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Genesis 50:17 - Brothers seek Yosef's tearful forgiveness.

Genesis 50:17 - בראשית 50:17

Hebrew Text

כֹּה־תֹאמְרוּ לְיוֹסֵף אָנָּא שָׂא נָא פֶּשַׁע אַחֶיךָ וְחַטָּאתָם כִּי־רָעָה גְמָלוּךָ וְעַתָּה שָׂא נָא לְפֶשַׁע עַבְדֵי אֱלֹהֵי אָבִיךָ וַיֵּבְךְּ יוֹסֵף בְּדַבְּרָם אֵלָיו׃

English Translation

So shall you say to Yosef, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brothers, and their sin; for they did evil to thee: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Yosef wept when they spoke to him.

Transliteration

Ko-tomru le-Yosef anna sa na pesha acheicha ve-chatatam ki-ra'ah gemalucha ve-ata sa na le-fesha avdei Elohei avicha va-yevk Yosef be-dabram elav.

Hebrew Leining Text

כֹּֽה־תֹאמְר֣וּ לְיוֹסֵ֗ף אָ֣נָּ֡א שָׂ֣א נָ֠א פֶּ֣שַׁע אַחֶ֤יךָ וְחַטָּאתָם֙ כִּי־רָעָ֣ה גְמָל֔וּךָ וְעַתָּה֙ שָׂ֣א נָ֔א לְפֶ֥שַׁע עַבְדֵ֖י אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ יוֹסֵ֖ף בְּדַבְּרָ֥ם אֵלָֽיו׃
כֹּֽה־תֹאמְר֣וּ לְיוֹסֵ֗ף אָ֣נָּ֡א שָׂ֣א נָ֠א פֶּ֣שַׁע אַחֶ֤יךָ וְחַטָּאתָם֙ כִּי־רָעָ֣ה גְמָל֔וּךָ וְעַתָּה֙ שָׂ֣א נָ֔א לְפֶ֥שַׁע עַבְדֵ֖י אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ יוֹסֵ֖ף בְּדַבְּרָ֥ם אֵלָֽיו׃

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Parasha Commentary

The Plea for Forgiveness

The verse (Bereshit 50:17) records the brothers' request to Yosef to forgive their past transgressions against him. Rashi explains that the phrase "כֹּה־תֹאמְרוּ לְיוֹסֵף" ("So shall you say to Yosef") indicates that Yaakov had instructed his sons to convey this message to Yosef before his passing, ensuring reconciliation. The brothers emphasize their plea by acknowledging their wrongdoing: "כִּי־רָעָה גְמָלוּךָ" ("for they did evil to you").

The Dual Nature of the Sin

The brothers refer to their actions with two terms: "פֶּשַׁע" (trespass) and "חַטָּאתָם" (their sin). The Ramban notes that "pesha" implies a deliberate rebellion, while "chet" suggests an unintentional error. The brothers thus acknowledge both the intentional cruelty of selling Yosef and their failure to recognize the gravity of their actions at the time.

Appealing to Yosef's Piety

The brothers invoke "עַבְדֵי אֱלֹהֵי אָבִיךָ" ("the servants of the God of your father"), appealing to Yosef's reverence for their shared heritage. The Sforno explains that this phrasing underscores their shared commitment to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov's covenant, urging Yosef to prioritize familial unity under divine providence.

Yosef's Emotional Response

The verse concludes with "וַיֵּבְךְּ יוֹסֵף בְּדַבְּרָם אֵלָיו" ("And Yosef wept when they spoke to him"). The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 100:8) teaches that Yosef wept because he was pained that his brothers still doubted his forgiveness despite his previous assurances. This reflects Yosef's complete teshuvah (repentance) and his desire for true reconciliation.

Key Lessons

  • Repentance Requires Acknowledgement: The brothers model proper vidui (confession) by explicitly admitting their wrongdoing.
  • Forgiveness Must Be Sincere: Yosef's tears demonstrate that forgiveness is not merely verbal but requires emotional resolution.
  • Divine Perspective: The reference to "the God of your father" reminds us that familial strife must be resolved in the context of shared spiritual values.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Genesis 50:17 mean?
A: Genesis 50:17 records the plea of Yosef's brothers for forgiveness after their father Yaakov's death. They feared Yosef would now take revenge for their past wrongdoing (selling him into slavery). They ask in the name of 'the God of your father,' appealing to family and divine mercy. Yosef's emotional response (weeping) shows his forgiveness was sincere.
Q: Why did Yosef cry when his brothers asked for forgiveness?
A: According to Rashi and Midrashic sources, Yosef wept because he was deeply hurt that his brothers still doubted his forgiveness after all these years. His tears reflected both sadness over their lack of trust and compassion for their fear. The Talmud (Yoma 22b) also teaches that Yosef had already forgiven them long before, as seen by his earlier kindness to them in Egypt.
Q: What can we learn from Yosef's forgiveness in this verse?
A: This verse teaches the importance of sincere forgiveness and letting go of grudges, even for serious wrongs. Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 2:10) emphasizes that one should not remind a repentant person of their past misdeeds—a lesson from Yosef, who reassured his brothers instead of punishing them. The verse also shows how invoking shared family and faith ('God of your father') can help heal rifts.
Q: Why did the brothers mention 'the God of your father' when asking forgiveness?
A: Traditional commentators (like Sforno) explain that by invoking 'the God of your father,' the brothers appealed to Yosef's spiritual values and family bond. They emphasized that their reconciliation wasn't just personal but mattered to the legacy of Yaakov and their shared covenant with Hashem. This phrasing also hinted that true repentance (teshuvah) must be connected to divine principles.
Q: How does this verse apply to resolving conflicts today?
A: This verse models conflict resolution by showing: (1) The importance of directly addressing past wrongs (as the brothers did), (2) Forgiving fully without holding resentment (as Yosef did), and (3) Anchoring reconciliation in shared higher values ('God of your father'). The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 17a) derives from here that one must forgive others if they sincerely repent—a cornerstone of Jewish interpersonal laws.