Genesis 41:55 kjv

And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

Genesis 41:55 nkjv

So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do."

Genesis 41:55 niv

When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."

Genesis 41:55 esv

When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do."

Genesis 41:55 nlt

Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, "Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you."

Genesis 41 verses

Genesis 41 55 Meaning

This verse details the culmination of the widespread famine in Egypt, forcing the distressed populace to cry out to Pharaoh for sustenance. Pharaoh, having delegated all authority over food supply to Joseph, unequivocally redirects the people to Joseph, issuing a supreme command that they must obey whatever Joseph instructs them to do. This demonstrates Pharaoh's absolute trust in Joseph's divine wisdom and the complete dependency of all Egyptians on Joseph for survival.

Genesis 41 55 Context

Genesis chapter 41 details Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams, predicting seven years of abundance followed by seven years of severe famine. Impressed by Joseph's God-given wisdom, Pharaoh elevates him to second-in-command over all Egypt, tasking him with preparing for the famine. Joseph diligently collects and stores vast quantities of grain during the years of plenty. Verse 55 specifically describes the onset of the predicted famine's severity, forcing the Egyptians, whose provisions were depleted, to cry out to their traditional provider, Pharaoh. Pharaoh's response highlights the completed transfer of authority and responsibility to Joseph, presenting him as the sole means of sustenance.

Genesis 41 55 Word analysis

• When all the land of Egypt: This emphasizes the widespread and comprehensive nature of the famine. It was not a localized event but affected the entire nation, signifying a catastrophe beyond human control or isolated incident.
• was famished: (Hebrew: רָעֵב, raʿev) Implies not just scarcity, but a state of severe, crippling hunger, leading to desperation. This condition underlines the immediate need for intervention and sustenance.
• the people cried: (Hebrew: צָעַק, tsaʿaq) Denotes a distressed, urgent, and often loud cry for help, indicating acute suffering and helplessness. It signifies the depth of their desperation and reliance on their ruler.
• to Pharaoh for bread: This demonstrates the natural human inclination to appeal to earthly rulers and known authorities for provision during crises. Pharaoh was seen as the ultimate source of security and well-being in their kingdom.
• and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians: Pharaoh's direct address indicates his continued authority but also his unequivocal shift of responsibility and delegation. The command is universal to his subjects.
• Go unto Joseph: This is a crucial redirect. Pharaoh, despite being perceived as a divine king and provider by his people, is powerless in this natural disaster. He now acts as a mediator, pointing his people to the one whom God has equipped and entrusted with the solution. It is an act of total trust in Joseph.
• what he saith to you, do: This constitutes an absolute command, demanding implicit and unquestioning obedience. It establishes Joseph's word as equivalent to Pharaoh's decree. The phrase encapsulates Pharaoh's full reliance on Joseph's wisdom and authority.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread": This phrase starkly portrays the desperate reality of the famine and the natural human response of seeking help from the highest earthly authority. It underscores the severity of the crisis, which transcended ordinary measures.
• "and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do": This segment highlights Pharaoh's decisive leadership and his full endorsement of Joseph's role. It transfers the people's focus from Pharaoh himself to Joseph, signifying the divinely ordained authority that Joseph now possessed. This complete redirection underscores the unique wisdom and capability Joseph, empowered by God, demonstrated.

Genesis 41 55 Bonus section

This verse subtly serves as an indirect polemic against Egyptian polytheism and the cult of the Pharaoh as a divine being. Here, the supposed 'god' Pharaoh, the human embodiment of the deity Ra, cannot provide bread for his people; he must direct them to Joseph, an adherent of Yahweh, the God of Israel. This powerfully demonstrates the limitations of false gods and the ultimate sovereignty and provisioning power of the one true God, who worked through His faithful servant Joseph. Joseph, the provider of physical bread, foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate Bread of Life (John 6:35), who commands us, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do" (John 2:5). The universal plea "cried to Pharaoh for bread" reveals humanity's fundamental need for sustenance, which ultimately points beyond earthly rulers to God alone as the source of all provision, both temporal and eternal.

Genesis 41 55 Commentary

Genesis 41:55 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating the dire reality of the famine and establishing Joseph's absolute authority as Egypt's deliverer. The widespread suffering signified by "all the land of Egypt was famished" led to desperate cries for "bread" to Pharaoh. However, Pharaoh, despite his power, could not independently provide the solution; he wisely and entirely deferred to Joseph, recognizing the divine wisdom resident within him. His command, "Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do," highlights an extraordinary surrender of ultimate provisioning authority to an outsider and former slave, emphasizing his complete trust in Joseph's plan. This points to the sovereignty of God, Who used a non-Egyptian and a former prisoner to sustain a pagan empire. The obedience commanded reflects the necessity of submission to God-ordained authority for deliverance, whether it is physical sustenance in ancient Egypt or spiritual life through Christ. It mirrors a broader biblical principle: listen to the one appointed by God, and obey their word for salvation and provision.

• Example: In a spiritual sense, when people are famished by the absence of God's Word and Spirit, they might turn to worldly sources for satisfaction. But just as Pharaoh directed them to Joseph, the divine word points all humanity to Christ for true sustenance.