Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 50:20
20You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result — the survival of many people.
Genesis 50:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
- English Standard Version (ESV)As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Context of Genesis 50:20
18His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!” 19But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result — the survival of many people. 21Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. 22Joseph and his father’s family remained in Egypt. Joseph lived 110 years.
Read all of Genesis 50Genesis 50:20 word by word
וְאַתֶּ֕ם חֲשַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עָלַ֖י רָעָ֑ה אֱלֹהִים֙ חֲשָׁבָ֣הּ לְטֹבָ֔ה לְמַ֗עַן עֲשֹׂ֛ה כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה לְהַחֲיֹ֥ת עַם־רָֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But as for you, ye thoughtחָשַׁבchâshab · to devise: deviseH2803
- evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- unto goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896
- toמַ֫עַןma‛an · becauseH4616
- bring to passעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- this dayיוֹםyôm · day: todayH3117
- to saveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- muchרַבrab · manyH7227
- peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
Cross-references for Genesis 50:20
- Genesis 37:4When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him.
- Psalms 56:5They twist my words all day long; all their thoughts against me are evil.
- Genesis 45:5And now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.
- Psalms 76:10Even human wrath will praise you; you will clothe yourself with the wrath that remains.
- Psalms 105:16He called down famine against the land and destroyed the entire food supply.
- Psalms 119:71It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes.
- Isaiah 10:7But this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations.
- Acts 2:23Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.
- Acts 3:13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to release him.
- Romans 8:28We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Commentaries on Genesis 50:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-26Verses 1-26 - The Burial of Jacob 10. אטד 'āṭâd Atad, “the buck-thorn.” 11. מצרים אבל 'ābêl -mı̂tsrayı̂m Abel-Mitsraim, “mourning of Mizraim,” or meadow of Mizraim. This chapter records the burial of Jacob and the death of Joseph, and so completes the history of the chosen family, and the third bible for the instruction of man. Genesis 50:1-3 After the natural outburst of sorrow for his deceased parent, Joseph gave orders to embalm the body…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-21Verses 15-21 Various motives might cause the sons of Jacob to continue in Egypt, notwithstanding the prophetic vision Abraham had of their bondage there. Judging of Joseph from the general temper of human nature, they thought he would now avenge himself on those who hated and injured him without cause. Not being able to resist, or to flee away, they attempted to soften him by humbling themselves. They pleaded with him as the servants of Jacob's God…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21Joseph comforted his brothers, explaining that God intended to fulfill the promised blessing (compare 45:5, 7–9). He also promised them kindness and support (see 45:11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2115-21. When Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, &c.--Joseph was deeply affected by this communication. He gave them the strongest assurances of his forgiveness and thereby gave both a beautiful trait of his own pious character, as well as appeared an eminent type of the Saviour.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 50:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 50
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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