Genesis 47 12

Genesis 47:12 kjv

And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families.

Genesis 47:12 nkjv

Then Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with bread, according to the number in their families.

Genesis 47:12 niv

Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their children.

Genesis 47:12 esv

And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

Genesis 47:12 nlt

And Joseph provided food for his father and his brothers in amounts appropriate to the number of their dependents, including the smallest children.

Genesis 47 verses

Genesis 47 12 meaning

Genesis 47:12 reveals Joseph's meticulous and ongoing care for his entire family in Egypt during a severe famine. Having settled them in Goshen and secured Pharaoh's permission, Joseph took personal responsibility for their daily sustenance. The verse emphasizes that his provision was comprehensive, extending to his father, brothers, and all their dependents, supplied precisely "according to their families" or "according to their little ones," ensuring no one was left wanting during the challenging times. This act highlights themes of familial responsibility, divine providence, and Joseph's benevolent stewardship.

Genesis 47 12 Context

Genesis chapter 47 primarily details Jacob's family's arrival and settlement in Egypt during a severe global famine. Pharaoh welcomes Jacob's family graciously, allowing them to reside in the fertile land of Goshen. Joseph introduces his family to Pharaoh, and Jacob blesses Pharaoh. Joseph ensures his family is settled and provided for. The surrounding verses depict the increasing severity of the famine across Egypt and Canaan, leading the Egyptian people to exhaust their money, livestock, and eventually their land and freedom to Pharaoh in exchange for food (Gen 47:13-26). Within this dire situation for the broader population, Genesis 47:12 highlights Joseph's immediate and continued provision specifically for his own family, emphasizing his protective and caring role as divinely appointed steward over them.

Genesis 47 12 Word analysis

• וַיְכַלְכֵּל (wayyəḵalḵēl): This is a Piel verb from the root כּוּל (kul), meaning "to contain," "to support," "to sustain," "to provide for." The Piel stem intensifies the action, implying diligent, active, and continuous provision, rather than a single act. Joseph consistently managed and sustained them.

• יוֹסֵף (Yosef): Joseph. As Pharaoh's viceroy and the one responsible for the entire famine relief effort, Joseph used his position and foresight to care for his family. This shows his deep familial commitment and highlights God's providence working through him.

• אֶת־אָבִיו (et-ʾāvîw): "his father" (Jacob). The reunion with his father was emotionally significant; here, it is followed by practical and ongoing care.

• וְאֶת־אֶחָיו (wəʾet-ʾeḥāyw): "and his brethren." Despite their past betrayal, Joseph demonstrates full reconciliation by taking full responsibility for their welfare. This fulfills Jacob's prophetic dream.

• וְאֵת כָּל־בֵּית אָבִיו (wəʾēt kāl-bêṯ ʾāḇîw): "and all his father's household." This phrase signifies comprehensive provision, encompassing wives, children, servants, and all dependents connected to Jacob's clan, underscoring Joseph's extensive and inclusive care.

• לֶחֶם (leḥem): Literally "bread," but often used as a general term for "food," "provisions," or "sustenance." In a time of severe famine, having "bread" or food was synonymous with life itself.

• לְפִי הַטָּף (ləp̄î haṭṭāp̄): This is a crucial phrase.

  • לְפִי (ləp̄î): "according to," "in proportion to," or "at the mouth of." It implies a precise measurement or allocation.
  • הַטָּף (haṭṭāp̄): "the little ones," "the dependents," or "the children." This noun specifically refers to the young or the most vulnerable members of the household. Thus, Joseph provided "according to the number/needs of their little ones/dependents," indicating a highly accurate, needs-based distribution rather than a blanket amount. This illustrates careful and thoughtful management, ensuring that even the smallest and most vulnerable members of the extended family were accounted for.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And Joseph nourished... with bread": This emphasizes Joseph's proactive and continuous role as the sustainer, ensuring life for his family during widespread death by starvation. It shows effective management of God-given resources.
  • "his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household": This highlights the full extent of his familial responsibility and reconciliation. No one was left out, indicating complete restoration and unity within the family of Israel.
  • "according to their families / according to their dependents": This precise phrase underscores the wisdom and detailed planning of Joseph's provision. It wasn't arbitrary but measured according to the actual need of each individual unit, focusing particularly on the needs of the vulnerable, which points to wise stewardship and compassionate care.

Genesis 47 12 Bonus section

The famine described throughout Genesis is unique in its geographical extent and duration (seven years, Gen 41:54-56). Joseph's God-given wisdom and careful management, which are highlighted by his methodical distribution of food in Gen 47:12, enabled not only the survival of Israel's ancestral family but also laid the groundwork for the Egyptian nation's long-term economic structure under Pharaoh (Gen 47:20-26). The specific mention of "the dependents" (ṭāp̄) shows Joseph’s exemplary attention to the most vulnerable members, a principle consistent with biblical ethics that emphasizes care for the weak, widows, and orphans. This detail elevates Joseph's act from mere sustenance to true, compassionate shepherding.

Genesis 47 12 Commentary

Genesis 47:12 concisely encapsulates the culmination of God's providence through Joseph. It signifies Joseph's deep commitment to his family, acting as a diligent and compassionate provider. His consistent "nourishing" or "providing" highlights a sustained effort, demonstrating not just reconciliation with his family but genuine, practical care. The meticulous nature of his provision, "according to their dependents," showcases his exceptional stewardship and forethought, mirroring the comprehensive nature of God's provision. This verse subtly contrasts Joseph's compassionate rule with typical despotic powers of the ancient world. Moreover, Joseph's saving and feeding of his family during a time of great need strongly prefigures Jesus Christ, who provides spiritual sustenance—the bread of life—to all who are spiritually starving, rescuing them from eternal death and offering abundant life. For example, believers today are called to apply this principle by generously caring for their immediate family (1 Tim 5:8) and, by extension, contributing to the needs of the wider church family, always relying on God's overarching provision.