Short answer: Genesis 50 records Jacob's elaborate Egyptian funeral, his burial in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan, the brothers' fear of post-father retribution, Joseph's reaffirmation of forgiveness, and Joseph's final prophecy of the Exodus. The chapter concludes Genesis with faith, hope, and the assurance of God's covenant faithfulness.
Introduction
Genesis 50 brings the book of Genesis to a fitting conclusion. Jacob's funeral is a grand affair — forty days of embalming, seventy days of mourning, and a great procession to Canaan. After Jacob's death, the brothers fear Joseph may finally take revenge, but Joseph reaffirms his forgiveness with the book's central theological statement: 'You intended evil against me, but God intended it for good.' The chapter ends with Joseph's death and his faith-filled prophecy that God will bring Israel out of Egypt.
Jacob's Embalming and Mourning (50:1-6)
Joseph falls on his father's face, weeping and kissing him. He commands the physicians to embalm Israel — a process that takes forty days. The Egyptians mourn for seventy days, a period befitting a great ruler. After the official mourning, Joseph approaches Pharaoh's household with a request: he must go to Canaan to bury his father as he swore to do. Pharaoh grants permission, demonstrating the high regard in which Joseph and his father are held.
Joseph fell on his father’s face, wept on him, and kissed him. Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were used for him, for that is how many the days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for Israel for seventy days. When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to Pharaoh’s staff, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying. Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come again.’ ” Pharaoh said, “Go up, and bury your father, just like he made you swear.”
Genesis 50:1-6 (World English Bible)
The Great Funeral Procession (50:7-14)
A vast procession accompanies Jacob's body to Canaan: all of Joseph's household, his brothers, the elders of Egypt, chariots, and horsemen. The company stops at the threshing floor of Atad beyond the Jordan. They hold a seven-day mourning ceremony so profound that the Canaanites rename the place Abel-mizraim — 'mourning of Egypt.' Jacob's sons carry his body to the cave of Machpelah and bury him with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah. The grand funeral honors the patriarch who began life as a fugitive and ended it as the father of a nation.
Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, all the elders of the land of Egypt, All the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. There went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and severe lamentation. He mourned for his father seven days. When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. His sons did to him just as he commanded them, for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, as a possession for a burial site, from Ephron the Hittite, near Mamre. Joseph returned into Egypt—he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
Genesis 50:7-14 (World English Bible)
The Brothers' Fear and Joseph's Grace (50:15-21)
After the funeral, the brothers fear that Joseph's forgiveness was only for their father's sake. Now that Jacob is gone, they worry Joseph will finally repay their evil. They send a message claiming Jacob commanded Joseph to forgive them. When Joseph receives the message, he weeps — grieved that after all he has done, they still do not fully trust his forgiveness. The brothers come and fall before him, offering themselves as servants. Joseph's response is magnificent: 'Don't be afraid, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you intended evil against me, but God intended it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.' He comforts them and speaks kindly.
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.” They sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died, saying, ‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today. Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:15-21 (World English Bible)
Joseph's Final Years and Death (50:22-26)
Joseph lives in Egypt for the remainder of his long life, seeing Ephraim's children to the third generation. As death approaches, he gathers his brothers and speaks with prophetic certainty: 'I am dying, but God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land to the land which He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' He makes them swear an oath to carry his bones up from Egypt when God visits them. Joseph dies at 110 years old — the ideal Egyptian lifespan. He is embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt, awaiting the Exodus. His faith, noted in Hebrews 11:22, looks forward to God's future redemption.
Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years. Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Genesis 50:22-26 (World English Bible)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of 'You intended evil against me, but God intended it for good'?
This verse (Genesis 50:20) is the theological center of the entire Joseph narrative. It articulates the doctrine of divine providence: God sovereignly works through human sin and evil to accomplish His redemptive purposes. Human responsibility and divine sovereignty coexist without contradiction.
Why was Joseph's burial request significant?
Joseph's request that his bones be carried to Canaan when God visited Israel was an act of faith (Hebrews 11:22). It demonstrated his confidence in God's promise to bring Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. This request was fulfilled centuries later when Moses carried Joseph's bones out of Egypt (Exodus 13:19).
What is the significance of Joseph's age at death (110)?
One hundred ten years was considered the ideal lifespan in ancient Egypt. Joseph's age indicates he was greatly blessed and lived a full life. His death at 110 also marks the end of Genesis and the beginning of Israel's sojourn in Egypt that would lead to the Exodus.
Biblical Fidelity Check
This article faithfully presents the biblical account of Jacob's funeral, Joseph's reaffirmation of forgiveness, and Joseph's final prophecy as recorded in Genesis 50. The narrative of the burial in Machpelah, Joseph's theological statement, and the hope of the Exodus are drawn directly from the World English Bible translation.
Related Bible Studies
- Genesis 37 — Joseph's Dreams
- Genesis 41 — Joseph Becomes Vizier
- Genesis 45 — Joseph Reveals Himself
- Genesis 49 — Jacob Blesses the Tribes
- Hebrews 11 — The Hall of Faith
Grow in Your Faith
Deepen your understanding of Scripture with our free weekly Bible study newsletter. Each edition includes chapter summaries, theological insights, and practical applications for your walk with God.
If this study has blessed you, please consider supporting our ministry. Your generosity helps us continue producing free, faithful, verse-by-verse Bible study content for believers around the world.
