Bible Strands
Genesis 50:16
So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The brothers address Joseph immediately after Jacob’s death, reporting a final instruction they claim their father gave before passing away.
The words — וַיְצַוּוּ (va/y.tza.Vu) means “and they commanded,” and צִוָּה (tzi.Vah) means “he commanded,” both drawn from the root צָוָה (H6680).
The thread — This reported command anchors the immediate narrative sequence in Genesis 50:15 and 50:17, where the brothers’ fear and subsequent plea for forgiveness unfold.
Why it lands — The text simply records the brothers’ message without confirming its truth, requiring the reader to weigh their stated fear against their actual conduct.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
Cross-references
- Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.