20
As for you,וְאַתֶּםyou plannedחֲשַׁבְתֶּםevilרָעָהagainst me;עָלַיElohimאֱלֹהִיםplanned itחֲשָׁבָהּfor good,לְטֹבָהin orderלְמַעַןto bring aboutעֲשֹׂהwhat is happening today:כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּהkeeping aliveלְהַחֲיֹתmanyרָבpeople.עַם
Genesis 50:20
Study it in the app“As for you, you planned evil against me; Elohim planned it for good, in order to bring about what is happening today: keeping alive many people.”
Joseph: you meant evil against me, but Elohim meant it for goodProvidenceJoseph, feared by his brothers, reassures them and promises to provide for themForgivenessJoseph's brothers fear his revenge; he comforts themConflict and ReconciliationJoseph to his brothers: you planned evil, but Elohim planned it for goodSuffering and Trials
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 50:20, word by word
- you plannedחֲשַׁבְתֶּםchashavtem
devise
To devise a plan or a design, good or bad.
Where else “chashavtem” appears- evilרָעָהraa
harm
Something that hurts, a disaster.
Where else “raa” appears- Elohimאֱלֹהִיםelohim
Elohim
The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.
Where else “elohim” appears- for goodטֹבָהtova
good
What is as it should be and gives delight: sound, useful, beautiful or valuable.
Where else “tova” appears- to bring aboutעֲשֹׂהaso
do
To carry out an act or to deal with someone in a certain way, for good or ill.
Where else “aso” appears- what is happening todayיּוֹםyom
today
This very day in which one speaks, the present moment.
Where else “yom” appears- keeping aliveהַחֲיֹתhachayot
keep alive
To make someone go on living, or rescue them from death.
Where else “hachayot” appears- manyרָבrav
many
A great number of people or things.
Where else “rav” appears- peopleעַםam
crowd
The people gathered in a place: the crowd, or the troops that go out to war.
Where else “am” appears
Translation note
Literally “you planned evil against me; Elohim planned it for good,” to keep many people alive. The Hebrew uses the same verb (chashav, “to think, to plan”) for the brothers and for Elohim (compare 45:5-8).
The context
19Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of Elohim?
20 · This verse (above)
21So now, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke to their heart.
To study Genesis 50 in a group
1. What it says
What did Joseph say to his brothers when they feared he would take revenge (vv. 15-21)?
2. What it means
What does it mean that they planned evil against him, but Elohim planned it for good (v. 20)?
3. How I live it
Whom do you need to forgive or ask forgiveness from, and what step can you take?