Genesi 50:19

19 E Giuseppe disse loro: "Non temete; poiché son io forse al posto di Dio?

Genesi 50:19 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 50:19

And Joseph said unto them, fear not
That any hurt would be done by him to them, or that he would use them ill for their treatment of him:

for am I in the place of God?
to receive such homage from you, that you should be my servants, as Saadiah Gaon gives the sense; or rather to take vengeance for injury done, which belongs to God alone: or, "am I not under God" ^F21? subject to him, a servant of his, and why should you be mine? nor is it in my power, if I had a will to it, to change his purposes, to alter his providences, or contradict his will, and do hurt to those whom God hath blessed; and so may have regard to the late patriarchal benediction of his father, under the direction of the Holy Spirit: or, "am I in the place of God?" and under him a father of them, as he had been a provider for them, and a supporter of them, and still would be.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 (yna Myhla txth) "annon enim sub Deo sum?" Vatablus.

Genesi 50:19 In-Context

17 Dite così a Giuseppe: Deh, perdona ora ai tuoi fratelli il loro misfatto e il loro peccato; perché t’hanno fatto del male. Deh, perdona dunque ora il misfatto de’ servi dell’Iddio di tuo padre!" E Giuseppe, quando gli fu parlato così, pianse.

18 E i suoi fratelli vennero anch’essi, si prostrarono ai suoi piedi, e dissero: "Ecco, siamo tuoi servi".

19 E Giuseppe disse loro: "Non temete; poiché son io forse al posto di Dio?

20 Voi avevate pensato del male contro a me; ma Dio ha pensato di convertirlo in bene, per compiere quello che oggi avviene: per conservare in vita un popolo numeroso.

21 Ora dunque non temete; io sostenterò voi e i vostri figliuoli". E li confortò, e parlò al loro cuore.