The brothers make a crucial distinction in their plea: they ask Joseph to forgive "the transgression of your brethren" but then add a more powerful appeal: "forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." This subtle shift highlights that their shared faith in the God of Jacob is presented as a bond even stronger than family, offering a shared identity that transcends their past wrongs and appeals directly to Joseph's deepest loyalties.
‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following the death of their father Jacob, Joseph's brothers, still gripped by fear, send messengers to implore Joseph to forgive the wrong they did him. They appeal to him not just as their brother but as a fellow servant of the God of their father, acknowledging their wrongdoing and seeking his mercy. Joseph, deeply moved by their plea and their lingering fear, weeps when he hears their words.
Joseph's brothers had wronged him deeply. Yet, when they appealed to him, they didn't just call themselves his brothers. They used a specific phrase that cut straight to his heart. What was it, and why was it so effective?
The brothers of Joseph were in a precarious position. Their father, Jacob, had just died, and they feared that Joseph's forgiveness, which had been extended while Jacob was alive, might evaporate with their father's passing.
Knowing they had wronged Joseph deeply, they chose their words carefully. Instead of simply saying 'forgive us, your brothers,' they pleaded, 'please forgive the transgression of your brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father.'
This phrase was a masterstroke because it appealed to a shared identity that transcended their broken relationship:
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Joseph wept. Was it sorrow, regret, or something else? This emotional moment reveals a profound truth about true forgiveness and its impact.
The text says, 'And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.' This wasn't just a sign of weakness or a simple emotional reaction. It was a complex outpouring of feelings that spoke volumes about Joseph's character and his journey:
A Multitude of Emotions
Forgiveness as Strength
Joseph's tears were not a sign that his forgiveness was wavering. Instead, they demonstrated the strength and depth of his forgiveness. True forgiveness isn't just the absence of anger; it's an active restoration of relationship, marked by empathy and a desire for the well-being of the offender. His tears showed he had fully absorbed the offense, processed it through God's lens, and was now moved by compassion rather than residual bitterness.
When his brothers confessed their evil deeds, Joseph didn't simply say, 'I forgive you.' He pointed them to a higher authority. Why did he do that, and what does it teach us about true justice?
After his brothers pleaded for forgiveness, referencing their shared faith, Joseph responded not by asserting his own authority as the forgiver, but by deferring to God. He famously said, 'Fear not: for am I in the place of God?'
This statement is crucial for understanding the nature of true reconciliation:
This perspective shifts the focus from personal retribution to divine reconciliation. It means that when we forgive, we are not just letting go of a personal grievance; we are participating in God's work of bringing restoration and wholeness.
Understand the original words
nasa · Hebrew Verb
A voluntary release of a debt or offense, often involving the setting aside of the penalty or resentment deserved by the offender. Biblically, it is rooted in God's mercy and is a requirement for those who have been forgiven by Him.
pesha · Hebrew Noun
A violation of a standard, law, or trust, often implying a revolt against authority. It signifies a departure from the path of righteousness and a breach of covenantal relationship.
chattath · Hebrew Noun
Literally 'missing the mark'; an action or state that falls short of God's holy standard. It encompasses both specific acts of disobedience and the inherent fallen nature of humanity.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
An action or character trait that is morally bad, harmful, or destructive. It represents a fundamental opposition to God's character and His created order.
This verse occurs at a pivotal moment following Jacob's death, highlighting the lingering fear of retribution among Joseph's brothers, even after years of demonstrated forgiveness. Their appeal, invoking the 'God of your father,' underscores their shared spiritual heritage and Joseph's deep emotional response, revealing a powerful moment of continued reconciliation and trust.
~1805 BC
Joseph sold into slavery
Joseph's brothers sell him to Ishmaelite traders, leading to his enslavement in Egypt.
~1795 BC
Joseph rises to power in Egypt
After years of hardship and imprisonment, Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams and is appointed second-in-command over Egypt.
~1785 BC
Jacob's family moves to Egypt
Famine drives Joseph's brothers to seek grain in Egypt, leading to their reconciliation with Joseph and the migration of Jacob's entire family to the land of Goshen.
~1775 BC— this verse
Death of Jacob
Jacob dies in Egypt, and his body is ceremonially embalmed and transported to Canaan for burial in the cave of Machpelah. This event prompts the brothers' deep fear of Joseph's retribution.
~1775 BC
Joseph forgives his brothers
After their father's death, the brothers fear Joseph's revenge. They send a message through intermediaries, pleading for forgiveness in the name of God. Joseph, deeply moved, weeps and reassures them of his love and care.
~1765 BC
Death of Joseph
Joseph lives to see his great-grandchildren and, before his death, makes his family swear to carry his bones out of Egypt when God leads them to the Promised Land.
Jesus teaches about the necessity of forgiveness, stating that if someone sins against you, you should forgive them. This directly parallels the plea for forgiveness from Joseph's brothers and Joseph's own compassionate response.
Matthew 18:21-22Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother, and Jesus responds with 'seventy times seven.' This emphasizes the boundless nature of forgiveness, a principle Joseph embodies in his reaction to his brothers' plea.
Romans 12:20Paul instructs believers to 'overcome evil with good.' Joseph's response, moving beyond mere forgiveness to actively caring for his brothers, perfectly illustrates this profound concept.
Proverbs 28:13This proverb states, 'Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.' Joseph's brothers confess their sin and plead for mercy, a model for seeking reconciliation.
Colossians 3:13Paul urges the Colossians to 'bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive in the same way that the Lord has forgiven you.' This verse highlights the divine standard for forgiveness that Joseph's actions so beautifully mirror.
calvinGenesis 50:1-26: "And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him."
- Et viderunt habitatores terrae Chenaaneaei luctum in area Atad, et dixerunt, Luctus gravis est iste Aegyptiis: idcirco vocatum fuit nomen ejus Abel -- Misraim, (id est luctus Aegyptorum,) qui est trand Jordanem.
12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
- Fecerunt ergo filii ejus ei sic, quemadmodum praeceperat eis.
13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and bu…
bensonGenesis 50:17: "So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him."
Genesis 50:17 . Forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father — Not only children of the same Jacob, but worshippers of the same Jehovah. Though we must be ready to forgive all that injure us, yet we must espe…
The brothers make a crucial distinction in their plea: they ask Joseph to forgive "the transgression of your brethren" but then add a more powerful appeal: "forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." This subtle shift highlights that their shared faith in the God of Jacob is presented as a bond even stronger than family, offering a shared identity that transcends their past wrongs and appeals directly to Joseph's deepest loyalties.
Following the death of their father Jacob, Joseph's brothers, still gripped by fear, send messengers to implore Joseph to forgive the wrong they did him. They appeal to him not just as their brother but as a fellow servant of the God of their father, acknowledging their wrongdoing and seeking his mercy. Joseph, deeply moved by their plea and their lingering fear, weeps when he hears their words.
Following the death of their father Jacob, Joseph's brothers, still gripped by fear, send messengers to implore Joseph to forgive the wrong they did him. They appeal to him not just as their brother but as a fellow servant of the God of their father, acknowledging their wrongdoing and seeking his mercy. Joseph, deeply moved by their plea and their lingering fear, weeps when he hears their words.
"‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him." — The brothers make a crucial distinction in their plea: they ask Joseph to forgive "the transgression of your brethren" but then add a more powerful appeal: "forgive the transgression of the servants…
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Last reviewed October 2026
