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.
Read it in contextJoseph's Forgiveness and Final Words
Start reading at Genesis 50:1 (Genesis 50:1 to Genesis 50:26).
The entire chapter details the final events of Joseph's life, including his father's burial and his reconciliation with his brothers, culminating in his own death and prophecy.
50:1And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
50:2And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
50:3And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
50:4And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
50:5My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
50:6And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
50:7And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
50:8And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
50:9And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
50:10And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
50:11And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
50:12And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
50:13For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
50:14And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
50:15And 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.
50:16And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
50:17So 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.
50:18And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
50:19And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
50:20But 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.
50:21Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
50:22And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
50:23And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.
50:24And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
50:25And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
50:26So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional Jewish and Christian author of Genesis as part of the Pentateuch. Genesis itself does not explicitly identify its writer. Biblical references: John 5:46; Mark 12:26. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Genesis 50:1–50:26): Joseph, his brothers, and the family participate in Jacob's burial and the subsequent reassurance. Joseph's final instructions concern Israel's future departure from Egypt. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel, the covenant people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were the first community for whom this account of their origins was preserved. An exact first circulation date or named recipient is not established. Biblical references: Genesis 12:1; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 35:10. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? The main theme is Joseph's declaration of God's sovereign purpose in turning his brothers' evil intent into good, leading to the salvation of many people. The passage also details the death and burial of Jacob and Joseph's final interactions with his brothers.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His absolute sovereignty over human actions, His ability to orchestrate events for His redemptive purposes, and His providential care for His covenant people, even using evil intentions to bring about good.
What is the literary style? Narrative history.
When
When was it written? Approximately 1440 to 1400 B.C.
When does the event take place? The event takes place after the death of Jacob, during Joseph's life in Egypt, near the end of the patriarchal period, as recorded in the book of Genesis.
Where
Where did it happen? The immediate conversation in Genesis 50:20 takes place in Egypt. The broader events in the passage include the embalming and dwelling in Egypt, and the burial of Jacob in the cave of Machpelah in the land of Canaan.
Where was the author located? The author was located in the Wilderness of Sinai.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Joseph's Forgiveness and Final Words (Genesis 50:1 to Genesis 50:26).
Start reading at Genesis 50:1. The entire chapter details the final events of Joseph's life, including his father's burial and his reconciliation with his brothers, culminating in his own death and prophecy.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This verse is the climax of Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers, demonstrating his profound faith and forgiveness. It concludes the Joseph narrative and the book of Genesis by affirming God's overarching plan despite human sin, setting the stage for the growth of Israel in Egypt and their eventual exodus. interpretation
How does it point to Christ? Joseph, though betrayed and sold by his brothers out of evil intent, was used by God to become a savior to his family and 'much people alive.' This prefigures Christ, who, though rejected and crucified by human evil, was raised by God to bring salvation to many, fulfilling God's good and redemptive purpose for humanity. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Believers can trust that God is sovereign and can work even the most malicious human actions for His ultimate good purposes. We are called to forgive those who wrong us, recognizing that God's plan is greater than any individual offense, and to live with a perspective that sees God's hand in all circumstances. interpretation
What Scripture saysThe book does not name its author. Elsewhere Scripture attributes the Law to Moses, and Jesus calls it the book of Moses. Exodus 17:14Joshua 8:31Mark 12:26John 5:46
Early traditionJewish tradition (Talmud, Baba Bathra 14b) and the early church assign the first five books to Moses.
What is debatedSome scholars propose several later sources behind the Pentateuch. A few notes appear to be written after Moses, such as the list of kings in Genesis 36:31.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Genesis 50
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Genesis introduces creation, the nations, and the ancestral family of Israel. It does not name a recipient or give a composition date. Read the promises to named people in their narrated settings before applying them to later readers. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Joseph's experiences lead to the preservation of Jacob's family in Egypt. The book closes with confidence about a future return, preparing the setting of Exodus.
Connection to the wholeJoseph's experiences lead to the preservation of Jacob's family in Egypt. The book closes with confidence about a future return, preparing the setting of Exodus.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Joseph's experiences lead to the preservation of Jacob's family in Egypt. The book closes with confidence about a future return, preparing the setting of Exodus.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Genesis
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Genesis introduces creation, the nations, and the ancestral family of Israel. It does not name a recipient or give a composition date. Read the promises to named people in their narrated settings before applying them to later readers.
Connection to the wholeThe opening establishes God as Creator, describes human rebellion and its consequences, and traces the nations before narrowing the account to Abram's family.
Connection to the wholeThe narrative concentrates on God's promises to Abraham, the birth of Isaac, and the continuation of the family through whom the earlier promise is carried forward.
Connection to the wholeFamily rivalry, journeys, marriages, and reconciliation develop the promised line while also recording the related family of Esau.
Connection to the wholeJoseph's experiences lead to the preservation of Jacob's family in Egypt. The book closes with confidence about a future return, preparing the setting of Exodus.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.