But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
Parallel translations
- WEB Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
- KJV And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
- NKJV Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
- NASB But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place?
- NLT But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joseph tells them not to fear, asking, 'Am I in the place of God?'
Overview
Joseph refuses to take the role of judge and avenger, leaving final justice to God alone. His humility frees him to forgive rather than retaliate, trusting God's sovereignty over his life. This reflects the biblical call to leave vengeance to the Lord and forgive as we have been forgiven (Romans 12:19; Ephesians 4:32).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Rom 12:19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
- Gen 30:2Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”
- Gen 45:5And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.
- Heb 10:30For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
- 2 Kgs 5:7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper? Surely you can see that he is seeking a quarrel with me!”
- Deut 32:35Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
- Matt 14:27But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
- Job 34:19–29who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
- Luke 24:37–38But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 50:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.