And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joseph's dying words aren't just about future deliverance, but a reminder that God's faithfulness is the ultimate guarantee, surpassing any human protector. He underscores that their hope rests not in his presence, but in God's immutable promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a promise that will outlast his own life.
And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joseph is nearing the end of his life, reflecting on his journey from betrayal to prominence in Egypt. After ensuring his father Jacob was buried according to his wishes back in the promised land, Joseph gathers his brothers. He assures them that though he is dying, God will not abandon them and will ultimately lead them out of Egypt to the land promised to their ancestors.
Joseph is facing his own death, but his final words aren't about his legacy or his grief. Instead, they point to a future he won't see.
Even as Joseph's life in Egypt comes to an end, his faith remains fixed on God's promise. He reminds his brothers, 'God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.'
This isn't just a hopeful wish; it's a declaration of deep conviction.
The Certainty of God's Visit
Joseph uses the phrase 'surely visit,' which emphasizes God's active and certain engagement with His people, even when they are in a foreign land and facing difficult circumstances. This 'visit' is not for judgment, but for deliverance and fulfillment of His covenant promises.
The Land as a Covenant Symbol
The 'land' he speaks of is not merely real estate. It represents God's faithfulness to the covenant He made with the patriarchs. It's a tangible sign of His ongoing relationship with their descendants and the fulfillment of His plan.
Joseph's life was marked by immense suffering – betrayal by his brothers, false accusations, and imprisonment. Yet, his final words reveal how he viewed it all.
Joseph understood that his personal tragedies were not random events but were woven into God's larger redemptive plan.
Divine Providence Over Human Malice
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Joseph famously told his brothers, 'You meant evil against me; but God intended it for good' (Genesis 50:20). This perspective is crucial.
Dying with a Vision of Deliverance
Joseph's dying charge to his brothers is not to mourn him excessively or to focus on his achievements in Egypt. Instead, he directs their gaze forward, to the promised land and God's plan to bring them out of their current bondage. His life, though marked by suffering, became a testament to God's ability to bring ultimate good out of evil.
Understand the original words
shaba' · Hebrew Verb
The act of making a solemn oath or calling upon God to witness the truth of a statement or the commitment to fulfill a promise. It invokes the divine name as a guarantee of integrity and future action.
paqad · Hebrew Verb
In a biblical context, a divine intervention where God draws near to His people, either to judge or—as is the case here—to deliver and redeem. It signifies that God has not forgotten His covenant promises and is actively working on behalf of His people.
shaba' · Hebrew Verb
A solemn, binding agreement established by God with His people, often involving promises of land, descendants, and divine presence. It is an act of sovereign grace that defines the identity and future destiny of the recipients.
Joseph's dying words are a powerful act of faith, not just for his brothers but for future generations. They underscore that God's promises are steadfast, even when His people are in a foreign land, and they lay the groundwork for the Exodus narrative that follows.
c. 1805 BC
Joseph sold into slavery
Joseph, son of Jacob, is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, where he eventually rises to a position of great power.
c. 1760 BC
Jacob and his family move to Egypt
A famine drives Jacob and his entire family to migrate to Egypt, where they are welcomed and settled in the land of Goshen by Joseph.
c. 1730 BC
Death of Jacob
Jacob, patriarch of the Israelite family, dies in Egypt. His sons, fearing Joseph's retribution, ask for his forgiveness.
c. 1730 BC
Joseph comforts his brothers
Joseph reassures his brothers of his forgiveness and love, declaring that God intended their evil actions for good, to save many lives.
c. 1710 BC— this verse
Joseph's deathbed pronouncements
As Joseph is dying, he prophesies that God will surely visit his people and lead them out of Egypt to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
c. 1710 BC
Joseph's bones sworn to be moved
Joseph makes his brothers swear an oath to carry his bones with them when they leave Egypt, a profound act of faith in God's promise.
c. 1710 BC
Death of Joseph
Joseph dies at the age of 110, after living a life of faithfulness and significant influence in Egypt.
This passage echoes Joseph's prophecy by explicitly stating God's awareness of His people's suffering in Egypt and His plan to rescue them and bring them to the promised land, directly fulfilling the covenant He made with Abraham.
Deuteronomy 31:23Similar to Joseph's dying words, Joshua is commissioned by God to be strong and courageous because God Himself will go with them and drive out the inhabitants of the land, reaffirming the promise of divine presence and provision for the journey ahead.
Hebrews 11:22This New Testament verse directly highlights Joseph's faith in his final moments, specifically mentioning his 'commandment concerning the disposal of his bones' as an act of faith in God's promises for Israel's future deliverance and return to the Promised Land.
Acts 7:15-16Stephen recounts the history of Israel, referencing Jacob's death and burial, and the eventual removal of Joseph's bones from Egypt, directly linking this event to the exodus and the fulfillment of God's oath to the patriarchs.
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…
gillGenesis 50:24: "And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die,.... Some time before his death he called them together, and observed to them, that he expected to die in a little time, as all must: and God will surely visit you; not in a way of wrath and vindictive justice, as he sometimes does, but in a way of love, grace, and mercy:…
Joseph's dying words aren't just about future deliverance, but a reminder that God's faithfulness is the ultimate guarantee, surpassing any human protector. He underscores that their hope rests not in his presence, but in God's immutable promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a promise that will outlast his own life.
Joseph is nearing the end of his life, reflecting on his journey from betrayal to prominence in Egypt. After ensuring his father Jacob was buried according to his wishes back in the promised land, Joseph gathers his brothers. He assures them that though he is dying, God will not abandon them and will ultimately lead them out of Egypt to the land promised to their ancestors.
Joseph is nearing the end of his life, reflecting on his journey from betrayal to prominence in Egypt. After ensuring his father Jacob was buried according to his wishes back in the promised land, Joseph gathers his brothers. He assures them that though he is dying, God will not abandon them and will ultimately lead them out of Egypt to the land promised to their ancestors.
"And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”" — Joseph's dying words aren't just about future deliverance, but a reminder that God's faithfulness is the ultimate guarantee, surpassing any human protector. He underscores that their hope rests not i…
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Last reviewed October 2026