Verse: Genesis 50:17
Theme: Posthumous Forgiveness Appeals, The Weight of Final Paternal Words, and Reconciliation Through Ancestral Faith
“‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.”
— Genesis 50:17, New International Version (NIV)
“‘Tell Joseph that I beg him to forgive his brothers for the great wrong they did to him.’ So we, your father’s servants, beg you to forgive our sin, for we worship the same God that your father worshiped.” Joseph broke down and wept when he got their message.”
— Genesis 50:17, Contemporary English Version (CEV)
“‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did evil to you.”‘ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.”
— Genesis 50:17, English Standard Version (ESV)
“‘Tell Joseph to forgive you for the cruel thing you did to him.’ We are your father’s God’s servants, so please forgive us.” Joseph cried when he heard their message.”
— Genesis 50:17, God’s Word Translation (GW)
“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.”
— Genesis 50:17, King James Version (KJV)
Meaning of Genesis 50:17
Few verses in Scripture carry the emotional weight of a father’s dying wish reaching across the grave to heal family wounds that have festered for decades. Jacob’s posthumous plea for his sons’ forgiveness represents one of the most poignant moments in the entire Genesis narrative, where death itself becomes a messenger of reconciliation.
The brothers’ desperate invocation of their father’s name and God’s authority reveals their deep-seated fear that Joseph’s kindness toward them had been motivated by respect for Jacob rather than genuine forgiveness. With Jacob gone, they worried that twenty-two years of apparent reconciliation might crumble under the weight of their original betrayal.
What makes this verse so powerful is the strategic layering of appeals, first invoking Jacob’s deathbed request, then identifying themselves as servants of “the God of your father,” creating a triple bond of family, faith, and forgiveness. The brothers understood that their survival depended not just on Joseph’s mercy, but on his recognition of their shared spiritual heritage.
Joseph’s tears reveal the complexity of his emotions, perhaps grief that his brothers still didn’t trust his forgiveness, sadness over his father’s concern about family unity, or simply the overwhelming weight of being asked to extend grace that only God’s strength could provide. Those tears speak to every person who has ever been asked to forgive the unforgivable.
Popular Words of Wisdom from Genesis 50:17
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”
— Lewis B. Smedes, Christian Author and Theologian
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
— Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Independence Leader
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.”
— Martin Luther King Jr., Baptist Minister and Civil Rights Leader
“In war: resolution. In defeat: defiance. In victory: magnanimity. In peace: goodwill.”
— Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister and War Leader
“The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.”
— John Chrysostom, Early Church Father and Archbishop
“I have learned that the person I have to ask for forgiveness from the most is: myself. You must love yourself. You have to forgive yourself, everyday, whenever you remember a shortcoming, a flaw, you have to tell yourself ‘That’s just fine’. You have to forgive yourself so much, until you don’t even see those flaws anymore. Because that’s what love is like.”
— C. JoyBell C., Contemporary Author
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but facing it.”
— Nelson Mandela, South African President and Freedom Fighter
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
— Buddha, Religious Teacher and Philosopher
Explaining the Context of Genesis 50:17
Jacob had been dead for some time when this conversation took place, and the brothers’ fear had been building like a pressure cooker. During Jacob’s lifetime, family gatherings probably felt safe because their father’s presence guaranteed Joseph wouldn’t seek revenge. But with that protective barrier gone, old anxieties resurfaced with vengeance.
The brothers crafted their appeal carefully, claiming Jacob had given them specific instructions before his death. Whether Jacob actually said these exact words or whether the brothers constructed this message from their understanding of his heart, we can’t know for certain. What matters is that they believed invoking their father’s dying wish would carry more weight than their own pleas for mercy.
Their identification as “servants of the God of your father” was strategically brilliant. They weren’t just appealing to Joseph as family members, but as fellow believers who served the same covenant God. This language reminded Joseph that forgiveness wasn’t just a personal choice but a spiritual obligation rooted in their shared faith heritage.
The timing of this appeal, coming after Jacob’s burial and the initial period of mourning, suggests the brothers had been wrestling with their fears for weeks or months. They’d probably been watching Joseph’s behavior, looking for signs of a changing attitude, until their anxiety finally forced them to take action.
Joseph’s immediate emotional response, weeping rather than speaking, reveals how deeply this request affected him. These weren’t tears of anger or frustration, but the complex emotions of a man who thought forgiveness had been settled decades ago, only to discover that trust and forgiveness operate on different timelines.
Explaining the Key Parts of Genesis 50:17
“‘This is what you are to say to Joseph'”
The brothers presented their appeal as a direct quote from Jacob, lending authority and emotional weight to their request. Whether Jacob actually spoke these words or they represented his implied wishes, the attribution created urgency that personal pleas couldn’t match.
This framing also allowed the brothers to distance themselves slightly from the request while ensuring Joseph couldn’t ignore it without seeming to dishonor their father’s memory.
“I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs”
The language here is comprehensive – both “sins” (spiritual offenses against God) and “wrongs” (personal injuries against Joseph). This wasn’t asking for partial forgiveness but complete absolution for every aspect of their betrayal.
The specific acknowledgment that they had “treated you so badly” showed awareness of the magnitude of their actions rather than minimizing or excusing their behavior.
“The servants of the God of your father”
This phrase masterfully invokes shared spiritual heritage while maintaining humble positioning. They didn’t claim to be Joseph’s equals, but fellow servants under the same divine master, creating an obligation based on religious rather than familial bonds.
The reference to “the God of your father” specifically connected their request to the covenant relationship that defined their family’s identity and purpose.
“When their message came to him, Joseph wept”
Joseph’s tears reveal the emotional complexity of this moment – grief that his brothers still feared him, sadness over continued family dysfunction, or perhaps overwhelming gratitude for the opportunity to demonstrate grace that reflects God’s character.
The immediate emotional response, before any words, shows this wasn’t calculated politics but a genuine human reaction to a profound spiritual and relational moment.
Lessons to Learn from Genesis 50:17
1. Fear Can Persist Long After Forgiveness Has Been Extended
The brothers’ continued anxiety despite years of Joseph’s kindness shows that receiving forgiveness doesn’t automatically eliminate fear of consequences, requiring ongoing reassurance and trust-building.
2. Family Wounds Often Require Multiple Conversations and Confirmations to Heal
Even twenty-two years after their reconciliation, the brothers needed additional assurance, demonstrating that healing family relationships is often a process rather than a single event.
3. Invoking Shared Spiritual Values Can Provide Framework for Difficult Reconciliation
The brothers’ appeal to their common faith heritage created obligations and motivations beyond personal preference, showing how spiritual identity can facilitate forgiveness.
4. True Forgiveness Responds with Compassion Rather Than Irritation to Repeated Requests
Joseph’s tears, rather than frustration at being asked again to forgive, demonstrate that authentic forgiveness remains patient with others’ fears and insecurities.
5. Deathbed Wishes and Final Messages Carry Unique Authority in Family Reconciliation
Jacob’s posthumous request (whether literal or implied) carried weight that living words might not have achieved, showing how mortality can motivate urgent attention to relationship repair.
Related Bible Verses
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
— Ephesians 4:32, New Living Translation (NLT)
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
— Matthew 18:21-22, Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
— 1 John 1:9, New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
— Luke 6:37, Good News Translation (GNT)
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
— Mark 11:25, New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
How This Verse Points to Christ
Genesis 50:17 powerfully foreshadows Christ’s ministry of reconciliation, where divine forgiveness comes not through our merit but through appeals to the Father’s character and covenant faithfulness.
The brothers’ identification as “servants of the God of your father” parallels our position as adopted children who can approach God’s throne of grace based on our shared inheritance in Christ rather than our own righteousness.
Joseph’s tears over his brothers’ continued fear mirror Christ’s compassion for those who struggle to believe in the completeness of divine forgiveness, continuing to seek reassurance for sins already covered.
The posthumous nature of Jacob’s request points to Christ’s ongoing intercession for believers, where His finished work on the cross continues to speak on our behalf even after His earthly ministry ended.
Joseph’s willingness to forgive repeatedly, even when his brothers questioned his previous forgiveness, reflects Christ’s patience with believers who repeatedly confess the same sins and seek renewed assurance.
The family reconciliation achieved through invoking their father’s name foreshadows our reconciliation with God through Christ’s name, where family relationships are restored through appealing to divine authority rather than human merit.
The brothers’ fear, despite years of kind treatment, parallels believers who struggle with assurance of salvation, needing repeated confirmation that God’s forgiveness is permanent and complete.
Closing Reflection
Genesis 50:17 confronts us with one of life’s most challenging realities: forgiveness is rarely a one-time event but an ongoing process that requires patience, grace, and repeated confirmations. Joseph’s brothers, despite decades of his kindness, still struggled with fear and insecurity about their standing in the family.
This verse teaches us that extending forgiveness doesn’t guarantee the immediate healing of trust or the elimination of fear in those we’ve forgiven. People who have inflicted deep wounds often carry corresponding deep shame, making it difficult to believe that grace can truly cover their actions.
The brothers’ strategic appeal, invoking Jacob’s deathbed wish and their shared spiritual heritage, shows how family reconciliation often requires finding common ground beyond the immediate conflict. Sometimes we need to appeal to higher loyalties and deeper identities to break through the barriers that individual hurt has created.
Joseph’s tears reveal the heart of authentic forgiveness, not irritation at being asked again, but compassion for those who struggle to accept grace. His emotional response shows that true forgiveness grieves over others’ pain rather than feeling burdened by their insecurities.
The posthumous nature of Jacob’s request reminds us that family healing often extends beyond individual lifetimes. Sometimes our most important work involves creating frameworks for reconciliation that will outlast our physical presence, setting up the next generation for healthier relationships.
This passage also reveals how shared faith can provide the motivation and framework necessary for difficult forgiveness. When family relationships seem impossible to repair, appealing to our common spiritual heritage and obligations can open doors that personal appeals cannot.
For those of us who have been deeply wounded by family members, this verse offers both comfort and challenge. Comfort in knowing that even Joseph’s brothers struggled with accepting forgiveness, and a challenge to extend the kind of patient grace that doesn’t grow weary of repeated requests for reassurance.
Say This Prayer
Gracious Lord,
Thank You for Joseph’s example of patient forgiveness that extended grace repeatedly without irritation or weariness, showing us what authentic mercy looks like in family relationships.
When family members who have wounded us struggle to believe in our forgiveness, give us the compassion to reassure them again and again rather than growing frustrated with their fears.
Help us to understand that healing family relationships often requires multiple conversations and confirmations, and grant us the endurance to participate in that long process.
Teach us to appeal to our shared spiritual heritage when personal reconciliation seems impossible, remembering that our common faith can provide motivation and framework for difficult forgiveness.
When we struggle to accept forgiveness that others have extended to us, remind us of Your complete and permanent grace that doesn’t need to be earned repeatedly.
Give us wisdom to create frameworks for family healing that will outlast our physical presence, setting up future generations for healthier relationships and restored unity.
Help us to grieve over others’ pain rather than feeling burdened by their insecurities, responding with tears of compassion rather than sighs of frustration.
Thank You for Christ, whose intercession continues even after His earthly work was finished, providing ongoing assurance of forgiveness for those who struggle with spiritual insecurity.
May we be people who extend the kind of patient, repeated grace that reflects Your own heart toward us, never growing weary of confirming our love and forgiveness.
In the name of Jesus, our great reconciler, Amen.