Genesis 50:21 (WEB)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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.

Genesis 50:23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "afraid", "nourish", "little", "ones", "comforted", "spoke", and "kindly". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "afraid", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "As for you you meant evil against..." into verse 22's "Joseph lived in Egypt he and his...", so "therefore" and "afraid" 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 "therefore" and "afraid" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.