And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for 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?
- BSB But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. 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 12:19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
- Gen 30:2And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
- Gen 45:5Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
- Heb 10:30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
- 2 Kgs 5:7And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.
- Deut 32:35To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
- Matt 14:27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
- Job 34:19–29How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
- Luke 24:37–38But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
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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
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