Lux Domini
And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

What does Genesis 37:34 mean?

When Satan has taught men to commit one sin, he teaches them to try to conceal it with another; to hide theft and murder, with lying and false oaths: but he that covers his sin shall not prosper long.

Key themes

HopeCreationFallCovenant

Read with

Keep this verse inside Genesis 37:31-35 and alongside a few nearby related passages.

Commentary on Genesis 37:34

And Jacob rent his clothes,....

Key words

Jacob

And Jacob rent his clothes,.

clothes

And Jacob rent his clothes,.

Context in Genesis 37

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Genesis 37 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as the family line through Isaac and Jacob. Genesis opens the whole Bible with creation, fall, flood, Babel, and the long patriarchal story that carries the reader from Eden to Egypt. Read this chapter with the wider themes of creation, fall, and covenant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

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Bible verses about hope

A collection of passages on hope under pressure, future inheritance, resurrection expectation, and confidence in God’s final faithfulness.

Glossary

Sackcloth People

Cloth made of black goats’ hair, coarse, rough, and thick, used for sacks, and also worn by mourners ( Gen. 37:34 ; 42:25 ; 2 Sam. 3:31 ; Esther 4:1 , 2; Ps. 30:11 , etc. ), and as a sign of repentance ( Matt. 11:21 ).