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Bible story · Genesis 37–50

Joseph and His Coat

Joseph is sold by his brothers, rises in Egypt, and forgives them. A 2-minute animated story, told simply for children and families, with each verse from the King James Version.

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1 of 8

Jacob had twelve sons, but he loved Joseph most of all. He gave Joseph a beautiful coat of many colors, and his brothers grew jealous.

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.

Genesis 37:3 KJV

2 of 8

Joseph dreamed that the sun, the moon and eleven stars bowed down to him. When he told his family, his brothers hated him even more.

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

Genesis 37:9 KJV

3 of 8

One day the brothers threw Joseph into a deep pit. Then they sold him to traders who were on their way to Egypt.

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Genesis 37:28 KJV

4 of 8

In Egypt, Joseph was put in prison for something he did not do. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him kindness.

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Genesis 39:21 KJV

5 of 8

Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had strange dreams that no one could explain. Joseph said, “I can’t, but God will give the answer.” Then God helped him explain them.

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Genesis 41:16 KJV

6 of 8

Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. Joseph stored up grain during seven good years, so there would be food when seven years of famine came.

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:41 KJV

7 of 8

When the famine came, Joseph’s brothers traveled to Egypt to buy food. They bowed down before him, not knowing who he was.

And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

Genesis 42:6 KJV

8 of 8

At last Joseph told them who he was, hugged them, and forgave them. “You meant it for evil,” he said, “but God meant it for good.”

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.

Genesis 50:20 KJV

The end

Next story: Moses and the Burning Bush

What does this story teach?

  • God is with us even when life is unfair.
  • God can turn bad things into good.
  • Jealousy hurts families. Forgiveness heals them.
  • Doing what is right matters, even when no one is watching.

Questions to talk about

Use these with your children after the story, at bedtime, at the table or in a class.

  1. Why were Joseph’s brothers jealous of him?
  2. How do you think Joseph felt in the pit and in prison?
  3. Why do you think Joseph forgave his brothers?
  4. Is there someone you need to forgive?

Read the story in the Bible

This retelling uses simple words for young readers. Read the full account in Genesis 37–50, one verse per screen:

Genesis 37 Genesis 39 Genesis 41 Genesis 45 Genesis 50

Frequently asked questions

Where is the story of Joseph in the Bible?

Joseph’s story fills most of Genesis 37 to 50, the end of the first book of the Bible. The coat and the dreams are in chapter 37, Egypt in chapters 39–41, and the reunion with his brothers in chapters 42–45.

What does the coat of many colors mean?

Genesis 37:3 says Jacob made Joseph “a coat of many colours” because he loved him more than his other sons. It was a sign of special favor, which is why his brothers became jealous.

How old was Joseph when he was sold?

Genesis 37:2 says Joseph was seventeen. He was thirty when he began to serve Pharaoh (Genesis 41:46), so about thirteen years passed between the pit and the palace.

What is the lesson of Joseph’s story?

God works through even the worst things people do. As Joseph told his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.”

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