Focused Passage

Genesis 50:15-21

Jacob Is Buried in the Land of Promise, Joseph Reassures His Brothers, and God’s Sovereign Good Stands over Human Evil

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.”

16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded,

17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”

19 But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God?

20 As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.

21 Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Cross-references

Acts 7:9 Classic cross-references Proverbs 19:11 Classic cross-references Proverbs 28:1 Classic cross-references Genesis 27:41 Classic cross-references Genesis 42:21 Classic cross-references

Original words

When Joseph’s יוֹסֵף֙ H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular brothers אֲחֵֽי־ H251 Noun - masculine plural construct saw וַיִּרְא֤וּ H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural that כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction their father אֲבִיהֶ֔ם H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural was dead מֵ֣ת H4191 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular they said וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural What if ל֥וּ H3863 Preposition Joseph יוֹסֵ֑ף H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular bears a grudge יִשְׂטְמֵ֖נוּ H7852 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural Then he will surely repay וְהָשֵׁ֤ב H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute . . . יָשִׁיב֙ H7725 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular us לָ֔נוּ Preposition | first person common plural - אֵ֚ת H853 Direct object marker for all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the evil הָ֣רָעָ֔ה H7451 Article | Adjective - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative we did גָּמַ֖לְנוּ H1580 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural to him אֹתֽוֹ׃ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

Proverbs 29:25 Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 2:11 Classic cross-references

Original words

So they sent word וַיְצַוּ֕וּ H6680 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Joseph יוֹסֵ֖ף H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular saying לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Before לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct he died מוֹת֖וֹ H4194 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct your father אָבִ֣יךָ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular commanded צִוָּ֔ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 17

Cross-references

Luke 23:34 Classic cross-references Ephesians 4:32 Classic cross-references Genesis 31:5 Classic cross-references Matthew 6:14 Classic cross-references Genesis 45:4 Classic cross-references

Original words

This is what כֹּֽה־ H3541 Adverb you are to say תֹאמְר֣וּ H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural to Joseph לְיוֹסֵ֗ף H3130 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular I beg you אָ֣נָּ֡א H577 Interjection please נָ֠א H4994 Interjection forgive שָׂ֣א H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular the transgression פֶּ֣שַׁע H6588 Noun - masculine singular construct and sin וְחַטָּאתָם֙ H2403 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural of your brothers אַחֶ֤יךָ H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular for כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction they did גְמָל֔וּךָ H1580 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | second person masculine singular you wrong רָעָ֣ה H7451 Adjective - feminine singular So now, [Joseph] וְעַתָּה֙ H6258 Conjunctive waw | Adverb please נָ֔א H4994 Interjection forgive שָׂ֣א H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular the transgression לְפֶ֥שַׁע H6588 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of the servants עַבְדֵ֖י H5650 Noun - masculine plural construct of the God אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of your father אָבִ֑יךָ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular When their message בְּדַבְּרָ֥ם H1696 Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural came to him אֵלָֽיו׃ H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular Joseph יוֹסֵ֖ף H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular wept וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ H1058 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 18

Cross-references

Genesis 37:7 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 9:7 Classic cross-references Genesis 27:29 Classic cross-references Genesis 42:6 Classic cross-references Genesis 44:14 Classic cross-references

Original words

His brothers אֶחָ֔יו H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular also גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction came to him וַיֵּלְכוּ֙ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural bowed down וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ H5307 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural before him לְפָנָ֑יו H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular and said וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . הִנֶּ֥נּֽוּ H2009 Interjection | third person masculine singular We are your slaves לַעֲבָדִֽים׃ H5650 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural

Verse 19

Cross-references

Romans 12:19 Classic cross-references Genesis 30:2 Classic cross-references Genesis 45:5 Classic cross-references

Original words

But Joseph יוֹסֵ֖ף H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיֹּ֧אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֲלֵהֶ֛ם H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb be afraid תִּירָ֑אוּ H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural . . . כִּ֛י H3588 Conjunction Am I אָֽנִי׃ H589 Pronoun - first person common singular in the place of הֲתַ֥חַת H8478 Preposition God אֱלֹהִ֖ים H430 Noun - masculine plural

Verse 20

Cross-references

Romans 8:28 Classic cross-references Psalms 119:71 Classic cross-references Genesis 45:5 Classic cross-references Genesis 37:18 Classic cross-references Acts 2:23 Classic cross-references

Original words

As for you וְאַתֶּ֕ם H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine plural what you intended חֲשַׁבְתֶּ֥ם H2803 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural against me עָלַ֖י H5921 Preposition | first person common singular for evil רָעָ֑ה H7451 Adjective - feminine singular God אֱלֹהִים֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural intended חֲשָׁבָ֣הּ H2803 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular for good לְטֹבָ֔ה H2896 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular in order to לְמַ֗עַן H4616 Conjunction accomplish עֲשֹׂ֛ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct a day כַּיּ֥וֹם H3117 Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular like this הַזֶּ֖ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular to preserve the lives לְהַחֲיֹ֥ת H2421 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct of many רָֽב׃ H7227 Adjective - masculine singular people עַם־ H5971 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

Genesis 47:12 Classic cross-references 1 Peter 3:9 Classic cross-references Genesis 45:10 Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 5:15 Classic cross-references Isaiah 40:2 Classic cross-references

Original words

Therefore וְעַתָּה֙ H6258 Conjunctive waw | Adverb do not אַל־ H408 Adverb be afraid תִּירָ֔אוּ H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural I אָנֹכִ֛י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular will provide for אֲכַלְכֵּ֥ל H3557 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular you אֶתְכֶ֖ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural - וְאֶֽת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and your little ones טַפְּכֶ֑ם H2945 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural So [Joseph] reassured וַיְנַחֵ֣ם H5162 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular [his brothers] אוֹתָ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural and spoke וַיְדַבֵּ֖ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular kindly to them עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . לִבָּֽם׃ H3820 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural

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