Genesis 50

Genesis 50:1

that he collapsed on the face of his father

"that he fell on his father in grief"

Genesis 50:2

his servants the physicians

"his servants who took care of dead bodies"

to embalm his father

"to prepare his father's body for burial"

Genesis 50:4

days of weeping

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

Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh

"Joseph spoke to Pharaoh's officials"

If now I have found favor in your eyes

"If I have found favor with you" or "If you are pleased with me"

Genesis 50:5

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.

"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."

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.

as he made you swear

"as you swore to him"

Genesis 50:7

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

"Joseph's household, his brothers, and his father's household also went with him"

Genesis 50:9

Chariots

Here this stands for the men riding in the chariots.

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.

they mourned with very great and grievous sorrow

"they were extremely sad and they mourned very much"

Genesis 50:11

This is a very sad occasion for the Egyptians

"The mourning of the Egyptians is very great"

Abel Mizraim

"The name Abel Mizraim means "the mourning of Egypt.'"

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.

Mamre

This was another name for the city of Hebron.

Ephron the Hittite

This is the name of a man. "Hittite" means "descendent of Heth."

Genesis 50:14

all who had accompanied him

"all who had come with him"

Genesis 50:15

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

"wants revenge for the evil thing we did to him"

Genesis 50:16

Your father gave instructions before he died, saying

"Before our father died he said"

Genesis 50:17

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

"Your father instructed us before he died to tell you to please forgive our transgression and our sin when we did evil to you."

and their sin when they did evil to you

"for the wicked things they did to you"

please forgive the servants of the God of your father

"please forgive us, the servants of the God of our father"

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.

Genesis 50:19

Am I in the place of God?

"I am not in the place of God." or "I am not God."

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

"He comforted them by speaking kindly to them"

Genesis 50:23

Ephraim's children to the third generation

"Ephraim's children and grandchildren"

Makir

This is the name of Joseph's grandson.

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.

Genesis 50:24

surely come to you

The word "you" refers to Joseph's brothers, but it also stands for their descendants.

lead you up out of this land to the land

"bring you out of this land and take you to the land"

Genesis 50:26

To "embalm" is a special way of preserving a dead body before it is buried.

he was placed

"they placed him"

in a coffin

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