Genesis 47:21

Genesis 47:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.
• New International Version (NIV)and Joseph reduced the people to servitude, from one end of Egypt to the other.
• English Standard Version (ESV)As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end.

Context of Genesis 47:21

19Why 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.” 20In 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, and Joseph made the people servants from one end of Egypt to the other. 22The 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. 23Joseph 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.

Genesis 47:21 word by word

וְאֶ֨ת־הָעָ֔ם הֶעֱבִ֥יר אֹת֖וֹ לֶעָרִ֑ים מִקְצֵ֥ה גְבוּל־מִצְרַ֖יִם וְעַד־קָצֵֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And as for the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• he removedעָבַר‛âbar · to pass: bringH5674
• them to citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• endקָצֶהqâtseh qêtseh · endH7097
• of the bordersגְּבוּלgebûl gebûl · border: areaH1366
• of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714

Cross-references for Genesis 47:21

• Genesis 41:48Joseph gathered all the excess food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and put it in the cities. He put the food in every city from the fields around it.

Commentaries on Genesis 47:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21And as for the people, he removed them to cities - It is very likely that Joseph was influenced by no political motive in removing the people to the cities, but merely by a motive of humanity and prudence. As the corn was laid up in the cities he found it more convenient to bring them to the place where they might be conveniently fed; each being within the reach of an easy distribution. Thus then the country which could afford no sustenance was abandoned…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-31Verses 1-31 - Jacob in Goshen 11. רעמסס ra‛mesês Rameses “son of the sun.” 31. מטה mı̂ṭṭāh “bed.” מטה maṭṭeh “staff.” Arrangements are now made for the settlement of Israel in Goshen. The administration of Joseph during the remaining years of the famine is then recorded. For the whole of this period his father and brothers are subject to him, as their political superior, according to the reading of his early dreams. We then approach to the death-bed…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-26Verses 13-26 Care being taken of Jacob and his family, which mercy was especially designed by Providence in Joseph's advancement, an account is given of the saving the kingdom of Egypt from ruin. There was no bread, and the people were ready to die. See how we depend upon God's providence. All our wealth would not keep us from starving, if rain were withheld for two or three years. See how much we are at God's mercy, and let us keep ourselves always in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21reduced the people to servitude: In Hebrew script, the words for slaves (Hebrew ‘abadim) and towns (Hebrew ‘arim) look very similar. Moving the people into the towns does not fit the context well, so most translations choose slaves as the reading that makes the most sense (compare 47:20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. as for the people, he removed them to cities--obviously for the convenience of the country people, who were doing nothing, to the cities where the corn stores were situated.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 47:21

• Egypt
• Extortion
• Joseph
• Land
• Monopoly
• Statecraft
• Usurpation

In the dictionaries

• Egypt
• Egypt, Egyptian
• Exchange
• Fail
• Nourish
• Pilgrimage
• Portion
• Agrarian Laws
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Genesis

Commentaries on Genesis 47

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings