Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 50:19
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for [am] I in the place of God?
19. am I in the place of God ] i.e. “am I the person to punish for wrongdoing? God alone knows the hearts.” LXX mistakes the meaning, = “for do I belong to God”; Lat. num Dei possumus resistere voluntati. Symmachus is correct, . Cf. the occurrence of the same words in Gen 30:2 and 2Ki 5:7.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 19. Am I in the place of God?] These words may be understood either as a question, or an affirmative proposition. How should I take any farther notice of your transgression? I have passed it by, the matter lies now between God and you. Or, in the order of Divine providence I am now in God’s place; he has furnished me with means, and made me a distributor of his bounty; I will therefore not only nourish you, but also your little ones, Ge 50:21: and therefore he spake comfortably unto them, as in Ge 45:8, telling them that he attributed the whole business to the particular providence of God rather than to any ill will or malice in them, and that, in permitting him to be brought into Egypt, God had graciously saved their lives, the life of their father, the lives of the people of Canaan, and of the Egyptians: as therefore God had honoured him by making him vicegerent in the dispensations of his especial bounty towards so many people, it was impossible he should be displeased with the means by which this was brought about.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
It is Gods prerogative to take vengeance, which I dare not usurp. See Deu 32:35. Or, can I do what I please with you without Gods leave? Therefore fear him rather than me, and upon your experience of his wonderful care and kindness to you, believe that God will not, and therefore that I neither can nor will do you any hurt. But it is not unusual to put the Hebrew he for halo, as it is Gen 27:36; 1Sa 2:28; 2Sa 23:19; 1Ki 16:31, &c.; and so the words may be very well rendered, Am not I under God, i.e. subject to his will, a minister of his providence? Dare I destroy those whom God so eminently designed to save? Dare I punish those whom God hath pardoned.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Joseph said unto them, fear not,…. That any hurt would be done by him to them, or that he would use them ill for their treatment of him:
for am I in the place of God? to receive such homage from you, that you should be my servants, as Saadiah Gaon gives the sense; or rather to take vengeance for injury done, which belongs to God alone: or, “am I not under God” u? subject to him, a servant of his, and why should you be mine? nor is it in my power, if I had a will to it, to change his purposes, to alter his providences, or contradict his will, and do hurt to those whom God hath blessed; and so may have regard to the late patriarchal benediction of his father, under the direction of the Holy Spirit: or, “am I in the place of God?” and under him a father of them, as he had been a provider for them, and a supporter of them, and still would be.
u “annon enim sub Deo sum?” Vatablus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
19. Am I in the place of God? Some think that, in these words, he was rejecting the honor paid him: as if he would say, that it was unjustly offered to him, because it was due to God alone. But this interpretation is destitute of probability, since he often permitted himself to be addressed in this manner, and knew that the minds of his brethren were utterly averse to transfer the worship of God to mortal man. And I equally disapprove another meaning given to the passage, which makes Joseph refuse to exact punishment, because he is not God: for he does not restrain himself from retaliating the injury, in the hope that God will prove his avenger. Others adduce a third signification; namely, that the whole affair was conducted by the counsel of God, and not by his own: which though I do not entirely reject, because it approaches the truth, yet I do not embrace the interpretation as true. For the word תחת ( tachat) sometimes signifies instead of, sometimes it means subjection. Therefore if the note of interrogation were not in the way, it might well be rendered, “Because I am under God;” and then the sense would be, “Fear not, for I am under God;” so that Joseph would teach them, that because he is subject to the authority of God, it is not his business to lead the way, but to follow. But, whereas ה ( he,) the note of interrogation, is prefixed to the word, it cannot be otherwise expounded than to mean that it would be wrong for him, a mortal man, to presume to thwart the counsel of God. But as to the sum of the matter, there is no ambiguity. For seeing that Joseph considers the design of divine providence, he restrains his feelings as with a bridle, lest they should carry him to excess. He was indeed of a mild and humane disposition; but nothing is better or more suitable to assuage his anger, than to submit himself to be governed by God. When, therefore, the desire of revenge urges us, let all our feelings be subjected to the same authority. Moreover, since he desires his brethren to be tranquil and secure, from the consideration, that he, ascribing due honor to God, willingly submits to obey the Divine command; let us learn, hence, that it is most to our advantage to deal with men of moderation, who set God before them as their leader, and who not only submit to his will, but also cheerfully obey him. For if any one is impotently carried away by the lust of the flesh, we must fear a thousand deaths from him, unless God should forcibly break his fury. Now as it is the one remedy for assuaging our anger, to acknowledge what we ourselves are, and what right God has over us; so, on the other hand, when this thought has taken full possession of our minds, there is no ardor, however furious, which it will not suffice to mitigate.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(19) Am I in the place of God?That is, am I to act as judge, and punish? Judges are sometimes in Hebrew even called God (as in Exo. 21:6; Exo. 22:8-9; 1Sa. 2:25), as exercising His authority.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. Am I in the place of God “It is true that you have sinned, but it is not mine to punish; God is your judge and mine . ” Newhall .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. For am I in the place of God? And as for me, you intended evil against me, but God meant it for good, to cause to happen as it is this day, to save large numbers of people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke directly to their hearts.’
Joseph is large minded. He sees things from God’s perspective, and he assures them that he has no intention of harming them because he knows that what happened was all part of God’s sovereign purpose, so that their evil was used for good and he is ready to leave any consequences, both for him and for them, in the hands of God.
“Am I in the place of God?” He is saying that they have all been experiencing the outworking of the covenant God, and asking whether, when He is so working, man can interfere. The whole pattern was God’s. Thus what man would dare to disturb the pattern? So as far as he is concerned all is in the hands of God. If He has seen fit to use their behaviour to save the covenant community alive, and not only them but also vast numbers of other people, then it is He Who must determine the consequences. Meanwhile he will continue to love and nourish his brothers and their families.
And that God’s purpose was good, he adds, has been revealed in that so many now live because of it who would otherwise have died. This message is important for it reveals that to him and to the writer Egyptians matter to God as well as the covenant community. This is no narrow message of mercy but one that has reached out to Egypt and all the surrounding countries.
“And he comforted them and spoke directly to their hearts.” And this was no cold theological position, for his heart was warm towards them and he wanted their hearts to be warm towards him.
Conclusion: Joseph, his Fruitfulness and Death (50:22-26)
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 50:19. For am I in the place of God? See ch. Gen 30:2. where this same phrase occurs; the meaning of which seems to be the same in both places; as if Joseph had said, “Shall I presume to oppose myself to what is come to pass, as if I were God?” Or, shall I punish you for that which God hath turned so much to the advantage of us all? The words also may well be rendered affirmatively, I am in the place of God; i.e.. I have been the instrument, under God, of your preservation and support hitherto; and can you think that I should prejudice those whom Providence has enabled me so signally to bless? See ch. Gen 45:5.
Learn hence, 1. They who would have forgiveness should humble themselves to ask it. 2. We are bound to treat them with especial kindness, who are worshippers of the same God and sharers in the same covenant. 3. God, though never the author of evil, can bring good out of evil; not that sin thereby is less malignant, but he appears more glorious. 4. Broken spirits need kind words. 5. A brotherly heart will be not only ready to forgive the injurious, but the first to comfort them when desponding.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for [am] I in the place of God?
Ver. 19. Am I in the place of God? ] q.d., Can I hurt you when God intends good to you? Is it for me to cross his decree?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
am I, &c. Figure of speech Erotesis. Septuagint reads “I am in the place of God”. The Syriac and Arab, read “I fear God”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
fear not: Gen 45:5, Mat 14:27, Luk 24:37, Luk 24:38
for am I: It belongs to God to execute vengeance, and Joseph did not intend to usurp his prerogative. Thus he instructed his brethren not to fear him, but to fear God; to humble themselves before God, and to seek his forgiveness. Gen 30:2, Deu 32:35, 2Ki 5:7, Job 34:19-29, Rom 12:19, Heb 10:30
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 50:19. Am I in the place of God? Dare I usurp the prerogative of God, to whom it belongs to take vengeance? Or, can I do what I please with you, without Gods leave? Fear him rather than me, and upon your experience of his wonderful care of and kindness to you, be persuaded he will still befriend you, and therefore I will. Or, perhaps, in his great humility, he thought they showed him too much respect, and saith to them, in effect, as Peter to Cornelius, Stand up; I myself also am a man. Make your peace with God, and then you will find it an easy matter to make your peace with me.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for [am] I in the place of {s} God?
(s) Who by the good success seems to remit it, and therefore it should not be revenged by me.