Genesis 50:21 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 50:21 kjv
Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
Genesis 50:21 nkjv
Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:21 niv
So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:21 esv
So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:21 nlt
No, don't be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children." So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
Genesis 50 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fear Not | ||
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed... I will strengthen you... | God's presence removes fear. |
| Lk 12:32 | Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you... | Christ assures disciples of divine care. |
| Psa 27:1 | The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? | Confidence in God overcomes fear. |
| Jn 14:27 | Peace I leave with you... Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. | Jesus's comforting promise of peace. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer... | Overcoming fear through trust in God. |
| Provision & Care | ||
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches... | God's comprehensive provision for His people. |
| Mt 6:25-33 | Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat... Look at the birds... | God's care ensures sustenance. |
| Psa 23:1 | The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. | Divine guidance and sufficient provision. |
| Deut 8:3 | Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth... | God's provision for both physical and spiritual needs. |
| Lk 12:6-7 | Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? ... you are of more value than many sparrows. | God's meticulous care extends to all creation, especially His own. |
| Forgiveness & Reconciliation | ||
| Mt 6:14-15 | For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you... | Divine principle of human forgiveness. |
| Col 3:13 | bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint... forgiving each other... | Call for mutual forgiveness among believers. |
| Eph 4:32 | Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. | Emulating divine kindness and forgiveness. |
| Lk 17:3-4 | If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him... | Command to forgive a repentant brother. |
| Comfort & Compassion | ||
| Isa 40:1-2 | Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem... | God's command for empathetic and comforting words. |
| 2 Cor 1:3-4 | Blessed be the God... Father of all comfort, who comforts us... so that we may be able to comfort... | God as source of comfort, enabling us to comfort others. |
| 1 Thess 5:11 | Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. | Mutual encouragement and strengthening. |
| Divine Purpose / Overcoming Evil with Good | ||
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... | Joseph's recognition of divine providence, preceding this verse. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good... | God's sovereignty works all for good. |
| Rom 12:21 | Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. | Principle of responding to evil with good. |
| Ps 119:71 | It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. | Affliction can serve a redemptive purpose. |
| Joseph as a Type / Example | ||
| Jn 13:34-35 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another... just as I have loved you... | Joseph's actions embody sacrificial love. |
| Isa 53:4-5 | Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; ...he was pierced for our transgressions... | Christ's suffering leads to salvation, a type of Joseph's journey. |
Genesis 50 verses
Genesis 50 21 meaning
Genesis 50:21 expresses Joseph's profound reassurance and commitment to his brothers following the death of their father, Jacob. Overcoming their deep-seated fear of retribution for their past wrongs against him, Joseph declares that they need not be afraid. He promises to sustain and provide for them and their families, extending beyond mere forgiveness to active, ongoing care. This act of grace is reinforced by his comforting words, spoken with deep empathy directly to their hearts, signifying complete reconciliation and a promise of continued protection and sustenance.
Genesis 50 21 Context
Genesis 50:21 is spoken by Joseph to his eleven brothers in Egypt. Their father Jacob had just passed away, and the brothers feared that with Jacob, their perceived protector, gone, Joseph would finally exact revenge for their betrayal and sale of him into slavery (Gen 37). Despite Joseph's earlier reconciliation with them during the famine, their deep-seated guilt resurfaced, leading them to send a plea for mercy (Gen 50:15-18). Joseph was deeply moved by their persistent fear and responded to them with both words and action in Gen 50:19-21. This specific verse seals the reconciliation, ensuring their safety and providing assurance of ongoing support. It climaxes Joseph's remarkable story of suffering, divine exaltation, and ultimate forgiveness.
Genesis 50 21 Word analysis
- Now therefore: (
וְעַתָּה, v'attah) This conjunctive phrase acts as a significant literary pivot. It connects directly to Joseph's previous statement in Gen 50:20 (that God intended evil for good) and his brothers' persistent fear. It introduces the logical conclusion or imperative based on the preceding context, signaling a transition from theological understanding to practical application and compassionate response. - do not be afraid: (
אַל־תִּירָאוּ, al-tira'u) A strong negative command often found in the Bible when a superior reassures a subordinate, or God reassures His people. Here, Joseph directly addresses their intense, lingering fear. It implies their terror was unnecessary and unwarranted given his settled posture of forgiveness. This phrase consistently encourages trust over dread in the presence of authority or overwhelming circumstances. - I will provide for you: (
אָנֹכִי אֲכַלְכֵּל אֶתְכֶם, anokhi akalkel etkhem) This declarative promise of sustenance (from the root kūl, כּוּל, meaning "to sustain," "to nourish," "to bear") goes beyond a simple assurance of no harm. It signifies Joseph's complete and ongoing responsibility for their physical well-being. It underscores that Joseph, now in a position of power, takes on the role of their provider and protector, mirroring God's own sustaining nature. - and your little ones: (
וְאֶת־טַפְּכֶם, v'et tappekhem) The word for "little ones" (טַף, ṭaph) refers to young children, indicating vulnerability and future generations. Including them emphasizes the totality of Joseph's compassionate care. His protection extends not just to those who wronged him, but to their innocent offspring, securing the future of Jacob's entire lineage in Egypt. This demonstrates a comprehensive, family-wide commitment to welfare. - So he comforted them: (
וַיְנַחֵם אוֹתָם, vayenachem otam) The verb (נחם, nacham) conveys a deep emotional response of pity, sorrow, or comfort. This is more than verbal assurance; it's a demonstration of empathetic consolation. Joseph actively brought emotional relief to his brothers, soothing their anguish and helping them overcome their profound guilt and terror. - and spoke kindly to them: (
וַיְדַבֵּר עַל־לִבָּם, vayedaber al-libbam) Literally, "and he spoke to their heart." This is a significant Hebrew idiom, indicating a deep, sincere, and persuasive form of communication that addresses emotional distress and conveys profound empathy and goodwill. It means Joseph spoke gently, reassuringly, and compassionately in a way that truly resonated with their deepest fears and brought inner peace and healing, sealing the emotional reconciliation. This is not just words but a balm to their wounded consciences.
Genesis 50 21 Bonus section
The character of Joseph, culminating in this verse, is often viewed as a "type" or foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Both were beloved sons betrayed by their own (Gen 37; Jn 1:11), suffered innocently (Psa 105:17-18; Isa 53:3-5), were exalted to positions of great authority (Gen 41:40; Phil 2:9-11), and through their suffering and exaltation, provided salvation and sustenance for those who rejected them, reconciling a broken family (Gen 50:21; Rom 5:10; Col 1:20). Joseph's promise to "provide for you and your little ones" mirrors Christ's sustaining grace and continuous intercession for His Church, securing their spiritual and eternal well-being. This final scene of Genesis illustrates God's plan working through imperfect humanity to accomplish His redemptive purposes, securing a lineage from which the Messiah would eventually come.
Genesis 50 21 Commentary
Genesis 50:21 encapsulates the apex of Joseph's spiritual maturity and unwavering commitment to God's purpose, even through human suffering. Despite immense personal pain inflicted by his brothers, Joseph not only forgives them but actively reassures them of their safety and commits to their perpetual provision and care. This goes beyond the absence of retaliation; it's an overflowing of grace and mercy, demonstrating that the good God brought from their evil intentions (50:20) also transformed Joseph's character into an agent of reconciliation and blessing. His "speaking kindly to them" or "speaking to their heart" indicates true pastoral care and genuine desire for their emotional healing, reflecting a divine love that comforts and secures the vulnerable. Joseph's actions here stand as a powerful biblical model for unconditional forgiveness, compassionate leadership, and living out God's redemptive purpose by overcoming evil with abundant good.
- Practical usage: Joseph's example calls believers to offer genuine forgiveness, even to those who deeply wronged them, and to move beyond mere cessation of conflict to actively seeking the well-being of the other. It challenges us to trust God's sovereignty, seeing how He can turn adversity into a pathway for greater good and enabling us to be instruments of His comfort and provision in others' lives.