Genesis 50:20
in Genesis 50As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And 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.
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.
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This verse in Genesis 50
Commentary
6 notes on this verseJoseph's brothers meant his suffering for evil, and insofar as this was their motivation, they were culpable before God.
This site's exposition
God intended for good
on Genesis 50:20-21
One Hebrew verb stands behind both intentions, chashab, to plan or reckon. The brothers planned evil, and God planned the same act for good, to keep many people alive. R. C. Sproul holds both true at once, the brothers answerable for their motive and God working His end through it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Don't be apprehensive or anxious," Jacob says. "I belong to God," and in imitation of my Lord I strive to reward with kindness those who are maliciously disposed to me—"I belong to God," after all. Then to show how great is the favor he enjoys from God Joseph says, You acted against me with evil intent, but God turned everything to good for me. Hence Paul also said, "For those who love God all things work together for good." "All things," he says. What is meant by "all things"? Opposition and apparent disappointment—even these things are turned into good, which is exactly what happened with this remarkable man. In fact, what was done by his brothers had the particular effect of bringing him the kingship, thanks to the creative God's wisdom transforming all their wickedness into good.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But as for you, ye thought evil against me,....
This does not make sin the less sinful, nor sinners the less punishable, but it redounds greatly to the glory of God's wisdom.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאַתֶּ֕ם | veatem | and you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| חֲשַׁבְתֶּ֥ם | chashavtem | you planned | H2803 → | 124 times |
| עָלַ֖י | ʾalai | on me | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| רָעָ֑ה | raah | harm | H7451 → | 662 times |
| אֱלֹהִים֙ | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| חֲשָׁבָ֣הּ | chashavah | he planned it | H2803 → | 124 times |
| לְטֹבָ֔ה | letovah | for good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| לְמַ֗עַן | lemaan | so as | H4616 → | 272 times |
| עֲשֹׂ֛ה | ʾasoh | to act | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| כַּיּ֥וֹם | kaiyom | as the day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| הַזֶּ֖ה | hazeh | <the> this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| לְהַחֲיֹ֥ת | lehachayot | to preserve alive | H2421 → | 282 times |
| עַם־ | ʾam- | a people | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| רָֽב׃ | rav | numerous | H7227 → | 454 times |
וְאַתֶּ֕םand you
veatemH859 →1094 times
חֲשַׁבְתֶּ֥םyou planned
chashavtemH2803 →124 times
עָלַ֖יon me
ʾalaiH5921 →5755 times
רָעָ֑הharm
raahH7451 →662 times
אֱלֹהִים֙God
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
חֲשָׁבָ֣הּhe planned it
chashavahH2803 →124 times
לְטֹבָ֔הfor good
letovahH2896 →538 times
לְמַ֗עַןso as
lemaanH4616 →272 times
עֲשֹׂ֛הto act
ʾasohH6213 →2628 times
כַּיּ֥וֹםas the day
kaiyomH3117 →2304 times
הַזֶּ֖ה<the> this
hazehH2088 →1180 times
לְהַחֲיֹ֥תto preserve alive
lehachayotH2421 →282 times
עַם־a people
ʾam-H5971 →1873 times
רָֽב׃numerous
ravH7227 →454 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 8:28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Romans 5:3–5
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- Romans 8:35–39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
Psalms 119:71It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:10–11
Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- Psalms 119:67
Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word.
- 1 Corinthians 11:32
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
- Hebrews 12:10–11
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Forgiveness35 verses
On this page
Studies11
On this chapter
About Genesis
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 67.19; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and R. C. Sproul, How Can God Bring Good Out of Evil?.