Genesis 50:20 (ASV)

Passage

And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Nearby Context

Genesis 50:18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we are thy servants.

Genesis 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

Genesis 50:20 And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Genesis 50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Genesis 50:22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father`s house: and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "for good", "meant", "evil", "against", "bring", "pass", and "save". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "for good" and "meant", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "And Joseph said unto them Fear not..." into verse 21's "Now therefore fear ye not I will...", so "for good" and "meant" belong inside that flow. In Genesis context, the local focus is creation, human rebellion, covenant promise, and God's providence.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "for good" and "meant" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.