The Meaning of Genesis 50:1 Explained

Genesis 50:1

KJV: And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

YLT: And Joseph falleth on his father's face, and weepeth over him, and kisseth him;

Darby: And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

ASV: And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Joseph  fell  upon his father's  face,  and wept  upon him, and kissed  him. 

What does Genesis 50:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 50:1-3 - Jacob's Last Directions And Death
Jacob gave a final charge as to his burial in Machpelah-that his dust at least should be there to welcome his children and children's children, when they came thither in due course, as God had promised. Then the weary pilgrim gathered up those tired feet, which had paced out their last mile, into the bed, and gave up his spirit to God. When we are told that he was gathered to his people it must mean more than that his dust mingled with their dust in the place of burial. There are great gatherings of loving friends awaiting us on the other side. See Hebrews 11:40. At the ladder-scene in Bethel, God had told him that He would not leave him till He had done what He promised, and surely not one good thing had failed. Life may be hard and sad, but God will end it rightly. Be of good cheer and trust! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 50

1  The mourning for Jacob
4  Joseph gets leave of Pharaoh to go to bury him
7  The funeral
15  Joseph comforts his brothers, who crave his pardon
22  His age
23  He sees the third generation of his sons
24  He prophesies unto his brothers of their return
25  He takes an oath of them concerning his bones
26  He dies, and is put into a coffin

What do the individual words in Genesis 50:1 mean?

And fell Joseph on the face of his father and wept over him and kissed him
וַיִּפֹּ֥ל יוֹסֵ֖ף עַל־ פְּנֵ֣י אָבִ֑יו וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ עָלָ֖יו וַיִּשַּׁק־ לֽוֹ

וַיִּפֹּ֥ל  And  fell 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
יוֹסֵ֖ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
פְּנֵ֣י  the  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אָבִ֑יו  of  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ  and  wept 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּכָה  
Sense: to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears.
עָלָ֖יו  over  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וַיִּשַּׁק־  and  kissed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשַׁק 
Sense: to put together, kiss.