Genesis 50:16-21 Meaning: Fear That Forgets Forgiveness
16They sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died, saying,
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.
18His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
20As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today.
21Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
16And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
18And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
19And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
16And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
18And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we are thy servants.
19And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
16And they give a charge for Joseph, saying, `Thy father commanded before his death, saying,
17Thus ye do say to Joseph, I pray thee, bear, I pray thee, with the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for they have done thee evil; and now, bear, we pray thee, with the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father;' and Joseph weepeth in their speaking unto him.
18And his brethren also go and fall before him, and say, `Lo, we are to thee for servants.'
19And Joseph saith unto them, `Fear not, for am I in the place of God?
20As for you, ye devised against me evil--God devised it for good, in order to do as at this day, to keep alive a numerous people;
21and now, fear not: I do nourish you and your infants;' and he comforteth them, and speaketh unto their heart.
16And they sent a messenger to Joseph, saying, Thy father commanded before he died, saying,
17Thus shall ye speak to Joseph: Oh forgive, I pray thee, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin! for they did evil to thee. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18And his brethren also went and fell down before his face, and said, Behold, we are thy bondmen.
19And Joseph said to them, Fear not: am I then in the place of God?
20Ye indeed meant evil against me: God meant it for good, in order that he might do as [it is] this day, to save a great people alive.
21And now, fear not: I will maintain you and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spoke consolingly to them.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Joseph's brothers fear him after their father died?
Context
After their father Jacob died, Joseph's brothers were afraid. Years earlier they had sold him into slavery, and now he was the most powerful man in Egypt. Their guilt whispered that his kindness had only been for their father's sake. So they sent a message, claiming their father had commanded them to ask forgiveness. Then they came and bowed before him, offering themselves as servants. Joseph wept when he heard their fear. He reminded them that God had used their wrongdoing to save many lives. He did not just forgive them again, he spoke comfort to their hearts. The whole scene shows how lingering guilt can distort even the clearest forgiveness, and how complete reconciliation must address the fears beneath the surface.
Key Words
The Hebrew word chashav, translated “meant” in verse 20, is rich with meaning. It means to think, plan, or devise. The word appears twice: “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Both the brothers and God were actively planning, but toward different ends. The brothers devised harm; God devised life. This is not a passive hope but an intentional redirection.
The word for “forgive” in the brothers’ plea is nasa, “to lift” or “carry away.” When they ask Joseph to lift their transgression, they picture him bearing its weight. And Joseph does exactly that: he carries their guilt away.
Finally, verse 21 says Joseph “spoke kindly” to them. The Hebrew is literally “he spoke to their heart.” After forgiving, Joseph tended their inward fears. He did not just set the record straight; he reached for the place where fear lives and spoke peace there.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this passage with different eyes on one question: Did Jacob really give this command? Some commentators, like Keil and Lange, see no reason to doubt it. Jacob had forgiven his sons and would naturally urge them to seek their brother’s forgiveness as well. Others, like Calvin and Matthew Poole, note that a guilty conscience breeds suspicion. Calvin observes that the brothers were “destitute of counsel and of reason” from fear. Both views agree that the brothers’ fear was powerful and misplaced. Across traditions, this story is read as a picture of how even forgiven people can still live in the shadow of their past, and how God’s servants are called to respond with patient tenderness.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading of this passage is that it teaches God directly causes evil. Some take “God meant it for good” to mean God made the brothers sin. In fact, the verse draws a careful line: “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Evil came from human hearts. God, in His sovereignty, redirected it for a purpose without being the author of the sin. This is not a loophole for guilt but a declaration that God is greater than our worst intentions. He does not waste our pain, even the pain we cause each other.
Living This Out
Maybe you have experienced a deep wrong, betrayal from a friend, a family wound, or an injustice at work. Over time, God has brought some good from it, and you have even forgiven the person. But sometimes old fears surface. You wonder if the relationship is safe, or if the past will come back to hurt you again. Joseph’s brothers had been forgiven for years, yet when their father died, they panicked. Joseph did not get angry. He wept over their fear. Then he reassured them with action: he would provide for them. This week, if old fears about a person or a painful event resurface, bring them honestly to God. Let Him speak to your heart as Joseph spoke to his brothers, not with reproach, but with lasting provision.
Main takeaway: God can take what others meant for harm and turn it for good, freeing us to release our fear and trust His greater purpose.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Joseph’s brothers did a very bad thing. They were scared Joseph would punish them. But Joseph forgave them and took care of them, because he trusted God to make things good.
For ages 9, 12
Even after Joseph forgave his brothers, they were still afraid. When their father died, they thought Joseph might change his mind. So they lied and said their father told them to ask forgiveness. Joseph cried when he saw they still didn’t trust him. He told them not to fear, because God had turned their evil plan into something good. This shows that real forgiveness doesn’t keep score, it keeps caring for the other person.
Questions People Ask
Did Jacob really command the brothers to ask forgiveness, or did they make it up?
The Bible does not say for certain. Some commentators believe Jacob gave this instruction out of wisdom; others think the brothers invented it because their guilty conscience made them fearful. Both views agree that the brothers' fear drove them to act. The story emphasizes Joseph's gracious response more than the truth of the claim.
Why did Joseph weep when he heard the brothers' message?
Joseph wept because he saw that his brothers still feared him, even after years of forgiveness. Their doubt hurt him. It also shows his compassion, he was moved by their distress, not angry at their lack of trust.
What does 'God meant it for good' mean? Does it mean God caused the brothers to sin?
No. The verse draws a clear distinction: the brothers meant evil, but God meant it for good. God did not cause their sin; He redirected their evil actions toward a good purpose (preserving life). This shows God's sovereignty over human choices without making Him the author of sin.
Why did the brothers bow down to Joseph and call themselves his servants?
Bowing was a sign of submission and apology. It also fulfilled the dreams Joseph had as a boy (Genesis 37:5-10). They offered themselves as servants to show their remorse and to beg for mercy, but Joseph refused to take revenge. Instead, he reassured them of his continued care.
How can this passage help someone who has been hurt by others?
This passage shows that forgiveness may need to be repeated when the other person still fears or doubts. It also reminds us that God can work through painful events for good. Even when people intend harm, God's purposes are greater. This can free a hurt person from bitterness and lead to genuine reconciliation.
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