Genesis 47 17

Genesis 47:17 kjv

And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.

Genesis 47:17 nkjv

So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year.

Genesis 47:17 niv

So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock.

Genesis 47:17 esv

So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.

Genesis 47:17 nlt

So they brought their livestock to Joseph in exchange for food. In exchange for their horses, flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and donkeys, Joseph provided them with food for another year.

Genesis 47 verses

Genesis 47 17 meaning

This verse describes the second phase of Joseph's famine relief strategy, where the people of Egypt and surrounding lands, having exhausted their money in the previous year, now brought their most valuable possessions—their livestock—to Joseph in exchange for bread. This desperate transaction ensured their survival for that specific year, as Joseph continued to provide sustenance from the abundant reserves accumulated during the years of plenty.

Genesis 47 17 Context

Genesis chapter 47 chronicles the continuing severity of the seven-year famine across Egypt and Canaan, now in its second year of economic distress. The verse fits into the larger narrative of Joseph's divinely inspired and strategic administration. Following a year where the people spent all their available money for grain (Gen 47:14), their economic desperation grew. Their next available asset was their valuable livestock, which included not just sustenance animals like cattle and sheep but also beasts of burden and status symbols like horses and donkeys. Joseph’s policy, authorized by Pharaoh, secured the well-being of the people by ensuring a supply of food, but it also gradually consolidated all wealth and land ownership under Pharaoh's control. This stage, where livestock is exchanged, serves as an intermediate step before the people resorted to selling their land and eventually themselves (Gen 47:18-19). This reflects a powerful, centralized state managing an extreme crisis.

Genesis 47 17 Word analysis

• And they brought their livestock (mikneh מקנה) to Joseph: "Livestock" (מקנה, mikneh) literally means "acquired possession" or "property," underscoring the value of these animals as primary assets in an agricultural economy. The people initiated the trade out of extreme necessity, indicating Joseph's status as the sole source of relief.
• and Joseph gave them bread (lechem לחם): "Bread" (לחם, lechem) is a foundational term for food or sustenance. Joseph, through divine wisdom, consistently acted as the life-sustaining provider for an entire region, contrasting with any pagan deities who could not provide in times of scarcity.
• in exchange for horses (sūs סוס): Horses were valuable for war, transport, and prestige, especially in Egypt. Their inclusion signifies the sale of even highly prized assets, not just basic food-source animals.
• and for the flocks (tson צאן): Refers to sheep and goats, which provided meat, milk, wool, and skins. These were essential for daily sustenance and a staple of nomadic and agricultural livelihoods.
• and for the herds (bakar בקר): Denotes cattle (oxen, cows), used for plowing, labor, meat, and milk. Their surrender indicated the loss of means for future agricultural productivity.
• and for the donkeys (hamor חמור): Donkeys were crucial for transportation of goods and people, as well as for labor in fields. Their trade represented a loss of mobility and farming capacity.
• and he fed them with bread for all their livestock for that year: The repetition of "fed them with bread" emphasizes the direct, life-sustaining nature of the exchange. "For all their livestock" signifies a complete transaction, reflecting the totality of what the people gave. "For that year" indicates the time-bound nature of the arrangement, hinting at future, increasingly desperate measures for continued survival.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And they brought their livestock to Joseph": This phrase portrays the Egyptians' total dependence on Joseph for survival. They had nothing else of value, signifying their absolute vulnerability and Joseph’s unchallengeable position of control over food.
• "and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys": This describes a managed, centralized economy during crisis. Joseph facilitates a system where basic survival is met, but at the cost of valuable national assets, laying the foundation for consolidated state power. The specific enumeration of animal types highlights the comprehensive nature of the trade.
• "and he fed them with bread for all their livestock for that year": This re-emphasizes the completeness of the transaction and Joseph's unwavering role as provider, but also the limited timeframe, demonstrating his meticulous, multi-phase plan for addressing the ongoing famine. It subtly shows the strategic progression of his relief efforts.

Genesis 47 17 Bonus section

The economic policy implemented by Joseph in this chapter effectively transformed the societal structure of Egypt. Prior to the famine, a more diversified private ownership likely existed; by its end, the Pharaoh became the almost sole landowner and owner of national wealth (excluding the priests), creating an unprecedented centralized state. This profound shift, driven by dire necessity and Joseph's wise management, sets the stage for future interactions between Egypt and the burgeoning nation of Israel. The complete acquisition of national assets, in exchange for life itself, reveals the ultimate value placed on sustenance during severe trials. It implicitly underscores the value of wisdom in crisis management and God's sovereignty over natural phenomena to achieve His divine purposes, in this case, preserving the family through whom the Messiah would come.

Genesis 47 17 Commentary

Genesis 47:17 offers a poignant insight into the deepening crisis of the seven-year famine and Joseph's strategic, though severe, governance. With money depleted, the people's last major tangible asset was their livestock. Joseph's action, while centralizing vast resources and power under Pharaoh, simultaneously ensured the populace did not perish from starvation. This act solidified Joseph's role as a provident steward, a practical savior orchestrated by God, even though it came at the cost of the people's economic independence. This transaction demonstrates how even essential life, "bread," can demand immense sacrifice in times of profound need, showing the raw realities of survival when external forces such as natural disaster compel surrender of assets.