Genesis 37–50: Joseph – From Betrayal to Redemption (KJV)

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:20)

The final chapters of Genesis 37–50 center on Joseph, a man betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and yet lifted to power in Egypt. His life is marked by suffering and injustice, but also by providence and grace. What others meant for evil, God turned for good — preserving His people and keeping His promises.

The Joseph narrative in the KJV is rich with themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and divine purpose. These chapters close Genesis with hope: the story of a God who weaves redemption through even the darkest threads. Joseph’s journey reminds us that no pit is too deep and no betrayal too final for God’s hand to redeem.

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 37, showing Joseph in his colorful coat surrounded by jealous brothers, with dreamlike stars and sheaves above, symbolizing betrayal and God’s providence.

Genesis 37 – Joseph’s Dreams

Joseph, beloved of Jacob, is given a coat of many colors — a sign of favor that stirs jealousy among his brothers. He dreams of sheaves and stars bowing down to him, visions that fuel their envy. Their hatred grows until they cast him into a pit and sell him to traders bound for Egypt. Deception cloaks their deed as they present the torn coat to their father. Genesis 37 shows that envy can destroy, yet even betrayal becomes the seed of God’s providence.

👕 Step into the story where jealousy strips a brother, but God begins a greater plan. Read the full article

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 38, showing Tamar veiled before Judah as he holds his staff and seal, symbolizing sin, justice, and God’s redemptive plan.

Genesis 38 – Judah and Tamar

In the midst of Joseph’s story, the focus shifts to Judah. His sons are wicked and die under God’s judgment. Tamar, left without justice, disguises herself and confronts Judah, securing the child denied to her. When the truth is revealed, Judah confesses, “She hath been more righteous than I.” Genesis 38 shows the brokenness of human sin, yet also how God weaves even scandal and sorrow into the line of promise that will lead to the Messiah.

🌿 Step into the story where failure meets redemption in unexpected ways. Read the full article.

Panoramic painting of Joseph in Egypt, showing Joseph in fine garments standing before Pharaoh in a golden-lit hall, symbolizing his rise from slavery to power.

Genesis 39 – Joseph in Egypt

Joseph, carried to Egypt, serves in the house of Potiphar. God prospers all that he does, and Joseph rises in responsibility. Yet Potiphar’s wife tempts him, and when he refuses, she falsely accuses him. Joseph is cast into prison, though innocent. Even in the shadows of confinement, the Lord is with him, granting favor and steadfast presence. Genesis 39 shows that integrity may be costly, but God’s faithfulness never departs.

🔒 Step into the house where temptation tests, and faith stands firm. Read the full article.

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 40, showing Joseph in an Egyptian prison with sandstone walls and bars, interpreting dreams for Pharaoh’s butler and baker by torchlight.

Genesis 40 – Dreams in Prison

In prison, Joseph meets Pharaoh’s butler and baker. Each has a troubling dream, and Joseph, guided by God, interprets them. The butler will be restored, but the baker will be condemned. Though Joseph’s words come true, he is forgotten and left in confinement. Genesis 40 reminds us that even in obscurity, God’s gifts and purposes are at work, preparing the way for deliverance.

🍇 Step into the prison where dreams foretell both restoration and judgment. Read the full article.

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 41, showing Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams in a grand Egyptian palace, symbolizing divine wisdom and God’s providence.

Genesis 41 – Pharaoh’s Dreams

Pharaoh dreams of seven fat cows consumed by seven lean ones, and of full ears of corn devoured by thin ones. None in Egypt can explain them, until Joseph is remembered and brought from prison. Interpreting through God’s wisdom, Joseph reveals seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh exalts him, setting him over all Egypt. Genesis 41 shows how God’s providence raises Joseph from the lowest prison to the highest throne.

🌾 Step into the palace where dreams foretell famine and salvation. Read the full article.

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 42, showing Joseph seated in Egyptian splendor as his brothers kneel before him, symbolizing fulfillment of dreams and God’s providence.

Genesis 42 – Brothers in Egypt

The famine spreads across the land, and Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain. They bow before Joseph, not recognizing him, thus fulfilling the dreams of his youth. Joseph speaks harshly, testing their hearts, and holds Simeon as a pledge until Benjamin is brought. Genesis 42 shows how God begins to uncover hidden guilt and bring reconciliation through famine and testing.

🌾 Step into Egypt’s storehouses where dreams begin to be fulfilled. Read the full article.

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 43, showing Joseph hosting a feast in Egypt as Benjamin receives a larger portion, symbolizing hidden mercy and testing of his brothers.

Genesis 43 – Return to Egypt

The famine deepens, and Jacob’s sons return to Egypt, this time bringing Benjamin with them. Joseph’s heart is moved when he sees his younger brother, yet he hides his identity. At a feast in his house, the brothers are astonished as Benjamin is given a portion five times greater. Genesis 43 reveals the tension between hidden mercy and testing, as Joseph draws his brothers toward repentance.

🍷 Step into the feast where hidden mercy stirs hearts toward truth. Read the full article.

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 44, showing Joseph’s brothers pleading before him as the silver cup is revealed, symbolizing guilt, testing, and sacrificial love.

Genesis 44 – The Silver Cup

Joseph commands that his silver cup be secretly placed in Benjamin’s sack. After the brothers depart, they are pursued and accused of theft. The cup is found with Benjamin, and despair falls upon them. Judah steps forward, offering himself in Benjamin’s place, revealing a change of heart. Genesis 44 shows how testing brings repentance and how sacrificial love begins to emerge among the brothers.

🥛 Step into the moment where a silver cup uncovers hidden guilt and true devotion. Read the full article.

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 45, showing Joseph tearfully revealing himself to his brothers in a grand hall, symbolizing forgiveness, reconciliation, and divine providence.

Genesis 45 – Joseph Revealed

At last, Joseph can no longer restrain himself. He sends the Egyptians out and weeps aloud, revealing his identity to his brothers: “I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?” Fear grips them, but Joseph comforts them, declaring that God sent him ahead to preserve life. Genesis 45 shines with forgiveness, reconciliation, and the recognition that divine providence rules over human sin.

😭 Step into the chamber where tears turn betrayal into forgiveness. Read the full article.

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 46, showing Jacob embracing Joseph as the family caravan arrives in Egypt with pyramids in the background, symbolizing covenant promise and preservation.

Genesis 46 – Jacob to Egypt

God speaks to Jacob in visions, assuring him not to fear the journey to Egypt, for there He will make of him a great nation. Jacob gathers his family, seventy in all, and sets out. As they arrive, Joseph meets his father, and the two embrace with tears of joy. Genesis 46 marks the turning point where God’s covenant people move to Egypt, a place of both preservation and future trial.

🚙 Step into the journey where God’s promise guides His people into Egypt. Read the full article:

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 47, showing Jacob blessing Pharaoh in a golden Egyptian palace, symbolizing covenant faith and divine providence.

Genesis 47 – Jacob and Pharaoh

Joseph brings his aged father before Pharaoh. Jacob, frail in years yet rich in faith, blesses the king of Egypt — a striking picture of God’s covenant dignity resting on His chosen, even in a foreign land. Pharaoh grants Israel the fertile land of Goshen, where the family may dwell and grow. While Joseph administers provisions during the famine, the true moment of honor is Jacob blessing Pharaoh, showing that God’s promise endures above earthly power.

👑 Step into Pharaoh’s court where Jacob blesses a king and God’s promise endures. Read the full article.

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 48, showing Jacob crossing his hands to bless Ephraim and Manasseh while Joseph watches, symbolizing covenant blessing and God’s sovereign choice

Genesis 48 – Blessing the Sons

As Jacob nears the end of his life, Joseph brings his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to him. With hands crossed, Jacob blesses the younger above the elder, declaring God’s covenant purpose that defies human expectation. In this moment, the promise is passed on, and faith, not custom, guides the future. Genesis 48 shows that God’s blessing flows according to His will, not human order.

✝️ Step into the bedside where hands cross and covenant blessing is sealed. Read the full article.

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 49, showing Jacob on his deathbed surrounded by his twelve sons, symbolizing prophetic blessings and the destiny of Israel’s tribes.

Genesis 49 – Jacob’s Blessings

At the end of his life, Jacob gathers his twelve sons to speak prophetic blessings over them. Each receives words that reveal their future and the destiny of the tribes of Israel. Judah is promised the scepter, pointing toward kingship and ultimately the Messiah. Genesis 49 is both farewell and prophecy, showing that God shapes the future of His people through covenant promises spoken by a dying patriarch.

🦁 Step into the final gathering where prophecy shapes the tribes of Israel. Read the full article:

Wide panoramic painting of Genesis 50, showing Joseph at the final farewell in Egypt as his family prepares his burial, symbolizing covenant faith, hope, and God’s enduring promise.

Genesis 50 – Joseph’s Death

Genesis 50 closes the book with both sorrow and hope. Jacob is buried in Canaan, laid to rest with his fathers. Afterward, Joseph’s brothers fear revenge, but he comforts them: “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.”

At 110 years old, Joseph himself dies, assuring his family of God’s faithfulness and asking that his bones be carried to the Promised Land. Genesis ends not in despair, but in expectation — a reminder that God’s covenant endures beyond death.

⚰️ Step into the final farewell where faith endures and promises remain unbroken. Read the full article.

Why the Story of Joseph Still Matters Today

The story of Joseph is more than an ancient tale — it is a mirror of God’s providence in human struggle. Betrayal, injustice, temptation, and famine weave through these chapters, yet God turns every shadow into light. Joseph’s words to his brothers — “God meant it unto good” — still echo with power today.

In Joseph, we see that no pit is too deep, no prison too dark, and no betrayal too final for God’s hand to redeem. His life reminds us that forgiveness is stronger than revenge, and that God’s promises endure even through suffering. Genesis 37–50 invites us to trust that what others mean for harm, God can use for good.

FAQ: Joseph in Genesis 37–50

Q: What is the main theme of Joseph’s story?
It is the providence of God — turning betrayal, slavery, and suffering into a path of salvation for Israel and many nations.

Q: Why did Joseph forgive his brothers?
Joseph saw beyond their actions to God’s greater plan. He recognized that God used even their betrayal to preserve life and fulfill His covenant.

Q: How does Joseph point to Christ?
Like Jesus, Joseph was rejected by his own, suffered unjustly, and yet became the means of salvation for many. His story foreshadows redemption through suffering.

Q: What does Joseph’s death mean in Genesis 50?
It closes Genesis with hope, not despair. Joseph makes Israel swear to carry his bones to Canaan, showing faith that God’s covenant promises would be fulfilled.