Genesis 50:16

KJV

And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,

KJV (with Strong's)

And they sent a messenger {H6680} unto Joseph {H3130}, saying {H559}, Thy father {H1} did command {H6680} before {H6440} he died {H4194}, saying {H559},

Complete Jewish Bible

So they sent a message to Yosef which said, "Your father gave this order before he died:

Berean Standard Bible

So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded,

American Standard Version

And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 50:16 captures the profound apprehension and lingering guilt of Joseph's brothers following the death of their father, Jacob. Driven by fear of retribution for their past betrayal, they dispatch a messenger to Joseph, conveying a fabricated or unrecorded command from their deceased father. This desperate plea underscores their deep-seated anxiety and sets the stage for a pivotal moment of reconciliation and the reaffirmation of God's sovereign plan amidst human sin and fear.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the detailed account of Jacob's death, embalming, and elaborate funeral procession and burial in Canaan, fulfilling his final wishes as recorded in [Genesis 49](/genesis/49 "Genesis 49 - Jacob's Final Blessings and Prophecies") and [Genesis 50:1-14](/genesis/50-1-14 "Genesis 50:1-14 - Jacob's Death and Burial"). Jacob's presence had served as a unifying and mediating figure within the family, particularly between Joseph and his brothers. With their father now gone, the brothers perceive the removal of this protective buffer, fearing that Joseph, now the powerful vizier of Egypt, might finally exact revenge for their heinous act of selling him into slavery years earlier ([Genesis 37:28](/genesis/37-28 "Genesis 37:28 - Joseph Sold into Slavery")). Their decision to send a messenger, rather than directly confronting Joseph, highlights the immense psychological distance and lingering tension that still existed despite Joseph's prior demonstrations of forgiveness and provision.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the death of a patriarch often marked a significant shift in family dynamics, sometimes leading to power struggles or the settling of old scores. The concept of "blood vengeance" was a recognized, though not always practiced, custom, which would have amplified the brothers' fears, especially given Joseph's immense authority in Egypt ([Genesis 41:40](/genesis/41-40 "Genesis 41:40 - Joseph's Authority in Egypt")). The act of sending a messenger was a formal and respectful way to initiate communication with a superior or someone of great power, indicating the gravity of their message and their perceived vulnerability. Furthermore, a deathbed command or "last will" of a father was considered sacred and binding, lending immense weight to their fabricated plea.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 50:16 contributes to several overarching themes within the Joseph narrative and the book of Genesis. It powerfully illustrates the **enduring power of guilt and the human struggle to trust genuine forgiveness**, even after it has been explicitly offered. The brothers' fear highlights the theme of **divine providence versus human agency**, setting the stage for Joseph's profound theological declaration in [Genesis 50:20](/genesis/50-20 "Genesis 50:20 - Joseph's Declaration of God's Purpose"), where he articulates God's sovereign hand in transforming evil intentions into redemptive outcomes. It also underscores the theme of **family reconciliation and restoration**, which is central to the narrative, demonstrating the final, necessary step in healing deep-seated wounds within the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **father (Hebrew, _ʼâb'_):** (H1) This primitive word denotes a literal and immediate father, but can also extend to a figurative or remote application, such as a forefather or chief. In this context, it refers directly to Jacob, whose recent death is the catalyst for the brothers' fear. Their invocation of "Thy father" is a strategic appeal to Joseph's filial piety and respect for their deceased patriarch, leveraging the profound cultural reverence for parental authority and last wishes.
* **died (Hebrew, _mâveth'_):** (H4194) Derived from the root "to die," this word refers to natural or violent death, or concretely, the dead. The phrase "before he died" emphasizes the finality of Jacob's life and the timing of the supposed command. The brothers are using Jacob's death as the critical juncture, implying that this command was his last, solemn instruction, thus attempting to imbue it with undeniable authority and urgency.
* **command (Hebrew, _tsâvâh'_):** (H6680) This primitive root means "to constitute" or "enjoin," often implying an intensive, authoritative instruction. It can mean to appoint, forbid, or give a charge or commandment. The brothers' use of "did command" (a past tense form of this verb) is crucial, as they are presenting Jacob's instruction as a direct, unalterable directive, thereby attempting to bind Joseph to an obligation that predates his current position of power and their own past offenses.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they sent a messenger unto Joseph,"**: This opening clause establishes the brothers' indirect approach to Joseph. The act of sending a messenger (מַלְאָךְ, _mal'akh_) signifies the formality, gravity, and perhaps their own fear of directly confronting Joseph. It suggests a certain distance and apprehension, rather than a confident, direct appeal.
* **"saying,"**: This first "saying" (לֵאמֹר, _lēʼmōr_) introduces the content of the message delivered by the messenger. It indicates that the following words are the exact words or the substance of what the messenger was instructed to convey to Joseph.
* **"Thy father did command before he died,"**: This is the core of the brothers' plea. By invoking Jacob ("Thy father") and framing the instruction as a deathbed command ("did command before he died"), they attempt to create an unassailable moral and familial obligation for Joseph. This statement, whether true or fabricated, is designed to appeal to Joseph's respect for his father and to override any personal desire for vengeance.
* **"saying,"**: The repetition of "saying" (לֵאמֹר, _lēʼmōr_) here is a stylistic device that introduces the *specific content* of Jacob's supposed command, which is then detailed in the subsequent verse ([Genesis 50:17](/genesis/50-17 "Genesis 50:17 - Jacob's Supposed Command")). This repetition emphasizes that the following words are a direct quotation, lending further weight and urgency to the message.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Repetition** is prominent with the double use of "saying" (לֵאמֹר, _lēʼmōr_). This repetition serves to heighten the dramatic tension and emphasize that the words which follow are a direct, solemn communication, underscoring the brothers' careful construction of their plea. There is also an element of **Suspense**, as the verse sets up the expectation of what Jacob's command actually was, leaving the reader eager to discover the content of their desperate message in the following verses. The act of sending a messenger itself can be seen as **Symbolism**, representing the brothers' fear and their inability to approach Joseph directly, highlighting the lingering chasm of guilt and distrust between them. Finally, there is a subtle **Irony** in their attempt to manipulate Joseph using their father's name, given Joseph's earlier demonstrations of divine wisdom and his profound understanding of God's sovereign plan, which ultimately transcends human schemes.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 50:16 vividly portrays the enduring human struggle with guilt and the challenge of fully embracing and trusting genuine forgiveness. Despite Joseph's earlier acts of grace and provision, the brothers' deep-seated fear reveals how past sins can continue to haunt and distort perceptions, even in the face of reconciliation. This passage underscores the truth that true healing from sin requires not only the offering of forgiveness but also its reception and the subsequent release from self-condemnation. It sets the stage for Joseph's profound theological declaration, where he elevates God's sovereign purpose above human evil, transforming a moment of fear into a powerful testament to divine grace and the ultimate triumph of good.

* [Psalm 32:3-5](/psalms/32-3-5 "Psalm 32:3-5 - The Burden of Unconfessed Sin")
* [Luke 17:3-4](/luke/17-3-4 "Luke 17:3-4 - Forgiving Repeatedly")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works All Things for Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 50:16 offers profound insights into the human condition, illustrating how unresolved guilt can persist even after apparent reconciliation. The brothers' fear serves as a poignant reminder of the burden of unaddressed sin and the vital necessity of genuine forgiveness—both in seeking and extending it. True forgiveness is not merely an event but a transformative process requiring trust, open communication, and patience to fully heal relationships. This passage also subtly highlights the danger of operating out of fear rather than faith, prompting believers to trust in God's redemptive work even in the aftermath of human failings and to pursue honest reconciliation guided by love, echoing the broader biblical emphasis on the ministry of reconciliation found in passages like [2 Corinthians 5:18-20](/2_corinthians/5-18-20 "2 Corinthians 5:18-20 - The Ministry of Reconciliation"). It challenges us to consider whether our own past mistakes, even those forgiven by others, still hold us captive, preventing us from fully embracing the freedom offered by grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What lingering fears or guilts from your past might be influencing your present relationships or decisions?**
* **How does the brothers' indirect approach to Joseph speak to the difficulty of confronting past wrongs head-on?**
* **In what ways might we, like Joseph's brothers, struggle to fully trust the forgiveness extended to us, whether by others or by God?**
* **How does this passage encourage us to move beyond fear-driven interactions toward faith-filled reconciliation?**

### FAQ

**Why were Joseph's brothers still afraid of him after all this time?**

Answer: Despite Joseph's earlier demonstrations of forgiveness and provision, their deep-seated guilt over selling him into slavery persisted. Jacob's presence had served as a buffer, and with him gone, their fear of retribution resurfaced, indicating the profound psychological impact of unaddressed sin and the difficulty of fully trusting forgiveness when burdened by guilt. Their fear stemmed from their own conscience and the assumption that Joseph would act according to human vengeance rather than divine grace, failing to fully grasp the depth of his forgiveness or God's redemptive plan. This highlights how human guilt can prevent the full acceptance of grace, even when it is abundantly offered, as seen in Joseph's earlier actions in [Genesis 45:5-8](/genesis/45-5-8 "Genesis 45:5-8 - Joseph Reveals Himself and Forgives").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joseph's story, culminating in his profound forgiveness and the declaration that God intended good from his brothers' evil, powerfully foreshadows the redemptive work of Christ. Like Joseph, who was rejected by his own yet became a savior for them and many others, Christ was betrayed and crucified, yet through His suffering, God accomplished the ultimate reconciliation of humanity to Himself. The fear and guilt of Joseph's brothers find their ultimate resolution in the cross, where true forgiveness and peace are offered, transforming human sin and brokenness into divine salvation and new life. Christ's sacrifice provides the perfect and complete atonement that addresses the root of all human guilt and fear, inviting us into a relationship of perfect trust and reconciliation with God, as articulated in [Colossians 1:19-20](/colossians/1-19-20 "Colossians 1:19-20 - Reconciliation Through Christ"). He is the ultimate "messenger" of peace, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Our Peace")), and through His resurrection, He assures us that even death cannot thwart God's good purposes for those who believe ([Romans 8:38-39](/romans/8-38-39 "Romans 8:38-39 - God's Unfailing Love")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Proverbs 29:25

¶ The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.