Genesis 47:19 kjv

Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.

Genesis 47:19 nkjv

Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate."

Genesis 47:19 niv

Why should we perish before your eyes?we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate."

Genesis 47:19 esv

Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate."

Genesis 47:19 nlt

Why should we die before your very eyes? Buy us and our land in exchange for food; we offer our land and ourselves as slaves for Pharaoh. Just give us grain so we may live and not die, and so the land does not become empty and desolate."

Genesis 47 verses

Genesis 47 19 Meaning

Genesis 47:19 records the desperate plea of the Egyptian people to Joseph during the height of the severe famine. Having already exchanged their livestock for food, they now propose to surrender themselves and their land to Pharaoh in exchange for sustenance and seed for future planting. Their ultimate goal is immediate survival, stating their desire "to live and not die," and to prevent their fertile land from becoming utterly desolate, thus securing a future. This verse marks a pivotal moment where, driven by extreme necessity, the populace voluntarily becomes subservient and their land becomes the property of Pharaoh, except for that belonging to the priests.

Genesis 47 19 Context

Genesis chapter 47 is set in the midst of a severe, prolonged famine that grips all the known world, particularly Egypt and Canaan. Seven years of bountiful harvests, divinely prophesied and managed by Joseph, were followed by seven years of barrenness. By verse 19, the famine has advanced to its final stages, with the population having depleted all their money (Gen 47:14) and livestock (Gen 47:16). Facing imminent death, the Egyptian people, having nothing left to trade, now approach Joseph, who is Pharaoh's vizier and the distributor of grain. Their proposal to surrender their persons and land reflects utter desperation and a primal drive for survival, fearing not only personal death but also the complete desolation of their agricultural society. This act effectively consolidates all land and human resources under Pharaoh, shaping the future of Egypt and setting the historical backdrop for the later narratives involving the Israelites.

Genesis 47 19 Word analysis

• Why should we die (לָמָּה נָמוּת - lamah namut): Expresses profound desperation and a sense of immediacy. It’s a rhetorical question highlighting the existential crisis they face, contrasting their potential survival with certain death if Joseph does not act.
• before your eyes (לְעֵינֶיךָ - l'eynekha): Signifies vulnerability and a direct appeal. It means in plain sight, demonstrating their complete helplessness and reliance on Joseph, who holds the power over life and death.
• both we and our land (גַּם אֲנַחְנוּ גַּם אַרְצֵנוּ - gam anachnu gam artzeinu): Emphasizes the totality of their proposed surrender. "Gam" means "also" or "both," indicating that they are willing to give up not only their personal freedom but also their cherished inherited lands. This highlights their complete destitution.
• Buy us and our land (קְנֵנוּ וְאֶת אַרְצֵנוּ - k'neinu v'et artzeinu): The Hebrew verb קנה (qanah) means "to buy, acquire, purchase, possess." Here, it's a desperate offer to be enslaved and dispossessed for the sake of survival. It implies a transaction, where their very being and future prosperity are offered as collateral.
• for bread (בְּלָחֶם - b'lechem): Reveals the simple, stark motivation: basic sustenance. It underlines that their immediate, desperate need is for physical nourishment, the very staff of life.
• and we and our land will be servants (וְהָיִינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ וְאַרְצֵנוּ עֲבָדִים - v'hayinu anachnu v'artzeinu avadim): Hebrew "עבדים" (avadim) literally means "slaves" or "servants." This signifies a total relinquishing of their independence, sovereignty, and property rights, agreeing to be entirely subject to Pharaoh's will and ownership. This willing servitude is a profound aspect, setting it apart from later involuntary enslavement.
• to Pharaoh (לְפַרְעֹה - l'pharaoh): Identifies the beneficiary of this transaction. It is not for personal gain but for the ultimate ruler of the land, consolidating his power.
• So give us seed (וְתֶן זֶרַע - v'ten zera): This goes beyond immediate survival, signifying hope and planning for the future. "Seed" (zera) is critical for planting and renewing the cycle of life and prosperity, implying foresight beyond the current crisis.
• that we may live and not die (וְנִחְיֶה וְלֹא נָמוּת - v'nichyeh v'lo namut): Reinforces the primary desire to survive. It's a binary choice: life or death. The request for seed proves they seek ongoing life, not just temporary reprieve.
• and that the land may not become desolate (וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תֵשׁוֹם - v'ha'adamah lo teshom): "תֵשׁוֹם" (teshom) means "to be desolate, wasted, ruined." This reveals their concern for the land itself, indicating a long-term perspective beyond their immediate individual lives. They fear the permanent destruction of their society's economic base.

• Words-Group Analysis: "Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land?": This initial plea conveys total vulnerability and impending doom. Their reference to "our land" alongside "we" shows a deep intrinsic connection between their survival and the land's continued viability. Death is not just personal, but societal.
• "Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh.": This crucial segment reveals the specific proposal: an exchange of total freedom and ownership for basic sustenance and a place within the state. It highlights their willingness to forfeit their independence, a desperate act driven by extreme hunger, marking a paradigm shift in their societal structure.
• "So give us seed, that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.": This part signifies their forward-looking desire. They want not just to endure the famine but to be able to rebuild their lives and livelihoods. The inclusion of "seed" points to Joseph's prudent resource management and the people's understanding of the cycle of agriculture. It’s a plea for future, not just immediate, salvation.

Genesis 47 19 Bonus section

This incident highlights an important distinction regarding slavery/servitude in the Bible. Here, the Egyptians willingly enter servitude as a survival mechanism, prompted by their own desperate request. This stands in contrast to the later enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt, which was involuntary, harsh, and borne of Pharaoh's fear and oppression (Ex 1:8-14). The voluntary surrender by the Egyptians, facilitated by Joseph's administration, transformed Egypt's socio-economic landscape, establishing a long-standing feudal-like system where 20% of all produce was paid to Pharaoh. This percentage, set forth in Genesis 47:24, remained a historical staple of Egyptian taxation. The verse also implicitly champions good stewardship and wise foresight (Joseph’s storing grain) over impulsive consumption, demonstrating that effective leadership can turn crisis into a strategic advantage, ensuring national survival.

Genesis 47 19 Commentary

Genesis 47:19 is a stark illustration of human desperation in the face of overwhelming calamity. The Egyptian people, having exhausted all their resources – money and livestock – now face a brutal choice: death or the complete surrender of their liberty and ancestral land. Their offer to be "bought" and to become "servants to Pharaoh" underscores the absolute power of famine to reduce individuals and entire societies to fundamental survival instincts. Joseph, as Pharaoh's wise administrator, implements a system where the populace effectively exchanges their assets for the essential means of life and future prosperity (bread and seed). This moment not only solidifies Pharaoh's centralized control over Egypt, transforming land ownership and citizenry into direct state assets (save for the priests), but also subtly prefigures divine providence. Just as the Egyptians offered themselves to Joseph/Pharaoh for physical salvation, humanity, in its spiritual destitution, can find true freedom and life by surrendering to the divine provision and Lordship found in Christ. This verse reminds us that true "life" often comes through humble submission, and it poses the question of what we are willing to "pay" or "surrender" for lasting existence, whether physical or spiritual.