Joseph'S Coat Of Many Colors

[LDSGuy]

Since this topic relates to the holy garment, I hope that we tread lightly and keep in mind the sacred nature of what the garment symbolizes.

I was listening to a talk by Skousen a couple of days ago, and he said that a "coat of many colors" was a bad translation, and that it should be rendered "coat of many markings." That it referred to patterns that were embroidered or had extra thread. He mentioned that the reason the other brothers may have been so jealous because it was the coat of skins worn by Adam a passed down through the generations.

Has anyone studied much on this? Are there any good sources and reasons to believe this?

[cinepro]

Cleon, Royal, Richard, Eric or other?

Edited July 9, 2012 by cinepro

[blackstrap]

I've heard this before, as well as a connection to the time when Noah was uncovered in his tent and Ham mocked him.Sorry,no sources.

[LDSGuy]

Cleon, Royal, Richard, Eric or other?

Sorry, that would be Cleon.

[Freedom]

I have heard this but of course, due to the lack of information, it is speculation without any hope of resolution.

[The Nehor]

I prefer to believe both translations are correct and there were symbols and a technicolor dream coat. In honor of this I am off to tie-dye my garments.

[volgadon]

Since this topic relates to the holy garment, I hope that we tread lightly and keep in mind the sacred nature of what the garment symbolizes.

I was listening to a talk by Skousen a couple of days ago, and he said that a "coat of many colors" was a bad translation, and that it should be rendered "coat of many markings." That it referred to patterns that were embroidered or had extra thread. He mentioned that the reason the other brothers may have been so jealous because it was the coat of skins worn by Adam a passed down through the generations.

Has anyone studied much on this? Are there any good sources and reasons to believe this?

Far more accurate would be the rendering "striped robe."

Also, do look at this.

[JAHS]

Some Bible translations say only that it was a richly ornamented robe, or a long-sleeved robe, or a long robe with sleeves, or beautiful robe, etc. not mentioning colors at all.

[maklelan]

Far more accurate would be the rendering "striped robe."

Also, do look at this.

Ah, the Beni Hassan tomb paintings. For those who don't know, these are the earliest known artistic depictions of Semites. Good stuff. Incidentally, I favor the reading "coat with long sleeves." The noun פס refers to an extremity. The plural with "tunic" likely refers to a tunic that reaches to the extremities, or has long sleeves.

[volgadon]

Ah, the Beni Hassan tomb paintings. For those who don't know, these are the earliest known artistic depictions of Semites. Good stuff. Incidentally, I favor the reading "coat with long sleeves." The noun פס refers to an extremity. The plural with "tunic" likely refers to a tunic that reaches to the extremities, or has long sleeves.

Which is a very reasonable reading. The more material used, the more expensive the garment tended to be. As a later example, Scottish Highland chiefs nenever wore kilts, they wore trews.

[maklelan]

Which is a very reasonable reading. The more material used, the more expensive the garment tended to be. As a later example, Scottish Highland chiefs nenever wore kilts, they wore trews.

When we visited my family's ancestral homeland in Scotland a couple year ago we visited a kilt maker's shop and learned a lot about how they functioned. Among other things, the connection of certain patterns with certain clans is a relatively modern novelty. Also, you wear the tartan of your mother's line, not your fathers (since the genetic link with your mother was the only one that could be definitively proven).

[Anijen]

Ah, the Beni Hassan tomb paintings. For those who don't know, these are the earliest known artistic depictions of Semites. Good stuff. Incidentally, I favor the reading "coat with long sleeves." The noun פס refers to an extremity. The plural with "tunic" likely refers to a tunic that reaches to the extremities, or has long sleeves.

I havent paid much attention to this thread but gave you the rep point just for kicks, It real good to see a post from you. Make more

[LDSGuy]

I prefer to believe both translations are correct and there were symbols and a technicolor dream coat. In honor of this I am off to tie-dye my garments.

Very rarely does a post make me laugh. Well done, sir. Well done.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Since this topic relates to the holy garment, I hope that we tread lightly and keep in mind the sacred nature of what the garment symbolizes.

I was listening to a talk by Skousen a couple of days ago, and he said that a "coat of many colors" was a bad translation, and that it should be rendered "coat of many markings." That it referred to patterns that were embroidered or had extra thread. He mentioned that the reason the other brothers may have been so jealous because it was the coat of skins worn by Adam a passed down through the generations.

Has anyone studied much on this? Are there any good sources and reasons to believe this?

No I am going with the Bible as written.

[Pahoran]

Far more accurate would be the rendering "striped robe."

Also, do look at this.

So is the guy in the lower panel, second from the left, carrying a TV or a microwave?

Regards,

Pahoran

[The Nehor]

So is the guy in the lower panel, second from the left, carrying a TV or a microwave?

It is clearly an advanced communications device so the Egyptians could communicate with the alien overlords who forced them to build the pyramids as starship landing docks.

[volgadon]

So is the guy in the lower panel, second from the left, carrying a TV or a microwave?

Regards,

Pahoran

Obviously a notebook.

[Freedom]

So is the guy in the lower panel, second from the left, carrying a TV or a microwave?

Regards,

Pahoran

No, he is carrying the evidence that there are no 'others' in the book of mormon.

[DBMormon]

Obviously a notebook.

Not so obvious.... At first I thought Microwave as well as it looks like Camel Chops on the tray cooking... but after looking closer look it appears it is a box containing a standard Egyptian Funeral text papyri.

Edited July 10, 2012 by DBMormon

[volgadon]

Not so obvious.... At first I thought Microwave as well as it looks like Camel Chops on the tray cooking... but after looking closer look it appears it is a box containing a standard Egyptian Funeral text papyri.

Rotate it about 45 degrees, all joking aside, it is actually a musical instrument.

[Ron Beron]

There are several legends in reference to this. One (Legends of the Jews by Ginsberg) legends has it that Joseph dressed in women's clothing and this was just part of a diaphanous robe that he wore. Another, more legitimate story is that the robe represented the priesthood of the father and was being conveyed out of sequence to a younger son necessitating the sibling rivalry that would soon take place. While I accept the above picture as indicative of the "many colored" coat worn by the Semites entering Egypt it would seem from the Genesis story that Joseph's robe was special and represented something far beyond the others.

[LDSGuy]

There are several legends in reference to this. One (Legends of the Jews by Ginsberg) legends has it that Joseph dressed in women's clothing and this was just part of a diaphanous robe that he wore. Another, more legitimate story is that the robe represented the priesthood of the father and was being conveyed out of sequence to a younger son necessitating the sibling rivalry that would soon take place. While I accept the above picture as indicative of the "many colored" coat worn by the Semites entering Egypt it would seem from the Genesis story that Joseph's robe was special and represented something far beyond the others.

I would agree that his would have to have been different from normal attire, but in what way was it different?

[S.Ferreira]

There is this from the article, Girded about with a Lambskin by Matthew B. Brown, Journal Of Book Of Mormon Studies 6/2 (1997), Footnote 5, p, 125-26.

Some scholars believe that one symbol of the birthright was Joseph’s “coat.” William Wilson, Old Testament Word Studies (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1978), 82. In ancient Jewish legends this was not a coat “of many colors” but rather the royal and priestly “coat of skins” made by God for Adam which had been passed down through the ages by the patriarchs. Hugh W. Nibley, An Approach to the Book of Mormon, 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1988), 218–21; Louis Ginzberg, The Legends of the Jews (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1937), 2:139; 5:326 n. 11; 5:329 n. 43. One writer even suggests that “coat of many colors” can be translated as “seamless coat,” which points to a christological parallel (see John 19:23) as well as to the high priest’s seamless temple robe mentioned in Exodus 28:31–32. Thomas K. Cheyne, Encyclopaedia Biblica (New York: Macmillan, 1899–1903), 5222 n. 1.

[Ron Beron]

I would agree that his would have to have been different from normal attire, but in what way was it different?

There is some other information which fits in nicely to Joseph's calling, i.e., as a diviner. The coat was actually imbued with magical powers and from that Joseph was able to gain his divination power. In Joseph and Asaph by E. C. B. Mac Laurin Vetus Testamentum Vol. 25, Fasc. 1 (Jan., 1975), pp. 27-45, he gives a different insight that I quote, in part, below.

Jacob apparently became devoted to this unusual son of his much

more than to his other children . He had shown this deep regard by

making for him a special garment which should perhaps be described

as "an ankle-length garment with long sleeves" 1). This garment

may have been rather more significant than the usual gift of clothing

made by father to son for it plays a big part in Joseph's subsequent

fate 2). Joseph's omen-bearing dreams and interpretations did not

begin until he had received the coat, and it is significant that his

brother's first action, when they laid hands upon him 3) was to divest

him of the coat. The coat was used as the instrument for bearing the

news of Joseph's supposed death to Jacob 4) but was not handed

to him until it had been dipped in blood 5) of a sacrificial animal.6)

The later historian believed the coat was dipped in blood in order to

mislead Jacob into regarding it as evidence of Joseph's death, but

in view of the apotrophaic nature of blood ritual it is possible that

in the original form of the story the blood of the goat was intended

to destroy the coat's capacity to grant the power of divination and

so to "close the eyes" of Jacob, and this is in fact what actually took

place.

The Septuagintal tradition that this was a "coat of many colours"

may be ancient; in any case it is not quite certain that the translation

cited by CAIGER 1) "an ankle-length garment with long sleeves" is

correct. Evidence has been adduced in the notes which shows that

the Hebrew phrase which is in doubt consists of two words, one

of which is derived through Assyrian from Sumerian GAD "linen"

whilst the other seems to have the meaning "pieces" in Phoenician.

SAGGS 7) states that at Ur clay figures were found, some of which

were "human figures clad in a garment composed of a pointed hat

and a long robe painted with scales" . There were many types of

garment some which had been given a limewash and painted red

and black. This, then, was the way in which the artists of Sumer,

the home of magic, represented a magical garment, and it is probably

relevant to recall that according to the Biblical account Joseph's great

grandfather, himself reputed to be a competent astrologer, had in

fact come from this same city Ur. Did Jacob get the pattern from his

grandfather? As indicated in the notes, the obscure word translated

"many coloured" in the Septuagint may be an attempt to describe

the appearance of fish-scales either painted on or stitched on to the

robe.

[kolipoki09]

There is this from the article, Girded about with a Lambskin by Matthew B. Brown, Journal Of Book Of Mormon Studies 6/2 (1997), Footnote 5, p, 125-26.

While much of the article you cited is problematic (as it relates to Freemasonry), Matt's other work on identifying temple symbolism is worth a look. Thanks for reminding me.

Rest in Peace, Helorum. This discussion would have been right up your alley.