King James Version:
So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
'Say to Yosef, "I beg you now, please forgive your brothers' crime and wickedness in doing you harm."' So now, we beg of you, forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father."Yosef wept when they spoke to him;
Berean Standard Bible:
‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
American Standard Version:
So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
KJV with Strong's Numbers:
So shall ye say{H559} unto Joseph{H3130}, Forgive{H5375}, I pray thee{H577} now, the trespass{H6588} of thy brethren{H251}, and their sin{H2403}; for they did{H1580} unto thee evil{H7451}: and now, we pray thee, forgive{H5375} the trespass{H6588} of the servants{H5650} of the God{H430} of thy father{H1}. And Joseph{H3130} wept{H1058} when they spake{H1696} unto him.
Cross-References (KJV):
Matthew 6:14
- For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:15
- But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Genesis 49:25
- [Even] by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
Luke 17:3
- Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
Luke 17:4
- And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Proverbs 28:13
- ¶ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.
Ephesians 4:32
- And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3130
There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹסֵף
Transliteration: Yôwçêph
Pronunciation: yo-safe'
Description: future of יָסַף; let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites; Joseph. Compare יְהוֹסֵף. - Strong's Number: H5375
There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשָׂא
Transliteration: nâsâʼ
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. - Strong's Number: H577
There are 339 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָנָּא
Transliteration: ʼânnâʼ
Pronunciation: awn-naw'
Description: lemma אָנּאָ second vowel, corrected to אָנָּא; or אָנָּה; apparent contracted from אַהֲבָה and נָא; oh now!; I (me) beseech (pray) thee, O. - Strong's Number: H6588
There are 90 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּשַׁע
Transliteration: peshaʻ
Pronunciation: peh'-shah
Description: from פָּשַׁע; a revolt (national, moral or religious); rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass. - Strong's Number: H251
There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָח
Transliteration: ʼâch
Pronunciation: awkh
Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. - Strong's Number: H2403
There are 272 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַטָּאָה
Transliteration: chaṭṭâʼâh
Pronunciation: khat-taw-aw'
Description: or חַטָּאת; from חָטָא; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender; punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering). - Strong's Number: H1580
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּמַל
Transliteration: gâmal
Pronunciation: gaw-mal'
Description: a primitive root; to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to ripen, i.e. (specifically) to wean; bestow on, deal bountifully, do (good), recompense, requite, reward, ripen, [phrase] serve, mean, yield. - Strong's Number: H7451
There are 623 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רַע
Transliteration: raʻ
Pronunciation: rah
Description: from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). - Strong's Number: H5650
There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶבֶד
Transliteration: ʻebed
Pronunciation: eh'-bed
Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H1058
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּכָה
Transliteration: bâkâh
Pronunciation: baw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan; [idiom] at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, [idiom] more, mourn, [idiom] sore, [idiom] with tears, weep. - Strong's Number: H1696
There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָבַר
Transliteration: dâbar
Pronunciation: daw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
Commentary for Genesis 50:17
Genesis 50:17 is part of the narrative that concludes the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis. The historical context of this verse is set in ancient Egypt during the time when Joseph, one of the sons of the patriarch Jacob (also known as Israel), has risen to a position of great power as the second-in-command to Pharaoh.
The themes of this verse include:
1. **Forgiveness**: The brothers of Joseph are asking for forgiveness for the wrongs they committed against him years earlier. They had sold him into slavery out of jealousy, which led to his journey to Egypt and eventual rise to power.
2. **Reconciliation**: This request for forgiveness is part of the larger process of reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers. It reflects the culmination of a long and emotionally complex relationship that has evolved from hatred and jealousy to mutual respect and care.
3. **Repentance and Contrition**: The brothers' plea demonstrates their acknowledgment of the gravity of their sin and their genuine remorse. They recognize that what they did was wrong and are seeking to make amends.
4. **Divine Providence**: The brothers refer to themselves as "servants of the God of thy father," indicating their belief that their actions, both good and evil, are under the watchful eye of God. This reflects the theme of divine providence, where human actions, even when unjust, can be part of a larger, divine plan.
5. **Emotional Response**: Joseph's weeping upon hearing his brothers' plea for forgiveness underscores the depth of his feelings and his capacity for empathy. It shows his human vulnerability despite his high position and power.
6. **Family Dynamics and Loyalty**: The verse also touches on the complex dynamics of family loyalty. Despite the brothers' past actions, they come together in the face of their father's death, demonstrating a sense of familial duty and affection.
In summary, Genesis 50:17 encapsulates the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, repentance, divine providence, emotional depth, and family loyalty, set against the backdrop of Joseph's leadership in Egypt and the end of his father Jacob's life. It serves as a powerful conclusion to the Joseph narrative, highlighting the transformation of characters and the resolution of long-standing conflicts.