ScriptureDepth's study of Genesis 50
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is today, to save many people alive.”
Genesis 50:20
Joseph speaks to his brothers about their past evil, clarifying that God's intention was for good, specifically to 'save many people alive'.
What Genesis 50 is about
Genesis chapter 50 concludes the Book of Genesis with the death of Jacob and the mourning of his sons. After Jacob's passing, Joseph, deeply grieved, ensures that his father is given a proper burial in Canaan, as per Jacob's last wishes. Joseph's brothers fear that, after their father's death, Joseph might seek revenge for the wrongs they committed against him years earlier.
However, Joseph reassures them, emphasizing God's sovereignty and goodness, declaring that what they intended for evil, God intended for good—signifying a deep theological truth about God's providence in human history. The chapter ends with Joseph’s own death at the age of one hundred and ten, confidently assuring his family that God would visit them and bring them back to the promised land, sealing this narrative with hope for the future.
Genesis 50 at a glance
- Genesis 50:1–2Joseph Mourning for Jacob
- Genesis 50:3–6Burying Jacob in Canaan
- Genesis 50:7–10The Mourning Procession
- Genesis 50:11–14The Burial of Jacob
- Genesis 50:15–21Joseph's Brothers' Fear
- Genesis 50:22–26Joseph's Final Words and Death
Key verse: Genesis 50:20
One thing to notice
Joseph 'fell on his father’s face, wept on him, and kissed him' (v. 1). He commands the embalming process, which takes forty days, as is customary for the Egyptians (v. 3). His mourning is public, with a great lamentation in the land of Egypt (v. 10).
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Genesis 50 (WEB)
Joseph Mourning for Jacob Genesis 50:1–2
1Verse 1. Joseph fell on his father’s face, wept on him, and kissed him. 2Verse 2. Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel.
Burying Jacob in Canaan Genesis 50:3–6
3Verse 3. Forty days were fulfilled for him, for that is how many the days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for him for seventy days. 4Verse 4. When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5Verse 5. ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying. Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come again.’”
6Verse 6. Pharaoh said, “Go up, and bury your father, just like he made you swear.”
The Mourning Procession Genesis 50:7–10
7Verse 7. Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8Verse 8. All the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. 9Verse 9. There went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10Verse 10. They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and severe lamentation. He mourned for his father seven days.
The Burial of Jacob Genesis 50:11–14
11Verse 11. When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. 12Verse 12. His sons did to him just as he commanded them, 13Verse 13. for 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, as a possession for a burial site, from Ephron the Hittite, near Mamre. 14Verse 14. Joseph returned into Egypt—he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
Joseph's Brothers' Fear Genesis 50:15–21
15Verse 15. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.” 16Verse 16. They sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died, saying, 17Verse 17. ‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18Verse 18. His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19Verse 19. Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20Verse 20. As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is today, to save many people alive. 21Verse 21. Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
Joseph's Final Words and Death Genesis 50:22–26
22Verse 22. Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years. 23Verse 23. Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. 24Verse 24. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25Verse 25. Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26Verse 26. So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Genesis 50
God's Sovereignty
In Genesis 50, God's sovereignty is evident in Joseph's understanding of his past. Joseph reassures his brothers that 'you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good' (v. 20). This acknowledgment shows that despite the brothers' actions, God was at work to bring about a greater plan, specifically the survival of many people. The chapter portrays Joseph's faith in God's ultimate control over human affairs.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Forgiveness and reconciliation are central to Joseph's interactions with his brothers. After Jacob's death, the brothers fear Joseph's retribution for their past actions (vv. 15-17). Joseph responds with compassion, saying, 'Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God?' (v. 19). He assures them of his forgiveness and offers to provide for them, thereby restoring their relationship with grace and kindness.
Death and Burial Customs
Genesis 50 provides a detailed account of the customs surrounding death and burial practices. Joseph mourns for his father Jacob and expresses the wish to 'bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of Canaan' (v. 5). A mourning period of seventy days is observed, and the funeral procession, which includes 'chariots and horsemen' (v. 9), illustrates the significance placed on honoring the deceased in this cultural context.
Hope in God's Promises
Hope in God's promises is expressed through Joseph's final words. He reassures his brothers that 'God will surely visit you' (v. 24) and promises to bring them out of Egypt. By taking an oath regarding his bones (v. 25), Joseph affirms his faith in God's commitment to fulfill the covenant made with the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This establishes a lasting hope for the future of Israel.
Chapter outline
How Genesis 50 unfolds
Genesis 50:1–2 Joseph Mourning for Jacob
Joseph expresses deep grief for Jacob by falling on his father's face, weeping and kissing him (v. 1). He then commands the physicians to embalm Jacob, fulfilling the cultural practices of mourning (v. 2).
Genesis 50:3–6 Burying Jacob in Canaan
The embalming process lasts forty days, after which Joseph approaches Pharaoh to request permission to bury Jacob in Canaan, as Jacob had sworn (vv. 4-5). Pharaoh grants Joseph's request, showing respect for Jacob's wishes (v. 6).
Genesis 50:7–10 The Mourning Procession
Joseph, along with a large company from Egypt, sets out to bury Jacob (v. 7). The procession includes Pharaoh's servants, elders, and Joseph's family, marking the significance of the event (v. 8).
Genesis 50:11–14 The Burial of Jacob
The Canaanites observe the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, noting, 'This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians' (v. 11). Jacob's sons fulfill his wishes by burying him in the cave of Machpelah (v. 13).
Genesis 50:15–21 Joseph's Brothers' Fear
After Jacob's death, Joseph's brothers fear that he may seek revenge for their past wrongs (v. 15). They send a message to Joseph, requesting forgiveness, which prompts Joseph to weep upon hearing their plea (vv. 16-17).
Genesis 50:22–26 Joseph's Final Words and Death
Joseph lives to be one hundred ten years old and sees three generations of Ephraim’s children (v. 22). He assures his brothers of God's future visitation and requests, 'You shall carry up my bones from here' (v. 25).
Key verses
Genesis 50:20Joseph speaks to his brothers about their past evil, clarifying that God's intention was for good, specifically to 'save many people alive'.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Genesis 50
- observeIn v1, why does Joseph weep and kiss his father's face?
- observeWhat does Joseph command in v2 regarding his father's body?
- interpretJoseph's response in v19: how does he express his understanding of God's role in their past?
- interpretIn v20, how does Joseph frame his brothers' actions toward him?
- applyWhen has someone shown you forgiveness that you felt you did not deserve?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Genesis 50
- Romans 8Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28Both work together for good: Genesis 50:20 states God meant it for good, while Romans 8:28 affirms all things work together for good.
- Genesis 45Genesis 50:20 and Genesis 45:5Both preserve life: Genesis 50:20 shows God's good intent, while Genesis 45:5 reveals God's purpose to preserve life.
- Psalm 119Genesis 50:20 and Psalm 119:71Both learn from affliction: Genesis 50:20 shows God's good purpose, while Psalm 119:71 states affliction teaches God's statutes.
- Genesis 37Genesis 50:20 and Genesis 37:18Both conspire against Joseph: Genesis 50:20 discusses intent, while Genesis 37:18 shows brother's conspiracy to kill him.
- Acts 3Genesis 50:20 and Acts 3:13Both deliver from wrong: Genesis 50:20 relates God's good intent, while Acts 3:13 describes betrayal of Jesus.
- Exodus 3Genesis 50:24 and Exodus 3:8Both deliver from oppression: Genesis 50:24 promises visitation, while Exodus 3:8 describes deliverance from Egypt.
Related chapters
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Where to go from here
- Genesis: the whole bookTwo foundational acts set Genesis in motion: God creates a good world by his word, and humanity ruins it by…
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