Genesis 50:20 (YLT)

Passage

As for you, ye devised against me evil--God devised it for good, in order to do as <FI>at<Fi> this day, to keep alive a numerous people;

Nearby Context

Genesis 50:18 And his brethren also go and fall before him, and say, `Lo, we <FI>are<Fi> to thee for servants.'

Genesis 50:19 And Joseph saith unto them, `Fear not, for <FI>am<Fi> I in the place of God?

Genesis 50:20 As for you, ye devised against me evil--God devised it for good, in order to do as <FI>at<Fi> this day, to keep alive a numerous people;

Genesis 50:21 and now, fear not: I do nourish you and your infants;' and he comforteth them, and speaketh unto their heart.

Genesis 50:22 And Joseph dwelleth in Egypt, he and the house of his father, and Joseph liveth a hundred and ten years,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "for good", "devised", "against", "evil--god", "order", "keep", and "alive". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "for good" and "devised", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "And Joseph saith unto them Fear not..." into verse 21's "and now fear not I do nourish...", so "for good" and "devised" 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 "devised" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.