Verse Lens · Context pointer
Genesis 50:16 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 16. 16And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Role in This Section
The brothers send or command a message to Joseph, saying that Jacob gave an instruction before his death. The content continues in verse 17.
Read It With
- Genesis 50:15–21
Read verses 16–17 together. Verse 16 introduces reported speech; verse 17 supplies the forgiveness request and Joseph's tears.
Why It Needs Context
Genesis has not previously recorded this command, and verse 16 alone cannot establish whether it is an accurate unreported instruction or a fearful strategy.
Read Genesis 50:15–17 together
Why these verses belong together: Fear of revenge produces the reported command, forgiveness plea, shared-God appeal, and Joseph's tears.
Verse 15. 15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
Verse 16. 16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
Verse 17. 17 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.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 50:15–21 — Joseph Reassures His Fearful BrothersSources used for this context pointer
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed wording, sale, guilt, family change, providential interpretation, fear, forgiveness plea, care, and final-book movement.
Exact location: Genesis 50:15–21 with Genesis 37:18–36; 42:18–28; 44:18–45:15; and 50:1–14, 22–26 in the pinned standardized 1769 KJV
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Repayment, forgiveness, God's place, paired intentions, preservation, provision, and heart-directed speech.
Exact location: WLC Genesis 50:15–21, especially yashev, sa na, hatahat elohim ani, repeated hashav, lehahayot am-rav, akhalkel, and vayedabber al-libbam
Open source ↗