Genesis 50 · Verse 19

Genesis 50:19

And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
Genesis 50:19, King James Version

Genesis 50:19 in other translations

BSBBut Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
WEBJoseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
ASVAnd Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
YLTAnd Joseph saith unto them, ‘Fear not, for am I in the place of God?
DARBYAnd Joseph said to them, Fear not: am I then in the place of God?
BBEAnd Joseph said, Have no fear: am I in the place of God?
WebsterAnd Joseph said to them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

What does Genesis 50:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 50:15-21

15-21. When Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, &c.--Joseph was deeply affected by this communication. He gave them the strongest assurances of his forgiveness and thereby gave both a beautiful trait of his own pious character, as well as appeared an eminent type of the Saviour.

Read the full comment on Genesis 50:15-21 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 Am I in the place of God? - These words may be understood either as a question, or an affirmative proposition. How should I take any farther notice of your transgression? I have passed it by, the matter lies now between God and you. Or, in the order of Divine providence I am now in God's place; he has furnished me with means, and made me a distributor of his bounty; I will therefore not only nourish you, but also your little ones, Gen 50:21 : and therefore he spake comfortably unto them, as in Gen 45:8, telling them that he attributed the whole business to the particular providence of God rather than to any ill will or malice in them, and that, in permitting him to be brought into Egypt, God had graciously saved their lives, the life of their father, the lives of the people of Canaan, and of the Egyptians: as therefore God had honored him by making him vicegerent in the dispensations of his especial bounty towards so many people, it was impossible he should be displeased with the means by which this was brought about.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 50:15-21

Various motives might cause the sons of Jacob to continue in Egypt, notwithstanding the prophetic vision Abraham had of their bondage there. Judging of Joseph from the general temper of human nature, they thought he would now avenge himself on those who hated and injured him without cause. Not being able to resist, or to flee away, they attempted to soften him by humbling themselves. They pleaded with him as the…

Read the full comment on Genesis 50:15-21 →

Genesis 50:19 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֲלֵהֶ֛ם'a.le.Hemto themH413
יוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefJosephH3130
אַל\־'al-may notH408
תִּירָ֑אוּti.Ra.'uyou fearH3372
כִּ֛יkithatH3588
הֲתַ֥חַתha.Ta.chat¿ in place ofH8478
אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
אָֽנִי\׃'A.ni[am] IH589

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 50:19

  • Romans 12:19

    Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

  • Genesis 30:2

    And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

  • Genesis 45:5

    Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

  • 2 Kings 5:7

    And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

  • Hebrews 10:30

    For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

  • Matthew 14:27

    But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

  • Deuteronomy 32:35

    To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

  • Job 34:19-29

    How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
fear not.
45:5; Mt 14:27; Lu 24:37,38
for am I.It belongs to God to execute vengeance, and Joseph did not intend to usurp his prerogative. Thus he instructed his brethren not to fear him, but to fear God; to humble themselves before God, and to seek his forgiveness.
30:2; De 32:35; 2Ki 5:7; Job 34:19-29; Ro 12:19; Heb 10:30

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 50:18

    And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

  • Genesis 50:19

    And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

  • Genesis 50:20

    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.

Read all of Genesis 50

Genesis 50:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y respondióles José: No temáis: ¿estoy yo en lugar de Dios?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Joseph leur dit: Ne craignez point; car suis-je à la place de Dieu?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da sprach Joseph zu ihnen: Fürchtet euch nicht; denn bin ich an Gottes Statt?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quibus ille respondit: Nolite timere: num Dei possumus resistere voluntati?