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 before thine eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be bondmen to Pharaoh; and give seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land be not desolate. 20And Joseph bought all the soil of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them; and the land became Pharaoh's. And as for the people, he removed them into the cities, from [one] end of the borders of Egypt even to the [other] end of it. 22Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had an assigned portion from Pharaoh, and ate their assigned portion which Pharaoh had given them; so they did not sell their land. 23And Joseph said to the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and sow the land.

Genesis 47:21 word by word

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

• peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• endקָצֶהqâtseh qêtseh · endH7097
• bordersגְּבוּלgebûl gebûl · border: boundaryH1366
• Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714

Cross-references for Genesis 47:21

• Genesis 41:48And he gathered up all the food of the seven years that was in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities; the food of the fields of the city, which were round about it, he laid up in 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
• Exchange
• Fail
• Nourish
• Pilgrimage
• Portion
• Agrarian Laws
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Genesis
• Joseph (2)

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