Joseph Reassures His Brothers
Genesis 50:15-21
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Gen.50.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- מת: ADJ,m,sg
- אביהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- ישטמנו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg,obj=1,pl
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והשב: VERB,hifil,imperfect,3,m,sg
- ישיב: VERB,hifil,imperfect,3,m,sg
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- הרעה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- גמלנו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
Parallels
- Genesis 37:18-28 (structural): Records the brothers' original plot to kill and then sell Joseph — the concrete wrongdoing that underlies their later fear that Joseph will repay them (background to 50:15).
- Genesis 42:21-22 (verbal): When the brothers first face Joseph in Egypt they voice guilt and fear of punishment (“we are guilty”), echoing the conscience and anxiety expressed in 50:15.
- Genesis 45:4-15 (thematic): Joseph's revelation and forgiving speech to his brothers answers their fear of retribution by offering mercy and framing events in terms of God's providence.
- Genesis 50:20 (verbal): Joseph’s response — “You meant evil against me; God meant it for good” — directly counters the brothers’ fear in 50:15 and explains why he refuses vengeance.
- Romans 12:19 (thematic): Paul’s admonition not to avenge yourselves but to leave judgment to God parallels the ethical and theological rationale for Joseph’s refusal to retaliate.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, and they said, "What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and indeed repays us for all the evil that we dealt him?"
- And when Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will bear us a grudge and will surely repay us for all the evil that we dealt him."
Gen.50.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצוו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- אביך: NOUN,m,sg,suff+2ms
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לפני: PREP
- מותו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Genesis 49:29-33 (quotation): Jacob’s explicit burial instructions to his sons (to bury him in the cave of Machpelah) are the command later recalled to Joseph — the material to which Genesis 50:16 refers.
- Genesis 50:17 (structural): Immediate narrative follow-up: the brothers send a message to Joseph citing their father’s dying command; it continues the same exchange begun in 50:16.
- Genesis 50:24-25 (thematic): Joseph’s own instructions and oath regarding his bones to be carried out after death parallel the motif of patriarchal last commands and requests about burial and future hope.
- Deuteronomy 31:14-15 (thematic): Moses’ final charge and the conveyance of instructions at the approach of death exemplify the broader biblical theme of leaders issuing important commands and covenantal directions just before dying.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father commanded before his death, saying:
- And they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father commanded before his death, saying:"
Gen.50.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כה: ADV
- תאמרו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- ליוסף: PREP+NOUN,prop,sg,m
- אנא: PART
- שא: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- נא: PART
- פשע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- וחטאתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs,3mp
- כי: CONJ
- רעה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גמלוך: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- ועתה: CONJ
- שא: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- נא: PART
- לפשע: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבדי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אביך: NOUN,m,sg,suff+2ms
- ויבך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בדברם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:3mp
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Gen.45:5-8 (verbal): Joseph earlier tells his brothers not to be distressed and explains God sent him to preserve life — anticipates and frames their later plea for forgiveness.
- Gen.42:21-24 (thematic): When the brothers first arrive in Egypt they confess guilt and fear retribution for selling Joseph; this earlier awareness of sin motivates the later entreaty in 50:17.
- Gen.44:18-34 (structural): Judah’s impassioned plea to Joseph on Benjamin’s behalf models the narrative pattern of intercession, contrition, and appeal for mercy found in the brothers’ request in 50:17.
- Gen.50:20 (verbal): Joseph’s response that what they intended for evil God intended for good immediately follows and reframes their plea — a direct thematic and verbal continuation of 50:17.
- Luke 23:34 (allusion): Jesus’ prayer “Father, forgive them…” echoes the theme of forgiving grievous wrongs and receiving pleas for mercy — a New Testament parallel to Joseph’s merciful reception of his brothers’ request.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus you shall say to Joseph: Please, forgive, I pray, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they dealt you evil; and now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept as they spoke to him.
- "This is what you shall say to Joseph, 'Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they dealt you evil; and now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.'" And Joseph wept as they spoke to him.
Gen.50.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- גם: ADV
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
- ויפלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- הננו: PRON,1,c,pl
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- לעבדים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Gen.42.6 (verbal): When Joseph’s brothers first come to Egypt they “bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth,” the same physical act of falling before Joseph described in 50:18.
- Gen.43.26 (verbal): On their second visit the brothers again bow before Joseph as he sits to eat—another explicit recurrence of bowing/recognition language.
- Gen.44.14 (structural): At the moment Judah and his brothers return to Joseph’s house they “fell down before him,” repeating the structural motif of submissive prostration that culminates in 50:18.
- Gen.44.33 (thematic): Judah offers himself as a servant/bondman on behalf of Benjamin—an explicit offer of servitude that echoes the brothers’ words in 50:18, “behold, we are thy servants.”
Alternative generated candidates
- And his brothers also went and fell before him and said, "Here we are, your servants."
- And his brothers also came and fell before him and said, "Here we are as your servants."
Gen.50.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- תיראו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- התחת: INT+PREP
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אני: PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Gen.45:5-8 (thematic): Joseph earlier tells his brothers not to be distressed or angry, explaining that God sent him ahead to preserve life — a direct thematic echo of refusing personal vengeance and attributing events to God's providence.
- Gen.50:20 (structural): Immediate sequel to v.19: Joseph explicitly interprets his brothers' evil as God's means for good, completing his refusal to stand 'in the place of God' by affirming divine purposes.
- Rom.8:28 (thematic): Paul's claim that God works all things for good for those who love him parallels Joseph's theology that what was intended for harm was used by God for salvation.
- Job 1:21 (thematic): Job's submission to divine sovereignty ('The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away') resonates with Joseph's refusal to assume God's role and his acceptance of God's providential control.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?"
- And Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?"
Gen.50.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואתם: CONJ+PRON,2,pl
- חשבתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- רעה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- חשבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לטבה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- למען: PREP
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כיום: ADV
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- להחית: PREP+VERB,hiph,inf
- עם: PREP
- רב: ADJ,m,sg
Parallels
- Gen.45:7-8 (verbal): Joseph earlier tells his brothers that God sent him before them to preserve life — same claim that what they intended for harm God intended for good.
- Gen.37:18-28 (structural): Narrative background showing the brothers' original intent to kill or sell Joseph, the 'evil' they thought against him that Gen 50:20 references.
- Rom.8:28 (thematic): Paul's doctrine that God works all things together for good parallels the theological idea that apparent evil is used by God to accomplish a greater good.
- Acts 7:9-10 (allusion): Stephen recounts how Joseph was sold by his brothers yet God was with him and later rescued him — an early Christian retelling that echoes Gen 50:20's providential interpretation.
- Ps.105:17-22 (verbal): The psalm retells Joseph's being sold into Egypt and God’s providential oversight, emphasizing that what men intended as harm became part of God's saving plan.
Alternative generated candidates
- As for you, you intended evil against me; God intended it for good, to bring about as it is this day, to preserve alive a great people.
- "And as for you, you intended evil against me; God intended it for good, in order to bring about, as it is today, to keep a numerous people alive."
Gen.50.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- אל: NEG
- תיראו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- אכלכל: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- טפכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss,2,m,pl
- וינחם: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- אותם: PRON,3,m,pl,obj
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- לבם: NOUN,m,sg,poss
Parallels
- Gen.45:5-8 (verbal): Joseph earlier tells his brothers 'do not be distressed or angry with yourselves' and interprets his exile as God’s provision to preserve life — similar language of reassurance and divine-purpose framing.
- Gen.47:11-12 (structural): After bringing Jacob's family to Egypt Joseph 'settled his father and his brothers' and 'nourished them' — a concrete fulfillment of his promise to provide for them and their children.
- Gen.28:15 (allusion): God's promise to Jacob — 'I am with you... I will keep you... I will bring you back' — echoes the theme of reassurance and ongoing care for the patriarchal family.
- Isa.41:10 (thematic): Prophetic assurance 'Fear not... I will strengthen you; I will help you' parallels Joseph’s consoling words and the motif of divine/appointed care in the face of fear.
- John 14:1 (thematic): Jesus' 'Let not your hearts be troubled' and his comforting of the disciples parallels Joseph’s calming of his brothers and speaking to their hearts.
Alternative generated candidates
- And now, do not fear; I myself will sustain you and your little ones. And he comforted them and spoke to their hearts.
- "And now, do not fear; I myself will sustain you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke to their hearts.
And Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, and they said, What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and will surely repay us for all the evil that we dealt to him? And they sent word to Joseph, saying, Your father commanded before his death, saying, Thus you shall say to Joseph, Please, forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin—for they dealt evil to you; and now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father. And Joseph wept as they spoke to him. And his brothers also went and fell before him and said, Here we are—your servants. And Joseph said to them, Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?
As for you, you planned evil against me; God planned it for good, in order to bring about—as it is today—the keeping alive of many people. And now do not fear; I myself will sustain you and your little ones. And he comforted them and spoke to their hearts.