Add parallel Print Page Options

47 During the seven years of abundance, the earth brought forth heaps of produce. 48 He collected all the food of these seven years in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities — the food grown in the fields outside each city he stored in that city. 49 Yosef stored grain in quantities like the sand on the seashore, so much that they stopped counting, because it was beyond measure.

50 Two sons were born to Yosef before the year of famine came; Osnat the daughter of Poti-Fera priest of On bore them to him. 51 Yosef called the firstborn M’nasheh [causing to forget], “Because God has caused me to forget all the troubles I suffered at the hands of my family.” 52 The second he called Efrayim [fruit], “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortune.”

(iv) 53 The seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt ended; 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Yosef had said. There was famine in all lands, but throughout the land of Egypt there was food. 55 When the whole land of Egypt started feeling the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food, and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Yosef, and do what he tells you to do.” 56 The famine was over all the earth, but then Yosef opened all the storehouses and sold food to the Egyptians, since the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover all countries came to Egypt to Yosef to buy grain, because the famine was severe throughout the earth.

Read full chapter

47 During the seven years of abundance(A) the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities.(B) In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea;(C) it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.(D) 51 Joseph named his firstborn(E) Manasseh[a](F) and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim[b](G) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful(H) in the land of my suffering.”

53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine(I) began,(J) just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine,(K) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”(L)

56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,(M) for the famine(N) was severe throughout Egypt.(O) 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,(P) because the famine was severe everywhere.(Q)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget.
  2. Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful.