Genesis 50:20 (WEB)

Passage

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is today, to save many people alive.

Nearby Context

Genesis 50:18 His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

Genesis 50:19 Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God?

Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is today, to save many people alive.

Genesis 50:21 Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:22 Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "for good", "meant", "evil", "against", "bring", "pass", and "today". 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 "Joseph said to them Don t be..." into verse 21's "Now therefore don t be afraid I...", 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.