Genesis 47:14 kjv

And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

Genesis 47:14 nkjv

And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

Genesis 47:14 niv

Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh's palace.

Genesis 47:14 esv

And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

Genesis 47:14 nlt

By selling grain to the people, Joseph eventually collected all the money in Egypt and Canaan, and he put the money in Pharaoh's treasury.

Genesis 47 verses

Genesis 47 14 Meaning

Genesis 47:14 describes a pivotal moment during the severe famine in Egypt, orchestrated through Joseph's stewardship. It details that Joseph, acting on Pharaoh's behalf, successfully collected all the available money from both Egypt and Canaan. This money was exchanged for the grain previously stored, effectively consolidating the entire region's liquid wealth into Pharaoh's treasury, signifying the early phase of Pharaoh's increasing dominion over his people and their resources.

Genesis 47 14 Context

Genesis chapter 47 chronicles the final stages of the seven-year famine and Joseph's economic policies as Pharaoh's prime minister. After settling his family in Goshen (vv. 1-12), Joseph continues to manage the grain distribution. The preceding verse (v. 13) states that the famine was so severe there was no food anywhere. People came to Joseph, desperate, having depleted their stored food. This verse (v. 14) describes the first stage of people losing their assets: the money-for-food exchange. This economic transformation progressively leads to the acquisition of livestock, then land, and ultimately the people themselves becoming Pharaoh's bond-servants, fundamentally restructuring Egyptian society and consolidating Pharaoh's absolute power and wealth, setting the stage for the narrative that will unfold in the book of Exodus.

Genesis 47 14 Word analysis

• Joseph (יוֹסֵף, Yosef): Joseph, son of Jacob, is the central human agent here. His wisdom, appointed by God and recognized by Pharaoh (Gen 41:38-41), enabled him to manage this national and international crisis. His role is not simply a gatherer but a key administrator of God's providence, fulfilling a divine plan to preserve life (Gen 45:7-8).
• gathered (לָקַט, laqaṭ): This verb means to "collect" or "pick up." In this context, it signifies a systematic, thorough collection of currency, not haphazard finding. It speaks to the efficiency and comprehensive nature of Joseph's administration.
• all the money (כָּל־הַכֶּסֶף, kol-hakkesef): "Kesef" literally means "silver," which served as the primary form of currency in the ancient Near East, often weighed rather than coined. "All the money" emphasizes that every last bit of available silver or currency was drained from the populace due to the severity of their need and the high demand for sustenance. This was a comprehensive economic transfer.
• that was found (נִמְצָא, nimtsa): This implies that whatever readily available wealth the people possessed in liquid form was collected. It indicates the thoroughness of the economic transfer under duress of the famine.
• in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan: This highlights the vast geographical scope of the famine and Joseph's reach. Egypt, being the storehouse of grain, attracted people from surrounding nations, including Canaan, underscoring the universal desperation for food. This shows Joseph's influence extended beyond Egypt's borders.
• for the grain (בַּבָּר, bavar): "Bar" refers to grain or produce of the field. This was a transaction of vital necessity; people were paying for their very survival. It shows money's diminished value compared to food during extreme crisis.
• which they bought (אֲשֶׁר קָנוּ, asher qanu): Indicates the act of purchase, the direct exchange of wealth for sustenance. The people initiated the buying, driven by hunger.
• and Joseph brought (וַיָּבֵא יוֹסֵף, vayyave Yosef): This verb "brought" signifies delivery or depositing. It underscores Joseph's responsibility to his master, Pharaoh, demonstrating his loyalty and the systematic nature of the administration.
• the money into Pharaoh's house (אֶל־בֵּית פַּרְעֹה, el-Beit Par'oh): "Pharaoh's house" refers to his treasury, palace, or royal administration. This is the culmination of the transaction: all collected wealth flowed directly into the royal coffers. This greatly strengthened Pharaoh's economic and political control, transforming a nation of landholders into one beholden to the crown.

Words-group analysis

• Joseph gathered all the money: Emphasizes the administrator, the scope, and the resource. It shows the executive action in collecting.
• that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan: Specifies the source and extent of the famine and the economic reach. It reveals the dire and widespread nature of the crisis.
• for the grain which they bought: States the purpose of the transaction. It clarifies that this was an exchange for essential sustenance, illustrating the primary need driving the desperate measure.
• and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house: Describes the ultimate destination and consequence of the action. This action directly increased the royal wealth and power, showing the shrewd consolidation of resources by Pharaoh through Joseph's management. This reflects the transformation of Egypt's socio-economic structure.

Genesis 47 14 Bonus section

The collection of "all the money" into Pharaoh's house established a precedent of centralized economic control unparalleled in previous narratives of the ancient Near East within the biblical account. While Joseph's actions were driven by the need to save lives, the consequence was the subjugation of the Egyptian populace and their resources to the absolute power of Pharaoh, which profoundly shaped Egyptian society for centuries. This event stands in contrast to the later Mosaic Law, which often emphasized individual and tribal land ownership, freedom from debt slavery (after certain periods), and decentralized economic structures to maintain social equity and prevent undue accumulation of power. The temporary consolidation under Joseph was a life-saving measure, yet it prefigures forms of economic and political control seen in later empires, where the state gains significant control over the individual's assets and life due to their reliance on a central authority. This moment sets the stage for the dramatic shift in power dynamics, which will ultimately play a critical role in the Israelites' future servitude and their miraculous exodus from Egypt.

Genesis 47 14 Commentary

Genesis 47:14 illustrates the immediate economic consequence of the famine, where money became the first commodity exchanged for life-sustaining grain. Joseph's strategic collection of grain during the seven years of plenty now allowed him to control the distribution and, subsequently, the wealth of Egypt and its neighboring territories. This verse marks the crucial moment when liquid assets of the entire region flowed into Pharaoh's treasury, signifying the concentration of economic power. The transaction was born of extreme necessity, not choice, highlighting the people's total dependence on Pharaoh's government, via Joseph, for survival. This consolidation of wealth by the central authority prepared the ground for subsequent land acquisition by the crown (Gen 47:20-22), establishing an unprecedented level of royal control over the populace and their resources, a system designed to preserve life through state intervention.

Practical Usage:

• In times of scarcity, basic necessities (like food) can eclipse the value of material wealth (money), teaching priorities.
• It demonstrates how wise, God-guided leadership can manage crisis, even if it leads to unexpected social restructuring.
• It highlights the contrast between temporary earthly wealth and the permanent value of God's provision.