Genesis 50:15-20

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”
16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died:
17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Images for Genesis 50:15-20

Genesis 50:15-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 50

This chapter contains a short account of what happened from the death of Jacob to the death of Joseph, and is chiefly concerned with the funeral of Jacob; it first gives an account how Joseph was affected with his father's death, of his orders to the physicians to embalm him, and of the time of their embalming him, and of the Egyptians mourning for him, Ge 50:1-3, next of his request to Pharaoh to give him leave to go and bury his father in Canaan, and his grant of it, Ge 50:4-6 and then of the grand funeral procession thither, the mourning made for Jacob, and his interment according to his orders, Ge 50:7-13 upon the return of Joseph and his brethren to Egypt, they fearing his resentment of their former usage of him, entreat him to forgive them; which they said they did at the direction of their father, to which Joseph readily agreed, and comforted them, and spoke kindly to them, and bid them not fear any hurt from him, for whatever were their intention, God meant it, and had overruled it for good, Ge 50:14-21 and the chapter is concluded with an account of Joseph's age and death, and of his posterity he saw before his death, and of the charge he gave to his brethren to carry his bones with them, when they should depart from Egypt, Ge 50:22-26.

Cross References 14

  • 1. S Genesis 27:41
  • 2. ver 17; S Genesis 9:5; Genesis 37:28; Genesis 42:21-22; Zephaniah 3:11; 1 Peter 3:9
  • 3. Genesis 49:29
  • 4. S Matthew 6:14
  • 5. S ver 15
  • 6. S Genesis 28:13
  • 7. S Genesis 29:11
  • 8. S Genesis 37:7
  • 9. S Genesis 43:18
  • 10. S Genesis 30:2; S Exodus 32:34; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30
  • 11. Genesis 37:20
  • 12. Isaiah 10:7; Micah 4:11-12
  • 13. Romans 8:28
  • 14. S Genesis 45:5; Esther 4:14
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