Genesis 50

Genesis 50 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Embalming

Embalming was practiced in Egypt on very important people when they died. They removed the liquids from the body then wrapped it in an attempt to preserve the body from decay.

Joseph's character

Joseph's character was so upright that Pharaoh's officials went with him to Canaan to bury Jacob. This was a very large funeral procession. He also learned lessons from earlier in his life and unified his family. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#righteous)

__<< | __

Genesis 50:1

that he collapsed on the face of his father

The term "he collapsed" is an idiom for being overcome. Alternate translation: "that he fell on his father in grief" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

Genesis 50:2

his servants the physicians

"his servants who took care of dead bodies"

to embalm his father

To "embalm" is a special way of preserving a dead body before it is buried. Alternate translation: "to prepare his father's body for burial" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

Genesis 50:3

They took forty days

"They took 40 days" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

seventy days

"70 days" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 50:4

Connecting Statement:

A three-level quotation is introduced with the words "Joseph spoke ... saying." The second level begins with the words "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak to Pharaoh, saying."

days of weeping

"days of mourning him" or "days of weeping for him"

Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh

Here "house of Pharaoh" stands for the officials that make up Pharaoh's royal court. Alternate translation: "Joseph spoke to Pharaoh's officials" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

If now I have found favor in your eyes

The phrase "find favor" is an idiom which means to be approved of by someone. Also, the eyes represent seeing, and seeing represents thoughts or judgment. Alternate translation: "If I have found favor with you" or "If you are pleased with me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Genesis 50:5

Connecting Statement:

The three-level quotation that began with the words "Joseph spoke ... saying" in verse 4 continues. The second level of that quotation, which began with the words "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak to Pharaoh, saying" in verse 4 continues.

My father made me swear, saying, "See, I am about to die. Bury me in my tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan. There you will bury me." Now let me go up ... I will return.

This is the second level of the three-level quotation that begins with the words "If now I have" in verse 4. It contains a quote within it. This embedded quote can be translated as an indirect quote. "My father made me swear, saying that he was about to die and that I was to bury him in his tomb that he dug for himself in the land of Canaan. I was to bury him there. Now let me go up ... I will return." The entire second-level quotation can also be translated as an indirect quote. "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak to Pharaoh and tell him that my father made me swear, saying that he was about to die and that I was to bury him in his tomb that he dug for himself in the land of Canaan. I was to bury him there. Now let me go up ... I will return." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)

See, I am about to die ... you will bury me

This is the third level of the three-level quotation that begins with the words "If now I have" in verse 4.

See, I am about to die

"See, I am dying"

let me go up

It was common to use the phrase "go up" when speaking of traveling from Egypt to Canaan.

Genesis 50:6

Pharaoh answered

It is implied that the members of the court spoke to Pharaoh, and now Pharaoh is replying to Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

as he made you swear

"as you swore to him"

Genesis 50:7

Joseph went up

It was common to use the phrase "went up" when speaking of traveling from Egypt to Canaan.

All the servants ... the elders ... the senior officials

All of Pharaoh's most important leaders attended the burial procession.

servants of Pharaoh

These were probably government officials, not household servants.

the elders of his household

Here "household" refers to Pharaoh's royal court.

Genesis 50:8

with all Joseph's household and his brothers, and his father's household

This can be translated as a new sentence: "Joseph's household, his brothers, and his father's household also went with him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-events)

Genesis 50:9

Chariots

Here this stands for the men riding in the chariots. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

It was a very large group of people

"It was a very large gathering"

Genesis 50:10

When they came

The word "they" refers to the participants in the burial procession.

floor of Atad

Possible meanings are 1) the word "Atad" means "thorn" and it may refer to a place where large amounts of thorns grew, or 2) it may be the name of the person who owns the threshing floor. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

they mourned with very great and grievous sorrow

"they were extremely sad and they mourned very much"

a seven-day

"a 7-day" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 50:11

at the threshing floor of Atad

Possible meanings are 1) "on the threshing floor that belonged to a man named Atad" or "in the threshing floor at a place called Atad" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

This is a very sad occasion for the Egyptians

"The mourning of the Egyptians is very great"

Abel Mizraim

The translator can add a footnote that says: "The name Abel Mizraim means "the mourning of Egypt.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 50:12

So his sons

"So Jacob's sons"

just as he had instructed them

"just as he had directed them"

Genesis 50:13

His sons carried him

"His sons took his body"

Machpelah

Machpela was the name of an area or region. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:9. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Mamre

This was another name for the city of Hebron. It may have been named after Mamre, the friend of Abraham who lived there. See how you translated this in Genesis 13:18. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Ephron the Hittite

This is the name of a man. "Hittite" means "descendent of Heth." See how you translated this in Genesis 23:8. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 50:14

Joseph returned into Egypt

"Joseph returned to Egypt"

all who had accompanied him

"all who had come with him"

Genesis 50:15

What if Joseph continues to be angry against us

Here anger is spoken of as if it was something physical that Joseph could hold in his hands. Alternate translation: "What if Joseph is actually still angry with us" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

wants to repay us in full for all the evil we did to him

Avenging oneself against someone who harmed him is spoken of as if the person were paying they other person what they are owed. Alternate translation: "wants revenge for the evil thing we did to him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Genesis 50:16

Connecting Statement:

A three-level quotation begins with the words "Your father gave."

Your father gave instructions before he died, saying

Jacob was the father of all the brothers. Here they say "your father" to emphasize that Joseph needs to pay attention to what his father said. Alternate translation: "Before our father died he said"

Genesis 50:17

Connecting Statement:

The three-level quotation that begins with the words "Your father gave" in verse 16 ends here.

Tell Joseph this, "Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin when they did evil to you."

The three-level quotation that begins with the words "Your father gave" in verse 16 ends here. This is the second-level quotation, and it contains a third-level quotation that can be stated as an indirect quotation. "Tell Joseph to please forgive your transgression and your sin when you did evil to him." Both the second-level and third-level quotations can be translated as indirect quotations. "Your father instructed us before he died to tell you to please forgive our transgression and our sin when we did evil to you." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)

and their sin when they did evil to you

"for the wicked things they did to you"

Now

This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.

please forgive the servants of the God of your father

The brothers are referring to themselves as "the servants of the God of your father." This can be stated in first person. Alternate translation: "please forgive us, the servants of the God of our father" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-123person)

Joseph wept when they spoke to him

"Joseph wept when he heard this message"

Genesis 50:18

lay facedown before him

They lay down with their faces toward the ground. This is a sign of humility and respect for Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)

Genesis 50:19

Am I in the place of God?

Joseph uses a question to comfort his brothers. Alternate translation: "I am not in the place of God." or "I am not God." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)

Genesis 50:20

you meant to harm me

"you intended to do evil against me"

God meant it for good

"God intended it for good"

Genesis 50:21

So now do not be afraid

"So do not fear me"

I will provide for you and your little children

"I will always make sure you and your children have enough to eat"

He comforted them in this way and spoke kindly to their hearts

Here "hearts" refers to the brothers. Alternate translation: "He comforted them by speaking kindly to them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

Genesis 50:22

one hundred ten years

"110 years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 50:23

Ephraim's children to the third generation

"Ephraim's children and grandchildren"

Makir

This is the name of Joseph's grandson. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

who were placed on the knees of Joseph

This expression means that Joseph adopted these children of Machir as his own children. This means they would have special inheritance rights from Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

Genesis 50:24

surely come to you

In Genesis 50:24/26 the word "you" refers to Joseph's brothers, but it also stands for their descendants. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

lead you up out of this land to the land

It was common to use the word "up" when speaking of traveling from Egypt to Canaan. Alternate translation: "bring you out of this land and take you to the land" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-events)

Genesis 50:25

General Information:

This page has intentionally been left blank.

Genesis 50:26

110 years

"one hundred and ten years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

They embalmed him

To "embalm" is a special way of preserving a dead body before it is buried. See how you translated "embalmed" in Genesis 50:1.

he was placed

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they placed him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

in a coffin

"in a chest" or "in a case." This is a box a dead person is placed in.