🔽 Click here to read the KJV 🔽
¹ And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
² And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
³ And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
⁴ And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
⁵ My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
⁶ And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
⁷ And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
⁸ And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
⁹ And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
¹⁰ And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
¹¹ And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
¹² And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
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 for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
¹⁴ And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
¹⁵ And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
¹⁶ And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
¹⁷ So 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.
¹⁸ And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
¹⁹ And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
²⁰ But 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.
²¹ Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
²² And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
²³ And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.
²⁴ And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
²⁵ And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
²⁶ So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
🌾 From Grief to Glory: The Final Acts of Joseph and the Fulfillment of God’s Promises 🌾
“But 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.” – Genesis 50:20
Genesis 50 concludes the remarkable book of beginnings. It’s a chapter of closure, legacy, and deep spiritual insight. With the passing of Jacob, the patriarchal era transitions to a new chapter in Israel’s story. Joseph’s grief, his forgiving heart, and his enduring trust in God showcase the powerful truth of Romans 8:28 foreshadowed in the Old Testament. We see how God weaves every thread of pain, betrayal, and even death into His redemptive plan.
As Joseph buries his father and reassures his fearful brothers, we witness the maturing of his character, a man molded by suffering and faith. His declaration in verse 20 is one of the most profound revelations of God’s sovereignty in all of Scripture.
📜 Structure of Genesis Chapter 50
Verses 1–3: Jacob’s Death and Egyptian Mourning
Joseph falls upon his father Jacob’s face, weeping and kissing him. He commands his servants to embalm Jacob—a process that takes forty days. Egypt mourns seventy days, showing Jacob’s honored status even in a foreign land.
Verses 4–14: The Burial in Canaan
Joseph seeks Pharaoh’s permission to fulfill Jacob’s dying wish—to be buried in the cave of Machpelah. With great respect and ceremony, Joseph, his brothers, Egyptian officials, and a vast company travel to Canaan. The mourning is so great, the site is named Abel-mizraim. This shows Joseph’s leadership and honor toward his father.
Verses 15–21: Joseph’s Brothers Fear Retribution
After Jacob’s death, Joseph’s brothers fear he may now take revenge for their past betrayal. They send a message claiming Jacob instructed Joseph to forgive them. Joseph weeps and reassures them, delivering the powerful truth: “Ye thought evil…but God meant it unto good.” His words offer both grace and divine perspective.
Verses 22–26: Joseph’s Final Days and Prophecy
Joseph lives to 110, sees his great-grandchildren, and speaks prophetic words to his brethren: “God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land.” Before his death, he makes the Israelites swear to carry his bones to Canaan. His life ends in hope, pointing forward to the Exodus.
💡 Key Themes
✨ God’s Sovereignty Over Evil
Joseph’s famous words (v. 20) declare God’s power to turn human evil into divine good. His forgiveness reflects deep trust in God’s control.
✨ Honor and Obedience to Parents
Jacob’s burial reveals Joseph’s love and deep respect for his father, fulfilling the fifth commandment even in a foreign land.
✨ Legacy and Faith in God’s Promises
Joseph dies believing in God’s future deliverance, echoing the promise made to Abraham. His request to be buried in Canaan connects to the land covenant.
👤 Key People
- Joseph – A faithful leader whose life reveals God’s providence and forgiveness.
- Jacob (Israel) – The patriarch whose burial marks the end of an era.
- Joseph’s Brothers – Once guilty, now humbled and fearful, they receive mercy.
- Pharaoh’s Officials – Honor Jacob, showing how God’s people can be respected even in exile.
🔥 Why This Chapter Matters
Genesis 50 is more than a conclusion; it’s a bridge between the promise and its fulfillment. Joseph’s grace under pressure, his honor toward his father, and his unshakeable faith provide a roadmap for our own journey. It’s a reminder that though life ends, God’s promises do not.
💭 Let’s Reflect
- Do you believe God can use past wrongs for good in your life?
- Have you truly forgiven those who have hurt you, as Joseph forgave his brothers?
- Are you living with faith in God’s future promises, even if they’re unfulfilled today?
❓Ready to Go Deeper?
👉 Click here to begin reading Exodus
Or, if you’d like to jump to a specific chapter in Genesis, simply click the chapter number below:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43| 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50