Genesis 50 20

Genesis 50:20 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.

Genesis 50:20 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.

Genesis 50:20 niv

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Genesis 50:20 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.

Genesis 50:20 nlt

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

Genesis 50 verses

Genesis 50 20 meaning

Genesis 50:20 presents a profound theological statement from Joseph to his brothers. It declares that while they had intended harm and evil against him through their actions, God sovereignly intervened and purposed their wicked intent for good. The ultimate outcome of God's overriding purpose was the preservation and sustenance of many lives, a reality evident at that very time in Egypt. This verse encapsulates the overarching theme of divine providence and God's ability to redeem human sin and brokenness for His greater redemptive purposes.

Genesis 50 20 Context

Genesis 50:20 concludes the epic narrative of Joseph and brings the book of Genesis to a theological climax. It is spoken by Joseph to his brothers after the death of their father, Jacob. The brothers, fearing Joseph’s retaliation for their past treachery (selling him into slavery), approach him with humility and fear. Joseph’s response reassures them of his forgiveness and provides a divine perspective on the entirety of their history. This verse serves as the interpretive key to the suffering Joseph endured and demonstrates God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises despite human sin and rebellion. It solidifies the idea that God's overarching purpose will prevail, utilizing even malicious human actions to achieve His good and redemptive ends. The historical context is that of a severe famine in the ancient Near East, which had driven Jacob's family to Egypt, where Joseph had risen to power as a deliverer, enabling the family's survival and subsequent growth into a large community.

Genesis 50 20 Word analysis

• "But as for you," (וְאַתֶּם, ve'attem): The Hebrew "waw" (וְ) indicates a strong contrast. "You" explicitly refers to Joseph’s brothers, emphasizing their personal agency and culpability in their actions against him.
• "you meant" (חֲשַׁבְתֶּם, khashavtem): From the Hebrew verb חשׁב (khashav), meaning "to think," "to devise," "to plan," "to intend." Here, in a negative context, it conveys "to plot" or "to conspire." It highlights the deliberate nature of their harmful intentions.
• "evil" (רָעָה, ra'ah): Hebrew for "bad," "harmful," "wickedness," "calamity," or "adversity." It carries a moral weight, denoting that which is contrary to God’s nature and destructive to relationships.
• "against me;" (עָלַי, alayi): Directly signifies Joseph as the target of their malevolent scheme, emphasizing the personal nature of the betrayal.
• "but God meant it for good," (וֵאלֹהִים חֲשָׁבָהּ לְטוֹבָה, ve'Elohim khashavah letovah): This is the central theological pivot.
  • "but God" (וֵאלֹהִים, ve'Elohim): The powerful divine contrast. "Elohim" emphasizes God's sovereign power as the Creator and Controller of all.
  • "meant it": The same verb khashav is used, but God’s intention is qualitatively different. He planned the outcome for good. It does not imply God caused their evil, but overruled and redeemed their evil act for His purpose.
  • "for good" (לְטוֹבָה, letovah): From Hebrew טוֹבָה (tovah), meaning "good," "beneficial," "prosperity," "well-being." It denotes God’s ultimate aim for positive, life-affirming results, ethically and providentially.
• "to bring it about that many people should be kept alive," (לְמַעַן עֲשׂוֹת לְהַחֲיֹות עַם רָב, lema'an asot leha'chayot am rav):
  • "to bring it about" / "for the purpose of": Introduces the divine purpose and result. God was actively working to accomplish this end.
  • "many people" (עַם רָב, am rav): This refers specifically to Joseph's own family (the nascent nation of Israel) and more broadly to Egyptians and other surrounding peoples who were saved from famine through Joseph's leadership. It highlights a widespread redemptive impact.
  • "should be kept alive" (לְהַחֲיֹות, leha'chayot): From the Hebrew root חיה (khayah), "to live," "to keep alive," "to preserve." It underscores the tangible outcome of physical salvation from death by famine, but also hints at the preservation of the lineage through which God's promises would flow.
• "as they are today." (כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה, kayyom hazzeh): Emphasizes the immediate, visible, and continuing fulfillment of God’s plan. The positive results of God’s intervention were evident in their present circumstances. This also implies the steadfastness of God’s providence.

Genesis 50 20 Bonus section

The verse stands as a strong polemic against the ancient Near Eastern belief in capricious gods or dualistic forces of good and evil contending for control. Instead, it asserts the absolute supremacy of Yahweh (though Elohim is used here), who integrates human freedom and even sin into His unfolding plan without condoning or causing the sin itself. This truth not only brought healing and forgiveness to Joseph's family but provides an enduring blueprint for understanding divine sovereignty in the face of human wickedness and suffering throughout biblical history and for believers today. It points forward to the ultimate redemption of Christ, where the greatest act of evil—His crucifixion—was God’s preordained plan for humanity’s greatest good: salvation and eternal life.

Genesis 50 20 Commentary

Genesis 50:20 serves as a powerful theological summary of God's overarching sovereignty. It distinctly separates human culpability from divine causality. The brothers acted out of malicious intent, bearing full responsibility for their sin. However, God, in His infinite wisdom and power, did not merely mitigate the harm but fundamentally transformed its ultimate outcome, using their wicked actions as an instrument for His benevolent and redemptive purpose. This is not a simplistic statement that God causes evil, but rather that He works through and overrides evil to bring about good. This doctrine, known as divine providence, assures believers that even in life's darkest moments, God remains actively in control, orchestrating events—even those rooted in sin—to fulfill His ultimate, good designs for His people and His grand plan of salvation. Joseph's life exemplifies that trials, betrayals, and sufferings are never outside God's purview, but can be precisely the means through which His glorious purposes are brought to fruition, leading to life and blessing for many. For example, believers finding purpose and meaning in their past struggles, or reconciliation efforts overcoming deep-seated family grudges through a shared understanding of God’s providence.