Genesis 41:56 - The famine was over all the surface of the earth. Joseph opened all the store houses, and sold to the Egyptians. The famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

Generated Verse: Genesis 41:56

What does "Genesis 41:56" mean?


This verse, Genesis 41:56, is a crucial turning point in the Joseph story. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:

"The famine was over all the surface of the earth." This establishes the scope of the famine. It wasn't just a local hardship; it was a widespread, global crisis affecting many nations. This emphasizes the importance and impact of Joseph's foresight and planning.

"Joseph opened all the store houses, and sold to the Egyptians." This describes Joseph's action in response to the famine. He is actively using the grain he had stored during the seven years of plenty to provide food to the people. The phrase "opened all the store houses" suggests a systematic and well-organized distribution plan. He sold the grain, which implies that the Egyptians had to pay for it, likely preserving the economy and preventing total dependence on Joseph and Pharaoh.

"The famine was severe in the land of Egypt." This emphasizes the severity of the situation even within Egypt. Although Egypt had stores of grain thanks to Joseph's wisdom, the famine was still a difficult period for the Egyptian people. It underlines the necessity of the grain and the value of Joseph's preparations. The severity also highlights the contrast between Egypt, which had food, and surrounding lands that were likely suffering much more. This sets the stage for people from other countries to come to Egypt to buy grain, as described in later verses.

In short, the verse highlights:

The global scale of the famine.
Joseph's proactive role in distributing the stored grain.
The continuing hardship in Egypt despite the preparations.

This verse is important because it demonstrates the effectiveness of Joseph's planning and establishes the context for other nations seeking help from Egypt. It shows that Joseph saved not just the Egyptian people but also had the means to alleviate the suffering of others during the great famine.