Joseph: Genesis 37 NIV

In analysing the bible from a linguistic perspective, we become “Language Detectives.”

This can enable us to determine sensitivity, truth and/or deception in both written and verbal statements. This is called, “Forensic Linguistic Analysis.”

In applying the science in it’s simplest form means that no person can say everything on their mind. When someone tells us what happened, they need to transform an event that happened into words. To do this, they have to go through two steps before saying the words. Firstly, they have to edit or decide what is important enough to be included and secondly, consider how they phrase and word what they are saying. This second step, done at less than a micro second in the mind can reveal a person’s background, experience, priorities and personality. This is known as the Speed of Transmission.

Linguistic and Statement Analysis is used in a number of applications, to determine Credibility, Solve Crimes, differentiate between truth and deception in everyday life and gain deeper understanding of ancient text which gives an exciting lens through which to view the bible.

A good example is seen in the story of Joseph:

(Source: P Hyatt Statement Analysis Blog)

The focus is “The Sovereignty of God”

The brothers of Joseph had done incredible evil, but it was part of a greater, long term plan of which life for both his family and Egypt in large, was spared from horrific famine.  Within this long term 'strategy' is a small point or 'tactic' that is worth examining. 

The small detail:

Joseph's father indulged him.  By the time he was 17, he was not about working, but walking amongst his older brothers, sharing his dreams with them, while wearing a very expensive, and eye-catching coat.  

They bristled with envy.  There are lessons of Linguistic Analysis for us to observe. 

They took him and sold him into slavery, profiting off of the young man's life.  To satisfy their burning envy (emotion), they were willing to destroy Joseph's life.  (At first, they considered murder, but that would not be "moral", so they decided to sell him into slavery, to, you know, give Joseph his life, while financially profiting off of him.  He was likely well fed and strong and would bring full price for a slave.  This, too, could be used to silence the guilty conscience, reminding themselves how they are not murderers.  They were responsible businessmen who made a business decision, since Joseph didn't appear to be one of good worth ethic.  Perhaps, even, they could tell themselves:  'We'll teach him a lesson.'

Joseph was beloved of his aging father, so they took his fancy expensive leather coat, and dipped it in goat's blood and handed it to the patriarch.  

Will they lie?

Note the deception first, and the consequences of deception upon the victim, next. 

Consider:  Would they dip the coat in goat's blood and say to their father, "A wild beast has killed our brother, Joseph!"?  This would be a direct fabrication of reality which, in deception, is rare.  They would like to accomplish this while maintaining the luxury of telling themselves what good, moral men they are:  they don't lie.  This is a strong insight into human nature.  

"And they took Joseph's coat and killed a kid of the goats and dipped the coat in the blood.  And they sent the coat of many colours and they brought it to their father and said, this we have found, know now whether it be your son's coat, or no."

Regardless of translation chosen, we may step back from the minute detail and see the plural:  no one wants to step up, singularly, and lie directly. 

Note the "kid" of the goats would also make for a nice celebration banquet, and not be wasteful of the environment or their resources. These are good, 'moral' men, with the moral 'high ground.'

Note "your son" and not "our brother", to further distance themselves from their guilt.  

Please note that the deception is via missing information, rather than the difficult direct lie. They let their father come to a false conclusion, while avoiding telling a direct lie.  Human nature lies most often in this manner, allowing itself to say, "I didn't lie."  

By using the plural pronoun, the human nature's little, 'distancing trick' is to distance an individual from personal guilt, as if to dilute it by spreading it around, like a school boy who says, "Everyone was doing it!" as if it erases the line between right and wrong.  

"And he knew it and said, it is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him.  Joseph is, without doubt, rent into pieces."  

Now, they withhold the truth via their silence and allow the old man to suffer:

"And Jacob rent his clothes and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.  And all his sons and daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted; and said, I will go down to the grave unto my son mourning.  Thus, his father wept for him."

Nothing could comfort him, even the support from a large family.  Jacob said he would suffer every day until his own death. 

Each brother was willing for an innocent person (Joseph) to suffer incarceration just to satisfy their desire.  

This process can be applied to any aspect in everyday life.