Genesis 50:1 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 50:1 kjv
And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
Genesis 50:1 nkjv
Then Joseph fell on his father's face, and wept over him, and kissed him.
Genesis 50:1 niv
Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him.
Genesis 50:1 esv
Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him.
Genesis 50:1 nlt
Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him.
Genesis 50 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 23:2 | ...Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. | Patriarchal mourning for a loved one |
| Gen 29:11 | Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. | Tears of joy upon reunion |
| Gen 33:4 | But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him... and kissed him... | Reconciliation and affectionate greeting |
| Gen 45:14 | He embraced his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. | Emotional reunion and brotherly love |
| Gen 45:15 | He kissed all his brothers and wept over them... | Affectionate reconciliation with family |
| Gen 46:29 | ...Joseph drove his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet Israel... | Joseph's emotional greeting of Jacob |
| Gen 49:33 | When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he... died. | The preceding event of Jacob's passing |
| Exod 33:11 | Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks... | Direct, intimate encounter (similar 'face to face') |
| Num 20:29 | ...when all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, all the house of Israel... | Community-wide mourning for a leader |
| Ruth 1:9 | ...kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. | Farewell tears and expressions of love |
| Ruth 1:14 | ...Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. | Act of farewell and deep affection |
| 2 Sam 18:33 | The king was deeply moved... “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! | Profound grief of a father |
| Job 1:20 | Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground... | Expression of mourning and submission |
| Psa 6:6 | I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears... | Deep sorrow and physical expression |
| Eccl 3:4 | A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. | Natural human experience of grief |
| Jer 9:10 | For the mountains I will take up a weeping and a lament... | Deep sorrow and lamentation |
| Zech 12:10 | ...they will look on him whom they have pierced, and they will mourn for him... | Profound mourning (prophetic of Christ) |
| Matt 26:39 | Going a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, “My Father...” | Falling on face in deep anguish and prayer |
| Luke 19:41 | When he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it... | Jesus' empathy and sorrow for Jerusalem |
| John 11:35 | Jesus wept. | The shortest and most profound verse about Christ's tears |
| Rom 12:15 | Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. | Command to empathize with others |
| 1 Cor 12:26 | If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. | Christian unity in joy and sorrow |
| Acts 20:37 | And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him. | Affective farewell to a beloved leader |
| Phil 2:27 | Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him... | Human grief at the potential loss of a loved one |
| Rev 7:17 | For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd... | Future hope where all tears are wiped away |
Genesis 50 verses
Genesis 50 1 meaning
Genesis 50:1 vividly describes Joseph's immediate, profound, and tender response to the death of his father, Jacob. It signifies the depth of his personal grief, deep love, and the completion of the long journey of reconciliation and familial restoration between them. This verse marks the shift from Jacob's life and patriarchal leadership to Joseph's continuation of caring for his family within God's providence.
Genesis 50 1 Context
Genesis 50:1 opens immediately after the climax of Jacob's final prophetic blessings and the account of his death in the previous chapter (Gen 49:33). Having imparted his final words and directives concerning his burial, Jacob "breathed his last and was gathered to his people." This verse details the immediate and deeply personal reaction of Joseph, his most prominent son in the narrative at this point, to his father's passing. The preceding narrative of Jacob's last days underscored his faith in God's covenant promises, setting the stage for his children to fulfill his final wishes, particularly the desire to be buried in Canaan, the Promised Land. This moment of intimate grief precedes the extensive preparations for Jacob's embalming and subsequent grand funeral procession, highlighting the depth of relationship before the more formal rites begin. It closes the patriarchal era and transitions to the story of Israel in Egypt.
Genesis 50 1 Word analysis
- And Joseph: "Joseph" (יוֹסֵף, Yosef) means "He will add" or "He has added," a name reflecting God's adding another son and, prophetically, Joseph's role in "adding" preservation to his family. At this moment, Joseph is the Prime Minister of Egypt, holding immense power, yet he reacts not as a political leader but as a grieving son. His consistent character throughout Genesis is marked by deep emotional expression.
- fell upon: Hebrew vayyipol (וַיִּפֹּל), from the verb naphal (נָפַל), meaning "to fall, prostrate, lie upon." This implies a complete physical yielding to emotion, a collapsing action that demonstrates intense grief, sorrow, and deep tenderness. It's not just a polite lowering, but an immediate, visceral response of his entire being, possibly embracing the body or falling across it.
- his father's face: Hebrew al-pəney `aviw (עַל־פְּנֵי אָבִיו). "Face" (panim, פָּנִים) often denotes presence or intimate contact. Falling on the face suggests profound respect, final intimacy, and the immediate impact of encountering death. It's a deeply personal gesture of last physical connection, reflecting a reconciliation completed long ago.
- and wept over him: Hebrew wayyēvK `ālāyw (וַיֵּבְךְ עָלָיו), from bāKāh (בָּכָה), meaning "to weep, wail." This is a profound expression of sorrow, lament, and grief. Joseph is consistently portrayed as deeply emotional, shedding tears on multiple occasions in the latter part of Genesis, especially during his reunions with his family. His tears here are sincere, reflecting his deep love and attachment to Jacob. The preposition "over" (`al) can indicate weeping for someone or because of someone.
- and kissed him: Hebrew wayyinnaššeq lōw (וַיִּנַּשֶּׁק־לוֹ), from nāšaq (נָשַׁק), meaning "to kiss." Kissing signifies love, affection, farewell, or homage. In this context, it's a tender and intimate act of final goodbye, respect, and deep, unbroken bond with his deceased father. It completes the triad of physical expressions of intense mourning.
- Joseph fell upon his father's face: This phrase paints a powerful image of immediate, unrestrained sorrow and filial devotion. It speaks to the depth of the father-son bond that was once fractured but fully restored.
- wept over him, and kissed him: This sequence encapsulates the multifaceted nature of human grief—sorrow expressed through tears and deep affection conveyed through the kiss. These actions affirm Joseph's genuine humanity and underscore the biblical narrative's realism concerning death and mourning.
Genesis 50 1 Bonus section
- This verse sets the tone for the highly detailed and culturally significant mourning and burial rites that follow in the subsequent verses (Gen 50:2-14), especially the Egyptian practice of embalming that Joseph initiated for Jacob.
- The depth of Joseph's grief serves as a natural human response, affirming the sanctity of life and the pain of its earthly cessation, while also indirectly pointing to the ultimate hope found in God's promises of resurrection, though not explicitly stated in this verse.
- Joseph's display of emotion, though from a powerful ruler, aligns with a common theme in the patriarchal narratives where figures openly express deep feelings of joy, sorrow, anger, and repentance.
- The emphasis on Jacob's "face" in Joseph's action (falling upon his father's face) might also implicitly recall moments of direct confrontation or tender reunion that have characterized their relationship.
Genesis 50 1 Commentary
Genesis 50:1 presents a poignant and highly personal moment in the unfolding narrative of God's covenant people. Joseph's raw emotional response—falling, weeping, and kissing—demonstrates his profound love and reverence for Jacob, reflecting the complete healing of their fractured relationship. It emphasizes the genuine humanity of these biblical figures and their experience of deep sorrow in the face of death, a common human experience that connects us to their story. This verse stands as a testament to reconciliation, forgiveness, and the strength of family bonds, showing how God works through intensely personal grief even amidst larger national destinies. It is a tender closing of a chapter, marking the transition from the life of a great patriarch to the family's continuation in Egypt, anticipating their eventual growth into a nation.