Genesis 47
Christian Standard Bible
Pharaoh Welcomes Jacob
47 So Joseph went and informed Pharaoh: “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in the land of Goshen.”(A)
2 He took five of his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.(B) 3 And Pharaoh asked his brothers, “What is your occupation?”
They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants, both we and our ancestors, are shepherds.”(C) 4 And they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to stay in the land for a while because there is no grazing land for your servants’ sheep, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe.(D) So now, please let your servants settle in the land of Goshen.”
5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have come to you, 6 the land of Egypt is open before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land.(E) They can live in the land of Goshen. If you know of any capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”(F)
7 Joseph then brought his father Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many years have you lived?”
9 Jacob said to Pharaoh, “My pilgrimage(G) has lasted 130 years. My years have been few and hard,(H) and they have not reached the years of my ancestors during their pilgrimages.”(I) 10 So Jacob blessed Pharaoh and departed from Pharaoh’s presence.
11 Then Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the land of Rameses,(J) as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s family with food for their dependents.(K)
The Land Becomes Pharaoh’s
13 But there was no food in the entire region, for the famine was very severe. The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan were exhausted by the famine. 14 Joseph collected all the silver to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were purchasing, and he brought the silver to Pharaoh’s palace.(L) 15 When the silver from the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die here in front of you? The silver is gone!”
16 But Joseph said, “Give me your livestock. Since the silver is gone, I will give you food in exchange for your livestock.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks of sheep, the herds of cattle, and the donkeys. That year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.
18 When that year was over, they came the next year and said to him, “We cannot hide from our lord that the silver is gone and that all our livestock belongs to our lord. There is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we die here in front of you—both us and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food. Then we with our land will become Pharaoh’s slaves. Give us seed so that we can live and not die, and so that the land won’t become desolate.”
20 In this way, Joseph acquired all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh, because every Egyptian sold his field since the famine was so severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21 and Joseph made the people servants[a] from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 The only land he did not acquire belonged to the priests, for they had an allowance from Pharaoh. They ate from their allowance that Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land.
23 Joseph said to the people, “Understand today that I have acquired you and your land for Pharaoh. Here is seed for you. Sow it in the land. 24 At harvest, you are to give a fifth of it to Pharaoh,(M) and four-fifths will be yours as seed for the field and as food for yourselves, your households, and your dependents.”
25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “We have found favor with our lord and will be Pharaoh’s slaves.” 26 So Joseph made it a law, still in effect today in the land of Egypt, that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. Only the priests’ land does not belong to Pharaoh.
Israel Settles in Goshen
27 Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property in it and became fruitful and very numerous.(N) 28 Now Jacob lived in the land of Egypt 17 years, and his life span was 147 years. 29 When the time approached for him to die,(O) he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor with you, put your hand under my thigh(P) and promise me that you will deal with me in kindness and faithfulness.(Q) Do not bury me in Egypt. 30 When I rest with my ancestors, carry me away from Egypt and bury me in their burial place.”(R)
Joseph answered, “I will do what you have asked.”
31 And Jacob said, “Swear to me.” So Joseph swore to him. Then Israel bowed in thanks at the head of his bed.[b](S)
Génesis 47
La Biblia de las Américas
Jacob presentado a Faraón
47 Entonces José vino e informó a Faraón, y dijo: Mi padre y mis hermanos, con sus ovejas, sus vacas y todo lo que tienen, han venido de la tierra de Canaán(A); y he aquí, están en la tierra de Gosén(B). 2 Y tomó cinco hombres de entre sus hermanos, y los presentó delante de Faraón(C). 3 Entonces Faraón dijo a sus hermanos: ¿Cuál es vuestra ocupación(D)? Y ellos respondieron a Faraón: Tus siervos son pastores de ovejas, tanto nosotros como nuestros padres(E). 4 Dijeron también a Faraón: Hemos venido a residir en esta[a] tierra(F), porque no hay pasto para los rebaños de tus siervos, pues el hambre es severa en la tierra de Canaán(G). Ahora pues, permite que tus siervos habiten en la tierra de Gosén(H). 5 Y Faraón dijo a José[b]: Tu padre y tus hermanos han venido a ti; 6 la tierra de Egipto está a tu disposición[c]. En lo mejor de la tierra haz habitar a tu padre y a tus hermanos(I); que habiten en la tierra de Gosén, y si sabes que hay hombres capaces entre ellos(J), ponlos a cargo[d] de mi ganado. 7 José trajo a su padre Jacob y lo presentó a[e] Faraón; y Jacob bendijo a Faraón(K). 8 Y Faraón dijo a Jacob: ¿Cuántos años tienes?[f] 9 Entonces Jacob respondió a Faraón: Los años[g] de mi peregrinación son ciento treinta años(L); pocos y malos han sido los años[h] de mi vida, y no han alcanzado a los años[i] que mis padres vivieron[j] en los días de su peregrinación(M). 10 Y Jacob bendijo a Faraón(N), y salió de su presencia[k]. 11 Así, pues, José estableció[l] allí a su padre y a sus hermanos, y les dio posesión en la tierra de Egipto, en lo mejor de la tierra(O), en la tierra de Ramsés(P), como Faraón había mandado. 12 Y proveyó José de alimentos[m] a su padre, a sus hermanos y a toda la casa de su padre, según el número de sus hijos[n](Q).
Consecuencias económicas del hambre
13 No había alimento[o] en toda la tierra, de modo que el hambre era muy severa, y la tierra de Egipto y la tierra de Canaán languidecían a causa del hambre(R). 14 Y José recogió todo el dinero que había en la tierra de Egipto(S) y en la tierra de Canaán a cambio del grano que le compraban, y José trajo el dinero a la casa de Faraón. 15 Cuando se acabó el dinero en la tierra de Egipto y en la tierra de Canaán, todos los egipcios vinieron a José, diciendo: Danos alimento[p], pues ¿por qué hemos de morir delante de ti(T)?, ya que nuestro dinero se ha acabado. 16 Entonces José dijo: Entregad vuestros ganados y yo os daré pan por vuestros ganados, puesto que vuestro dinero se ha acabado. 17 Trajeron, pues, sus ganados a José, y José les dio pan a cambio de los caballos, las[q] ovejas, las[r] vacas y los asnos; aquel año les proveyó de pan a cambio de todos sus ganados. 18 Y terminado aquel año, vinieron a él el segundo año, y le dijeron: No encubriremos a mi señor que el dinero se ha acabado, y que el ganado pertenece a mi señor. No queda nada para[s] mi señor, excepto nuestros cuerpos y nuestras tierras. 19 ¿Por qué hemos de morir delante de tus ojos, tanto nosotros como nuestra tierra? Cómpranos a nosotros y a nuestra tierra a cambio de pan, y nosotros y nuestra tierra seremos siervos de Faraón. Danos, pues, semilla para que vivamos y no muramos, y no quede la tierra desolada.
20 Así compró José toda la tierra de Egipto para Faraón, pues los egipcios[t] vendieron cada uno su campo, porque el hambre era severa sobre ellos; y la tierra vino a ser de Faraón. 21 En cuanto a la gente, la hizo pasar a las ciudades, desde un extremo de la frontera de Egipto hasta el otro. 22 Solamente la tierra de los sacerdotes no compró, pues los sacerdotes tenían ración de parte de Faraón, y vivían de la[u] ración que Faraón les daba. Por tanto no vendieron su tierra. 23 Y José dijo al pueblo: He aquí, hoy os he comprado a vosotros y a vuestras tierras para Faraón; ahora, aquí hay semilla para vosotros; id y sembrad la tierra. 24 Al[v] tiempo de la cosecha daréis la quinta parte a Faraón(U), y cuatro partes serán vuestras para sembrar la tierra[w] y para vuestro mantenimiento, para los de vuestras casas y para alimento de vuestros pequeños. 25 Y ellos dijeron: Nos has salvado la vida. Hallemos gracia ante los ojos de Faraón mi señor, y seremos siervos de Faraón. 26 Entonces José puso una ley respecto a la tierra de Egipto, en vigor hasta hoy: que Faraón debía recibir el quinto; solo la tierra de los sacerdotes no[x] llegó a ser de Faraón(V).
Petición de Jacob a José
27 E Israel habitó en la tierra de Egipto, en Gosén[y]; y adquirieron allí propiedades(W) y fueron fecundos y se multiplicaron en gran manera(X). 28 Y Jacob vivió en la tierra de Egipto diecisiete años; así que los días de Jacob, los años de su vida, fueron ciento cuarenta y siete años(Y). 29 Cuando a Israel se le acercó el tiempo[z] de morir(Z), llamó a su hijo José y le dijo: Si he hallado gracia ante tus ojos, por favor, pon ahora tu mano debajo de mi muslo(AA) y trátame con misericordia y fidelidad[aa](AB): Por favor, no me sepultes en Egipto. 30 Cuando duerma con mis padres(AC), me llevarás de Egipto y me sepultarás en el sepulcro de ellos(AD). Y José respondió: Haré según tu palabra. 31 Y Jacob dijo: Júramelo(AE). Y se lo juró. Entonces Israel se inclinó en adoración en la cabecera de la cama(AF).
Footnotes
- Génesis 47:4 Lit., la
- Génesis 47:5 Lit., a José, diciendo
- Génesis 47:6 Lit., delante de ti
- Génesis 47:6 Lit., nómbralos jefes
- Génesis 47:7 Lit., puso delante de
- Génesis 47:8 Lit., ¿Cuántos son los días de los años de tu vida?
- Génesis 47:9 Lit., días de los años
- Génesis 47:9 Lit., días de los años
- Génesis 47:9 Lit., días de los años
- Génesis 47:9 Lit., de la vida de mis padres
- Génesis 47:10 Lit., de la presencia de Faraón
- Génesis 47:11 Lit., hizo habitar
- Génesis 47:12 O, pan
- Génesis 47:12 Lit., pequeños
- Génesis 47:13 O, pan
- Génesis 47:15 O, pan
- Génesis 47:17 Lit., los ganados de las
- Génesis 47:17 Lit., los ganados de las
- Génesis 47:18 Lit., en presencia de
- Génesis 47:20 Lit., pues en Egipto
- Génesis 47:22 Lit., comían su
- Génesis 47:24 Lit., Y sucederá que al
- Génesis 47:24 Lit., para semilla del campo
- Génesis 47:26 Lit., sola no
- Génesis 47:27 Lit., en la tierra de Gosén
- Génesis 47:29 Lit., se acercaron los días
- Génesis 47:29 O, verdad
Genesis 47
The Message
47 Joseph went to Pharaoh and told him, “My father and brothers with their flocks and herds and everything they own have come from Canaan. Right now they are in Goshen.”
2-3 He had taken five of his brothers with him and introduced them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked them, “What kind of work do you do?”
3-4 “Your servants are shepherds, the same as our fathers were. We have come to this country to find a new place to live. There is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine has been very bad there. Please, would you let your servants settle in the region of Goshen?”
5-6 Pharaoh looked at Joseph. “So, your father and brothers have arrived—a reunion! Egypt welcomes them. Settle your father and brothers on the choicest land—yes, give them Goshen. And if you know any among them that are especially good at their work, put them in charge of my own livestock.”
7-8 Next Joseph brought his father Jacob in and introduced him to Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked Jacob, “How old are you?”
9-10 Jacob answered Pharaoh, “The years of my sojourning are 130—a short and hard life and not nearly as long as my ancestors were given.” Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left.
11-12 Joseph settled his father and brothers in Egypt, made them proud owners of choice land—it was the region of Rameses (that is, Goshen)—just as Pharaoh had ordered. Joseph took good care of them—his father and brothers and all his father’s family, right down to the smallest baby. He made sure they had plenty of everything.
* * *
13-15 The time eventually came when there was no food anywhere. The famine was very bad. Egypt and Canaan alike were devastated by the famine. Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan to pay for the distribution of food. He banked the money in Pharaoh’s palace. When the money from Egypt and Canaan had run out, the Egyptians came to Joseph. “Food! Give us food! Are you going to watch us die right in front of you? The money is all gone.”
16-17 Joseph said, “Bring your livestock. I’ll trade you food for livestock since your money’s run out.” So they brought Joseph their livestock. He traded them food for their horses, sheep, cattle, and donkeys. He got them through that year in exchange for all their livestock.
18-19 When that year was over, the next year rolled around and they were back, saying, “Master, it’s no secret to you that we’re broke: our money’s gone and we’ve traded you all our livestock. We’ve nothing left to barter with but our bodies and our farms. What use are our bodies and our land if we stand here and starve to death right in front of you? Trade us food for our bodies and our land. We’ll be slaves to Pharaoh and give up our land—all we ask is seed for survival, just enough to live on and keep the farms alive.”
20-21 So Joseph bought up all the farms in Egypt for Pharaoh. Every Egyptian sold his land—the famine was that bad. That’s how Pharaoh ended up owning all the land and the people ended up slaves; Joseph reduced the people to slavery from one end of Egypt to the other.
22 Joseph made an exception for the priests. He didn’t buy their land because they received a fixed salary from Pharaoh and were able to live off of that salary. So they didn’t need to sell their land.
23-24 Joseph then announced to the people: “Here’s how things stand: I’ve bought you and your land for Pharaoh. In exchange I’m giving you seed so you can plant the ground. When the crops are harvested, you must give a fifth to Pharaoh and keep four-fifths for yourselves, for seed for yourselves and your families—you’re going to be able to feed your children!”
25 They said, “You’ve saved our lives! Master, we’re grateful and glad to be slaves to Pharaoh.”
26 Joseph decreed a land law in Egypt that is still in effect, A Fifth Goes to Pharaoh. Only the priests’ lands were not owned by Pharaoh.
* * *
27-28 And so Israel settled down in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property and flourished. They became a large company of people. Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years. In all, he lived 147 years.
29-30 When the time came for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said, “Do me this favor. Put your hand under my thigh, a sign that you’re loyal and true to me to the end. Don’t bury me in Egypt. When I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me alongside them.”
“I will,” he said. “I’ll do what you’ve asked.”
31 Israel said, “Promise me.” Joseph promised.
Israel bowed his head in submission and gratitude from his bed.
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Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson