Coat or Garment of Many Colors

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Waiting on him

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2018
11,727
6,101
113
57
North America
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
My high school physics course was more than 50 years ago, but I seem to recall the teacher shining a white light through a glass prism which caused it break up into a rainbow on the other side and that rainbow went through another prism which recombined it into a white light again.

I remember there was difference with colors of light from colors of paint.

Combining light colors = white
Combining paint colors = black
In life light makes color, in art color suggests light.
 
  • Like
Reactions: amadeus

Waiting on him

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2018
11,727
6,101
113
57
North America
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Matthew 23:5 KJV
[5] But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
 
  • Like
Reactions: amadeus

VictoryinJesus

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2017
10,580
8,428
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Coat of many colors Gen 37:3 and II Sam 13:18

"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" Gen 37:3

"And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled..." II Sam 13:18

Coat [in Gen 37:3 & 23]
Garment [in II Sam 13:18]


tntk K@thoneth (keth-o'-neth); Noun Feminine, Strong #: 3801




    • tunic, under-garment
      1. a long shirt-like garment usually of linen
KJV Word Usage and Count
coat 23
garment 5
robe 1
*****************************************
Colours [In Gen 3:3 and 3:37 as well as in & II Sam 13:18]

op Pac (pas); Noun Masculine, Strong #: 6446




    • flat (of the hand or foot), palm, sole
      1. of the tunic reaching to palms and soles (fig.)
KJV Word Usage and Count
colours 5
***********************************************

The following is a slighted edited version it from my own forum post on 5-22-2019 [possibly not this forum?]:

I took note of the two different scriptural coats/garments of many colors a number of years ago and set it aside for a study which to date I have not done although I have asked questions of other people about it previously. Your [unidentified person on an unrecalled forum... maybe this one?] mention of it here brought it back to mind now. What do they mean to you? You say you've 'done both'.

Joseph's coat was a special gift from his father [Jacob/Israel], which stirred up, to put it mildly, the animosity of his brothers, who were also sons of the same father but not of the same mother. It is certainly an early example of sibling rivalry and/or jealousy.

Tamar, on the other hand, wore her garment apparently because she was a daughter of the King, King David of Israel.

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.

Tamar was raped by her brother and avenged by another brother.

Each of the two had a special covering garment which became defiled. They both garments were of diverse colors. Is this connected in any way to the rainbow God displayed after the great flood in the time of Noah? Did not God say, "never again" would there be such a destruction by flood?

Joseph's coat was purposely dipped in the blood of a dead animal his brothers killed for that purpose.

Tamar tore her own garment purposely to make manifest to any observer her humbled state.


That's it! Hopefully someone is able to make a definitive connection or has even done a study on it previously. What message, if any, does God have for us in the two events and the two many colored garments?

Both were overpowered by one or more siblings, Joseph by his jealous brothers and Tamar by her lustful brother. In both cases the feelings of the victim were essentially or completely ignored. The one was sold into slavery and the other painfully used and disgraced before men... [and God?]

There is nothing to indicate how Joseph may have resisted or argued against his brothers action against him. They removed his coat of many colors, tore it purposely and stained it with animal blood to make their father believe some animal had killed him.

In the case of Tamar, when she realized her brother, Amon's purpose, she told him to ask King David to give her to him for surely the King would not refuse him. He ignored her words and forced himself on her. Afterward when he had her forcibly ejected from the house, she again spoke telling him that this rejection of her was worse than the rape. She tore the many colored garment herself and put ashes on her head and cried.

The response of the two fathers, Jacob and David?

"And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days." Gen 37:34

What we know of Jacob's reaction to the truth is seen after his death through the words of the guilty brothers which were certainly at least in part very self-serving:

"And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Gen 50:15-20

Here is David's reaction when he heard of the rape of his daughter by his son.


"But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth." II Sam 13:21

No further words or actions from David with regard to his daughter's rape. Another son, Absalom, avenged the rape by killing Amnon, but David seemingly was more concerned with the death of Absalom than he had been by the rape of his daughter.

Several similarities, but some definite differences as well. Thoughts? Understanding? Helps?

It has always been interesting to me His coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout ...complete, whole ...reminds me of the Word of God.
John 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.


John 19:23 Lexicon: Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece.
 

Waiting on him

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2018
11,727
6,101
113
57
North America
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
It has always been interesting to me His coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout ...complete, whole ...reminds me of the Word of God.
John 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.


John 19:23 Lexicon: Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece.
If you have two impart to your brother who has none.
 

amadeus

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2008
23,232
33,206
113
81
Oklahoma
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
It has always been interesting to me His coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout ...complete, whole ...reminds me of the Word of God.

That, yes, and also a Covering which won't easily unravel. The leaves won't do it. Even the skins provided by God won't do it. Stop gaps, but now if we accept it we are fully covered... no gaps, no seams, no weaknesses and whiter than snow!
 

Waiting on him

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2018
11,727
6,101
113
57
North America
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
In the tale of Ruth and Boaz she requests to be covered by him as kinsman redeemer, I’m not certain if many realize that Boaz was like the great great grandson of Rahab. Now she is referred to as the harlot, but there are indications in scripture that suggest she was a seamstress.


Joshua 2:6 KJV
[6] But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
gotta ask yourself why she had enough stalks of flask on her roof to hide three grown men. God used this cannanite woman mightily.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Azim and amadeus

amadeus

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2008
23,232
33,206
113
81
Oklahoma
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
In the tale of Ruth and Boaz she requests to be covered by him as kinsman redeemer, I’m not certain if many realize that Boaz was like the great great grandson of Rahab. Now she is referred to as the harlot, but there are indications in scripture that suggest she was a seamstress.
I don't recall seeing that but she did hang a bit of scarlet thread out the window to identify her home when the city was being attacked by the Hebrews.

My wife worked out our home as a seamstress for years so there were always threads, ribbons, pieces of cloth and sewing machines around. No more. She gave away all but one sewing machine a few years ago.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Waiting on him

Waiting on him

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2018
11,727
6,101
113
57
North America
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I don't recall seeing that but she did hang a bit of scarlet thread out the window to identify her home when the city was being attacked by the Hebrews.

My wife worked out our home as a seamstress for years so there were always threads, ribbons, pieces of cloth and sewing machines around. No more. She gave away all but one sewing machine a few years ago.
I edited my post to give some scripture.
 
  • Like
Reactions: amadeus

Waiting on him

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2018
11,727
6,101
113
57
North America
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Matthew 1:5-6 KJV
[5] And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; [6] And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

Greek: Ῥαχάβ
Transliteration: Rhachab
Pronunciation: hrakh-ab'
Definition: From the same as G4460; Rachab a Canaanitess: - Rachab.
KJV Usage: Rachab (1x).
Occurs: 1
In verses: 1

Greek: Βοόζ
Transliteration: Booz
Pronunciation: bo-oz'
Definition: Of Hebrew origin [H1162];
Booz (that is Boaz) an Israelite: - Booz.
KJV Usage: Booz (3x).
Occurs: 3
In verses: 2
 
  • Like
Reactions: amadeus

amadeus

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2008
23,232
33,206
113
81
Oklahoma
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gotta give some credit to the women sewing these many coats.

of many colors.
Indeed, today with modern sew machines and other weaving devices and such it is a job. My wife was good at it, but it is hard to imagine 3,000 years ago when even the cloth itself had to be made before it could be formed into a wearable garment?
 

Waiting on him

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2018
11,727
6,101
113
57
North America
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Indeed, today with modern sew machines and other weaving devices and such it is a job. My wife was good at it, but it is hard to imagine 3,000 years ago when even the cloth itself had to be made before it could be formed into a wearable garment?
I myself can’t see Jacob sewing a coat but who knows? Does scripture say Jacob made it, if so I could see him maybe attaching a hem?