Genesis 47:17 - They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock for that year.
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What does "Genesis 47:17" mean?
Genesis 47:17 describes a desperate economic situation in Egypt during a severe famine. Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"They brought their livestock to Joseph": The people of Egypt had run out of money to buy food. Desperate to survive, they turned to their next most valuable assets: their animals.
"Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys": Joseph, acting as Pharaoh's administrator, accepted their livestock (horses, sheep/goats, cattle, and donkeys) as payment for bread. This highlights the severity of the famine – people were willing to part with their livelihood for basic sustenance.
"and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock for that year": Joseph provided enough bread to sustain them for a year in return for all of their livestock. This implies that the famine was expected to last at least another year.
In Summary: The verse shows how Joseph, exercising Pharaoh's power, was strategically managing the famine crisis. He was providing the Egyptian people with a means to survive, but in doing so, he was also consolidating the wealth and resources of Egypt (in the form of livestock) under Pharaoh's control. It paints a picture of a society dramatically changing due to the famine and Joseph's role in it. The people were becoming increasingly dependent on the Pharaoh and his administration for their very survival.
Genesis 47:17 - They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock for that year.
What does "Genesis 47:17" mean?
Genesis 47:17 describes a desperate economic situation in Egypt during a severe famine. Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"They brought their livestock to Joseph": The people of Egypt had run out of money to buy food. Desperate to survive, they turned to their next most valuable assets: their animals.
"Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys": Joseph, acting as Pharaoh's administrator, accepted their livestock (horses, sheep/goats, cattle, and donkeys) as payment for bread. This highlights the severity of the famine – people were willing to part with their livelihood for basic sustenance.
"and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock for that year": Joseph provided enough bread to sustain them for a year in return for all of their livestock. This implies that the famine was expected to last at least another year.
In Summary: The verse shows how Joseph, exercising Pharaoh's power, was strategically managing the famine crisis. He was providing the Egyptian people with a means to survive, but in doing so, he was also consolidating the wealth and resources of Egypt (in the form of livestock) under Pharaoh's control. It paints a picture of a society dramatically changing due to the famine and Joseph's role in it. The people were becoming increasingly dependent on the Pharaoh and his administration for their very survival.