Genesis 47 13

Genesis 47:13 kjv

And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.

Genesis 47:13 nkjv

Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine.

Genesis 47:13 niv

There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine.

Genesis 47:13 esv

Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine.

Genesis 47:13 nlt

Meanwhile, the famine became so severe that all the food was used up, and people were starving throughout the lands of Egypt and Canaan.

Genesis 47 verses

Genesis 47 13 meaning

Genesis 47:13 describes a period of extreme and widespread scarcity, stating that food was completely unavailable across both the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan. This dire situation resulted from a famine that had become overwhelmingly severe, leading to a state of profound weakness and suffering, a 'languishing', for the populations in both regions. The verse emphasizes the intensity and geographical reach of the crisis, setting the stage for further events related to sustenance and land acquisition during Joseph's time.

Genesis 47 13 Context

Genesis 47:13 is situated deep within the Joseph narrative, specifically during the climax of the severe seven-year famine that God had revealed to Pharaoh through Joseph. Prior to this verse, Joseph had orchestrated the grand relocation of his entire family from Canaan to Egypt, settling them in the land of Goshen (Gen 47:1-12). For two years of the famine, Jacob's family had been sustained by the provisions from Joseph. However, this verse depicts a critical juncture, as the widespread and persistent famine had now reached an absolute nadir, exhausting nearly all financial resources of the populace. People throughout Egypt and Canaan, once self-sufficient, had now run out of personal means to purchase the stored grain. The historical context indicates that the region, especially Canaan, was heavily reliant on seasonal rains for agriculture, making it vulnerable to drought. Egypt, though buffered by the Nile's predictable floods, was not entirely immune to widespread weather patterns affecting an entire region for multiple years, highlighting the supernatural scale of this particular famine.

Genesis 47 13 Word analysis

• For there was no food (וְלֶחֶם אֵין - ve-lechem ein):

  • וְלֶחֶם (ve-lechem): The word לֶחֶם (lechem) primarily means "bread" but frequently refers to "food" in a broader sense, being the staple diet. The vav ("and") links this state to previous context.
  • אֵין (ein): This is a strong Hebrew particle indicating absolute non-existence, absence, or "no, nothing." Its use emphasizes the complete depletion of food supplies.
  • Significance: It signifies absolute emptiness and unavailability. All existing provisions were gone, highlighting a dire, immediate crisis that pushed people to their absolute limit of endurance.

• in all the land, (בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ - be-khol-ha'aretz):

  • בְּכָל־ (be-khol): "in all" or "throughout the whole."
  • הָאָרֶץ (ha'aretz): "the land," here referring primarily to Egypt where the narrative is focused, but quickly clarified to include Canaan as well.
  • Significance: Stresses the pervasive nature of the scarcity. No corner of the region was untouched, amplifying the severity and inescapable reality of the famine.

• for the famine was very severe, (כִּי־כָבֵד הָרָעָב מְאֹד - ki-kaved hara'av me'od):

  • כִּי־ (ki): "for" or "because," providing the reason for the lack of food.
  • כָּבֵד (kaved): Means "heavy," "weighty," "grievous," "severe." This particular verb is used for extreme hardship.
  • הָרָעָב (hara'av): "the famine."
  • מְאֹד (me'od): An intensifier meaning "very" or "exceedingly."
  • Significance: This phrase highlights the degree of the famine. It was not just present but exceedingly burdensome and overwhelming, affecting every aspect of life. This degree of severity also suggests a divine orchestration or a truly unparalleled natural disaster.

• so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. (וַתֵּלַהּ אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וְאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן מִפְּנֵי הָרָעָב - va-teilach eretz Mitzrayim ve'eretz Kena'an mi-p'nei hara'av):

  • וַתֵּלַהּ (va-teilach): From the root לָאָה (la'ah), which means "to be weary," "to faint," "to be exhausted," or "to languish." It speaks not just to physical weakness but also to a state of despondency, resignation, and depletion.
  • אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם (eretz Mitzrayim): "land of Egypt."
  • וְאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן (ve'eretz Kena'an): "and land of Canaan." This clarifies the geographical extent beyond Egypt itself.
  • מִפְּנֵי הָרָעָב (mi-p'nei hara'av): "because of the famine," literally "from the face of the famine," emphasizing it as the direct cause.
  • Significance: This phrase portrays the effect of the famine: not just hunger, but profound exhaustion, despair, and an utter wearing down of the populace and the productivity of the land. It also broadens the scope of suffering, emphasizing that even Egypt, normally more resilient due to the Nile, was collapsing under the strain alongside drought-prone Canaan. This highlights God's sovereignty over all lands.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For there was no food in all the land": This phrase establishes the central problem—absolute scarcity. It paints a picture of empty granaries and barren fields, emphasizing the fundamental human need being unmet. This sets the stage for the dramatic economic changes that follow in Joseph's administration.
• "for the famine was very severe": This explains why there was no food. It was not merely a seasonal shortage but an extraordinarily intense and prolonged natural disaster. The repetition of "famine" from the first clause through to this phrase intensifies the understanding of its pervasive, grinding reality.
• "so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine": This clarifies the comprehensive geographical impact and the resultant state of the populations. The choice of "languished" depicts a widespread physical and emotional debilitation, a literal wasting away, and a surrender to helplessness in the face of insurmountable conditions. This severe despondency highlights the complete dependency on external aid.

Genesis 47 13 Bonus section

• The universality of the famine described in this verse (affecting both Egypt and Canaan) demonstrates the expansive reach of God's providence, touching even powerful nations like Egypt.
• This verse underpins the subsequent transactions described in Genesis 47, where the people, driven by extreme necessity, first offered all their money, then their livestock, and finally their very land and themselves in exchange for food (Gen 47:14-20). It highlights human desperation and the extent of surrender in the face of existential threat.
• The famine in this account also serves as a polemic against the polytheistic beliefs of Egypt, which attributed power over fertility and life to their numerous gods, especially those associated with the Nile. The severity of the famine demonstrates that only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob possessed ultimate authority over creation and the provision of life.
• From a theological perspective, this deep crisis also perfectly sets up the miraculous preservation and growth of Israel (Jacob's family) within Egypt, securing their temporary residence as per God's earlier covenant with Abraham. This stage of utter helplessness reveals the ultimate Provider, God Himself, working through Joseph.

Genesis 47 13 Commentary

Genesis 47:13 concisely yet powerfully conveys the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding across the known world during Joseph's time. The absence of food was total, not a partial shortage. The descriptive "very severe" points to an unprecedented level of disaster, suggesting either an act of divine judgment or a demonstration of God's absolute control over natural cycles, distinct from any perceived control by pagan deities. The "languishing" of both Egypt and Canaan emphasizes the complete exhaustion and despair of the people, stripping away their dignity and self-sufficiency. This verse marks the point where individual resources—whether financial, physical, or emotional—were entirely depleted, making everyone completely dependent on Joseph's (and, by extension, God's) provision. It explains the profound vulnerability that led the Egyptians to give up their money, livestock, and eventually their land and liberty, setting the stage for significant societal and economic shifts under Pharaoh, but ultimately under God's provident hand in preserving Jacob's lineage. This widespread suffering ultimately serves God's plan to bring the chosen family into Egypt and prepare them to become a great nation.