Genesis 47 26

Genesis 47:26 kjv

And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part, except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's.

Genesis 47:26 nkjv

And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh's.

Genesis 47:26 niv

So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt?still in force today?that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh's.

Genesis 47:26 esv

So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's.

Genesis 47:26 nlt

Joseph then issued a decree still in effect in the land of Egypt, that Pharaoh should receive one-fifth of all the crops grown on his land. Only the land belonging to the priests was not given to Pharaoh.

Genesis 47 verses

Genesis 47 26 meaning

Genesis 47:26 establishes Joseph's lasting administrative decree in Egypt during the great famine, whereby one-fifth of all produce from the land was given to Pharaoh as tax. This law endured "unto this day," signifying its longevity and continued relevance at the time of the Genesis account's compilation. The sole exemption was the land of the Egyptian priests, which remained their own, acknowledging their special status and support from Pharaoh.

Genesis 47 26 Context

This verse concludes Joseph's land management policy implemented during the severe seven-year famine in Egypt (Gen 47:13-26). As the famine intensified, the Egyptian people exhausted their money to buy grain from Pharaoh's stores. When their money ran out, they offered their livestock, and then their land and even themselves in exchange for food, acknowledging Pharaoh as their owner and saviour (Gen 47:18-21). Joseph's policy consolidated all land under Pharaoh's direct ownership, turning the populace into his tenants who would pay a perpetual rent of one-fifth of their produce. The exception was the priests' land, which Pharaoh provided for directly, indicating their distinct religious and political status in Egyptian society and Joseph's pragmatic wisdom in not disturbing that existing power structure. The phrase "unto this day" (עד היום הזה - ad hayyom hazzeh) indicates that this land system and tax remained in effect long after Joseph's time, pointing to the Genesis account's lasting historical significance for its original audience.

Genesis 47 26 Word analysis

• And Joseph made it a law: (וַיָּשֶׂם יוֹסֵף אֹתוֹ לְחֹק - vayyāśem yôsep ’ôtô lĕḥōq).
  • וַיָּשֶׂם (vayyāśem): "And he put/established." Implies authoritative enactment and permanence. Joseph, under Pharaoh, is the legislator.
  • לְחֹק (lĕḥōq): "as a statute/decree." Refers to an established, unalterable ordinance or regulation. This wasn't a temporary measure but a fundamental change to the land tenure system.
• over the land of Egypt: Highlights the scope of the decree, covering the entire country, thus centralizing power and resources under Pharaoh.
• unto this day: (עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה - ad hayyom hazzeh). This phrase is a common idiomatic expression in Genesis and other historical books (e.g., Gen 19:37, Deut 34:6). It authenticates the historical account by affirming that the practice or condition described continued to exist at the time the narrative was written or compiled, linking the past to the present for the ancient Israelite reader.
• that the fifth part: (לַחֹמֶשׁ - laḥōmeš).
  • לַחֹמֶשׁ: "the fifth part." The specific proportion of 20%. This shows calculated economic foresight and restraint, as taking all would be oppressive, while less might not build sufficient reserves. It implies stewardship of resources for the good of the realm, not just arbitrary seizure.
• should Pharaoh have: (לְפַרְעֹה - lĕphar‘ōh). Pharaoh as the ultimate recipient and authority, embodying the centralized government. This signifies the concentration of power and wealth in the monarchy.
• except the land of the priests only: (זוּלַת אַדְמַת הַכֹּהֲנִים לְבַדָּם - zûlāt ’aḏmaṯ hakkōhănîm lĕbaddām).
  • הַכֹּהֲנִים (hakkōhănîm): "the priests." In ancient Egypt, priests held significant religious, social, and economic power, often owning substantial estates and serving as pillars of the state. They were financially supported directly by Pharaoh (Gen 47:22), suggesting their essential role and Joseph's pragmatism in maintaining stability by not disturbing their ancient privileges. This contrasts subtly with Israel's priestly system, where the Levites owned no land but were supported by tithes from the people.
• which became not Pharaoh's: Reiteration for clarity, emphasizing their unique exempt status and the boundary of Pharaoh's consolidated ownership.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Joseph made it a law... unto this day": This phrase highlights Joseph's lasting impact on Egyptian society, transcending his personal lifetime. It underscores his legacy as a wise administrator guided by divine wisdom (Acts 7:10) and verifies the authenticity of the practice for generations after him.
• "that the fifth part should Pharaoh have": This defines the new economic order: a 20% land tax. It was a measure of royal revenue, a form of public works financing, and a demonstration of Pharaoh's newly absolute control over land, solidified by Joseph's administration. This reflects a principle of rendering to the governing authority what is due (Rom 13:6-7).
• "except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's": This specific exemption demonstrates Joseph's strategic diplomacy. It prevented alienating a powerful class fundamental to Egyptian society and religion, reinforcing that the priestly estates were under a different economic and administrative arrangement, receiving direct support rather than being subject to the land tax. It implies a delicate balance between royal power and existing societal structures.

Genesis 47 26 Bonus section

The establishment of the "fifth part" tax in Egypt reflects a form of planned economy or state socialism. However, from a biblical perspective, it can also be viewed through the lens of divine providence guiding human affairs, even through non-Israelite rulers. Joseph, equipped with God-given wisdom, transformed a desperate situation into an ordered system that fed the populace and created lasting societal stability. While Pharaoh claimed ownership, the arrangement still allowed the people to farm and live on the land, implying a cooperative tenant-farmer relationship under royal supervision. The "unto this day" phrase reinforces the idea that the narratives in Genesis often provided ancient Israelite readers with not only a history of their patriarchs but also cultural and historical context for the world around them, even the governmental systems of Egypt from which they later came.

Genesis 47 26 Commentary

Genesis 47:26 showcases Joseph's profound administrative wisdom, which he exercised as God's instrument for the salvation of many. The implementation of the one-fifth tax was not an act of exploitation but a far-sighted economic policy to centralize resources for famine relief and national stability. By having people sell their land and themselves to Pharaoh, then return to work the land as tenants for a fixed proportion, Joseph effectively nationalized agriculture and ensured long-term food security and national stability following the crisis. This governmental measure, influenced by divine wisdom, became a lasting institution ("unto this day"). The exception for the priests, whose land Pharaoh directly supported, highlights Joseph's pragmatic approach to governance, recognizing and respecting existing societal power structures to avoid unrest. It serves as a historical example of leadership that leverages resources wisely during a crisis and establishes sustainable policies for the future, demonstrating principles of stewardship and the careful management of worldly affairs, whether divine wisdom is acknowledged or not.