Genesis 41:34 - Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt’s produce in the seven plenteous years.

Generated Verse: Genesis 41:34

What does "Genesis 41:34" mean?


This verse is part of Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream in Genesis. He is advising Pharaoh on how to prepare for the upcoming famine. Let's break it down:

"Let Pharaoh do this...": This refers to the solution Joseph is about to propose to Pharaoh. It's a direct answer to the problem revealed in Pharaoh's dream of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine.

"...and let him appoint overseers over the land...": Joseph is suggesting that Pharaoh needs to establish a bureaucracy or a system of management to oversee the collection and storage of the excess grain. These overseers would be responsible for organizing and executing the plan.

"...and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt’s produce in the seven plenteous years.": This is the crucial part. Joseph is advising Pharaoh to collect 20% (one-fifth) of the harvest during the seven years of plenty. This grain would be stored and saved for the seven years of famine. It is essentially a form of forced savings or taxation. The stored grain would then be used to feed the population during the lean years, preventing widespread starvation.

In simple terms:

Joseph is telling Pharaoh to:

1. Appoint people to manage the collection and storage.
2. Collect 20% of all the food grown during the good years.
3. Save that food to use during the bad years.

Significance:

This verse is important because it demonstrates Joseph's wisdom and practical skills. It highlights his ability to not only interpret dreams but also to devise a sound plan for dealing with the predicted crisis. It also shows the importance of planning ahead and saving for difficult times. This advice ultimately saved Egypt and the surrounding regions from starvation.