Genesis 42:5 - The sons of Israel came to buy among those who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

Generated Verse: Genesis 42:5

What does "Genesis 42:5" mean?


This verse from Genesis 42:5 tells us that Jacob's sons (the Israelites) traveled to Egypt to buy grain because there was a severe famine affecting the land of Canaan where they lived. They were among many other people seeking food in Egypt, which had apparently stored up grain during years of plenty and was now selling it.

Here's a breakdown:

"The sons of Israel came to buy among those who came": This indicates that the sons of Jacob (who is also known as Israel) joined a larger group of people traveling to a place (implied to be Egypt) for the purpose of purchasing something.
"for the famine was in the land of Canaan": This explains the reason for their journey. A severe famine had struck Canaan, causing widespread food shortages. They needed to find a source of food elsewhere to survive.

In essence, the verse sets the scene for the story of Joseph and his brothers. The famine in Canaan forced Jacob's sons to travel to Egypt for food, which unexpectedly led them to encounter their long-lost brother Joseph, whom they had sold into slavery years before.

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