“Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin;”
- Date
- 1611
- Attribution
- Source identified
- Voice / speaker
- Reported speaker · Joseph’s brothers (message relayed to Joseph)
- English wording
- King James Version translation committees · from Biblical Hebrew / Aramaic / Koine Greek
What does this quote mean?
The request comes after their father’s death, when Joseph’s brothers fear retaliation and appeal directly for forgiveness of the wrong they committed against him.
Where does it come from?
Genesis 50:17, King James Version; Joseph’s brothers send a message asking pardon for their earlier wrongdoing against him.
Who voices the line?
Reported speaker · Joseph’s brothers (message relayed to Joseph). Genesis 50:17 in the King James Version preserves this wording as reported speech. The biblical passage remains the textual source while Joseph’s brothers (message relayed to Joseph) is stored as the local reported speaker.
The source author and the local speaker can be different, especially in fiction, drama, dialogue and poetry.
How should this attribution be read?
This wording is connected with the named source shown above. Translations and editions can vary, so consult the source note when exact wording matters.