a girl or two for each man, colorful garments for Sisera, colorful garments embroidered, highly embroidered garments for my neck—all this as plunder?'