Genesis 47:25 kjv

And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.

Genesis 47:25 nkjv

So they said, "You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants."

Genesis 47:25 niv

"You have saved our lives," they said. "May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh."

Genesis 47:25 esv

And they said, "You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh."

Genesis 47:25 nlt

"You have saved our lives!" they exclaimed. "May it please you, my lord, to let us be Pharaoh's servants."

Genesis 47 verses

Genesis 47 25 Meaning

This verse expresses the profound gratitude and complete submission of the Egyptian populace to Joseph, who acted as Pharaoh's prime minister, following his crisis management during the severe famine. The people acknowledge that Joseph's foresight and actions, including his policy of acquiring all their property and person for food, have literally saved them from death by starvation. Consequently, they pledge perpetual servitude to Pharaoh, willingly accepting a status of being Pharaoh's bondservants, while simultaneously seeking continued favor and benevolent treatment from Joseph, who represented the ruler's authority. Their lives, rather than their previous freedom or possessions, were their primary concern.

Genesis 47 25 Context

Genesis chapter 47 continues the narrative of Joseph's administration of Egypt during the seven-year famine. Having established his family in the land of Goshen, Joseph now deals with the escalating severity of the famine across Egypt. In prior verses, the Egyptians had given Joseph their money (v. 14), then their livestock (v. 17), and finally their land (v. 20) in exchange for food. This verse marks the climax of this process: with no other possessions left, the people offer themselves into direct servitude to Pharaoh, willingly surrendering their freedom in order to survive. This act secures their physical sustenance while consolidating all power and wealth under Pharaoh, marking a significant societal shift in ancient Egypt. Historically and culturally, this scenario reflects the absolute power held by ancient Near Eastern monarchs, especially during times of crisis when a central authority was vital for survival. The willingness of the people highlights the terrifying reality of famine, where basic life supersedes all other considerations, and reliance on a benevolent (or at least life-sustaining) ruler becomes paramount.

Genesis 47 25 Word analysis

• And they said (וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ - Vayyō’mərû): The subject "they" refers to the general population of Egypt, the common people, who have just collectively traded their land and now their liberty for survival. This collective voice signifies a unanimous recognition of their dependence.
• You have saved our lives (הִֽחְיִיתָ֣נוּ - hiḥyîtānû): From the Hebrew root חָיָה (chayah), meaning "to live, keep alive, preserve." This is a powerful declaration of Joseph's actions. It acknowledges that he was instrumental in their physical salvation from imminent death by starvation. It conveys profound gratitude and recognition of his critical role as the deliverer.
• may we find favor (נִמְצָא־חֵ֣ן - nimṣā’-ḥēn): This phrase combines nimṣā’ (we may find) from מָצָא (matsa, to find) and ḥēn (favor, grace). It is a common plea for benevolence and continued good will from a superior or a powerful person. It implies a recognition of Joseph's continued authority and a desire for compassionate treatment in their new state of servitude.
• in the sight of my lord (בְּעֵינֵי֮ אֲדֹנִ֗י - bəʿênê ’ăḏōnî): Literally "in the eyes of my lord." 'Adoni (אֲדֹנִ֗י) means "my lord" or "my master." While directed to Joseph, it implicitly acknowledges the ultimate authority of Pharaoh whom Joseph represents. It is a humble address, reinforcing their subservient position.
• we will be Pharaoh’s servants (וְהָיִ֛ינוּ לְעָבָדִ֖ים לְפַרְעֹֽה - wəhāyînû ləʿāvaḏîm ləParʿōh): This phrase expresses the outcome of their gratitude and plea. Wəhāyînû (and we shall be/become) points to a future state. Ləʿāvaḏîm (for servants) from the Hebrew עֶבֶד (‘eved), which can mean "servant" or "slave." Here, it explicitly means permanent, total servitude or enslavement. This signifies a fundamental shift in their social and economic status – they are no longer free citizens, but owned by Pharaoh. This commitment indicates that for the people, physical survival outweighed freedom or property.

• "You have saved our lives; may we find favor in the sight of my lord": This reflects the direct result of Joseph's life-preserving policy. The people prioritize existence above all else and express genuine gratitude. Their plea for "favor" acknowledges that their survival now depends entirely on the benevolence of Joseph (and Pharaoh). This establishes a dependent, patron-client relationship where they are now clients (servants) and Joseph/Pharaoh is the patron.
• "we will be Pharaoh’s servants": This clause completes their proposal. It’s a willing, though forced by circumstance, submission to bond-service. It shows a complete surrender of their former autonomy and a recognition of Pharaoh’s total ownership over them in exchange for life itself. This arrangement, driven by absolute necessity, provides a significant socio-economic backdrop for understanding later events in Egypt regarding Israelite bondage.

Genesis 47 25 Bonus section

The episode depicted in Gen 47:25 serves as a precursor to and provides a stark contrast with Israel's later involuntary bondage in Egypt. While the Egyptians here willingly enter into servitude due to an immediate threat of starvation, driven by self-preservation, the Israelites later find themselves forcibly enslaved without having incurred any debt or made any choice. This highlights divine sovereignty working through Joseph to establish Egypt as a secure haven for Jacob's family and the developing Israelite nation, albeit under the terms of a society where life could be exchanged for freedom. Joseph's administrative genius, guided by divine wisdom, solidified Pharaoh's dominion over the land and its inhabitants, inadvertently laying a foundation for Egypt's strength, which paradoxically would later be used against the descendants of the very people Joseph saved. The humility and extreme dependency shown by the Egyptians toward Joseph can be seen as a spiritual parallel to humanity's absolute dependence on God for both physical life and spiritual salvation.

Genesis 47 25 Commentary

Genesis 47:25 vividly portrays the desperate gratitude of the Egyptian people towards Joseph, whom they rightly credited with preserving their very lives. Having already surrendered all their wealth, livestock, and land for sustenance during the extreme famine, they offer themselves as Pharaoh's bondservants. This was not merely an act of humility, but a practical and deeply consequential agreement forged out of the direst necessity. Their heartfelt cry, "You have saved our lives," encapsulates the terror of starvation and the profound relief experienced by survival. In return, they offer their allegiance and labor, demonstrating that physical preservation was valued above all other considerations, including personal liberty. This exchange consolidated immense power in Pharaoh's hands, establishing a centralized socio-economic system rooted in widespread servitude. The people's request to "find favor" indicates their understanding that their ongoing welfare rested entirely upon the disposition of their new lord, highlighting their complete dependence in this transformed social order. This episode sets a unique stage for future narratives in Egypt, where concepts of servitude and divine deliverance will gain even greater significance.