Genesis 50:15 - When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.”

Generated Verse: Genesis 50:15

What does "Genesis 50:15" mean?


This verse from Genesis 50:15 reveals the lingering guilt and fear of Joseph's brothers. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

Context: Jacob, their father, has just died. Jacob was the reason they initially sold Joseph into slavery. They knew Jacob loved Joseph deeply.

Fear: The brothers now fear that Joseph's restraint and forgiveness while Jacob was alive were motivated solely by respect and love for their father. They worry that with Jacob gone, Joseph might finally unleash the anger and resentment he had been holding back.

Guilt: The phrase "all the evil which we did to him" underscores their deep-seated awareness of their past actions. They know they acted maliciously towards Joseph, selling him into slavery and deceiving their father. This knowledge weighs heavily on them.

Consequences: "Will fully pay us back" indicates their fear of retribution. They believe Joseph now has the power and opportunity to punish them for their past sins. They expect that he will seek revenge.

In essence, this verse shows that despite Joseph's apparent forgiveness, his brothers hadn't fully processed their guilt. They underestimated the depth of Joseph's character and his ability to genuinely forgive. They were still consumed by the consequences of their past actions.