Genesis 41 57

Genesis 41:57 kjv

And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

Genesis 41:57 nkjv

So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.

Genesis 41:57 niv

And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.

Genesis 41:57 esv

Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Genesis 41:57 nlt

And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.

Genesis 41 verses

Genesis 41 57 meaning

Genesis 41:57 describes the global reach of the severe famine that gripped the ancient Near East, compelling people from all surrounding regions to travel to Egypt to purchase grain. This verse highlights Egypt, and specifically Joseph as Pharaoh's prime minister, as the sole source of sustenance during this devastating period, underscoring God's providential plan and Joseph's instrumental role in preserving lives, including his own family.

Genesis 41 57 Context

This verse concludes the narrative arc beginning with Pharaoh's prophetic dreams, interpreted by Joseph (Gen 41:1-36). After interpreting the dreams as seven years of abundance followed by seven years of severe famine, Joseph wisely advises Pharaoh to appoint an administrator to gather and store grain during the years of plenty. Impressed by Joseph's wisdom, which he recognized as divinely inspired, Pharaoh elevates Joseph to prime minister over all of Egypt (Gen 41:37-45). Joseph meticulously executes the plan, accumulating vast quantities of grain, "like the sand of the sea" (Gen 41:49). When the seven years of plenty conclude and the global famine begins, Egypt is the only land prepared. Verse 56 describes Joseph opening the storehouses in Egypt. Verse 57 broadens the scope, emphasizing the universal nature of the famine, prompting people from "all countries"—meaning all accessible and affected regions of the ancient Near East—to converge on Egypt for survival, thereby centralizing power and provision in Joseph's hands. Historically, Egypt was often a major grain producer and would have been known as such, but its unique foresight here was miraculous and divine.

Genesis 41 57 Word analysis

• And all countries (Vechol ha'aretz):
  • Hebrew: וְכָל־הָאָרֶץ (vekhāl-hāʾāretz).
  • ve-: "and."
  • kol: "all," "every." Signifies comprehensive reach, emphasizing the widespread nature of the famine beyond Egypt's immediate borders.
  • ha'aretz: "the land," "the earth," "the ground." Here, it contextually means "all the earth" in the sense of all the known world or surrounding regions of the Near East that were affected and could access Egypt. This underscores the unparalleled severity and geographical breadth of the famine, demonstrating God's extensive reach in judgment and provision.
• came to Egypt (ba'u Mitsrayimah):
  • Hebrew: בָּאוּ מִצְרַיְמָה (bāʾū mitzraymāh).
  • ba'u: "they came." Highlights the convergence of desperate peoples from various lands.
  • Mitsrayimah: "to Egypt." The suffix -ah indicates motion toward. Egypt served as the literal oasis and the sole repository of grain, directly fulfilling Joseph's dream of his brothers bowing down (Gen 37:7).
• to Joseph (el Yosef):
  • Hebrew: אֶל־יוֹסֵף (el-yōwsēp̄).
  • el: "to," "toward."
  • Yosef: "Joseph." This is a critical detail. They came not just to "Egypt," but specifically to "Joseph," because he was the one entrusted with all the grain, the administrator of the storehouses (Gen 41:41, 55). It emphasizes God's precise control and Joseph's unique, divinely ordained position as the mediator of provision.
• to buy grain (lishbor):
  • Hebrew: לִשְׁבֹּר (lishbōr).
  • li-: "to."
  • shbor: "to buy grain," "to deal in grain." It implies a commercial transaction, indicating a supply available for purchase rather than merely distribution. This facilitated Egypt's continued prosperity and served God's purpose of drawing the family of Israel to Egypt.
• because the famine was severe (ki-chakhaf chazak):
  • Hebrew: כִּי־הַכָּפָן חָזָק (kî-hakkāp̄ān ḥāzāq).
  • ki-: "because," "for." Introduces the reason.
  • hakafan: "the famine."
  • chazak: "strong," "severe," "mighty." Describes the intensity and destructive power of the famine. It was not merely a scarcity but a widespread, impactful, and life-threatening condition, compelling extraordinary measures.
• in all the earth (bekhol ha'aretz):
  • Hebrew: בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ (bəkhāl-hāʾāretz).
  • be-: "in."
  • Repeats the phrase from the beginning of the verse, powerfully emphasizing the universal scope and dire necessity, leaving no region unaffected.

Genesis 41 57 Bonus section

The geopolitical reality of the time plays a significant role in understanding this verse. Egypt, with its stable, centralized government and reliance on the Nile River, had a unique capacity for long-term grain storage and distribution that most other regional powers lacked. The efficiency of Joseph's administration, combined with God's timing and foresight, made Egypt an unrivaled beacon of hope. This event serves as a foundational narrative demonstrating God's control over natural elements (climate, harvests) and His ability to use natural crises to guide human history toward His covenantal promises, such as preserving the line through which the Messiah would eventually come.

Genesis 41 57 Commentary

Genesis 41:57 is a concise declaration of God's overarching providence. The verse underscores the widespread suffering caused by a divine judgment (famine) and, simultaneously, the precise delivery of divine mercy through a chosen individual (Joseph). The converging of "all countries" (i.e., all affected surrounding regions) to Egypt, and specifically "to Joseph," signifies the complete fulfillment of God's plans. This not only provided for humanity during a global catastrophe but also orchestrated the critical move of Jacob's family into Egypt, where they would grow into a great nation, setting the stage for the Exodus. Joseph, once despised and sold, becomes the world's deliverer, reflecting how God often works through unlikely or suffering individuals to achieve His grand redemptive purposes. The physical bread provided here foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate "Bread of Life" who sustains humanity from spiritual famine.