God’s Word Translation
Genesis 41:34
34Make arrangements to appoint supervisors over the land to take a fifth of Egypt’s harvest during the seven good years.
Genesis 41:34 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
- New International Version (NIV)Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years.
Context of Genesis 41:34
32The reason Pharaoh has had a recurring dream is because the matter has been definitely decided by God, and he will do it very soon. 33“Pharaoh should look for a wise and intelligent man and put him in charge of Egypt. Make arrangements to appoint supervisors over the land to take a fifth of Egypt’s harvest during the seven good years. 35Have them collect all the food during these good years and store up grain under Pharaoh’s control, to be kept for food in the cities. 36This food will be a reserve supply for our country during the seven years of famine that will happen in Egypt. Then the land will not be ruined by the famine.”
Read all of Genesis 41Genesis 41:34 word by word
יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה פַרְעֹ֔ה וְיַפְקֵ֥ד פְּקִדִ֖ים עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְחִמֵּשׁ֙ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּשֶׁ֖בַע שְׁנֵ֥י הַשָּׂבָֽע׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Let Pharaohפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
- doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- and let him appointפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: overseerH6485
- officersפָּקִידpâqîyd · overseerH6496
- over the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- and take up the fifth partחָמַשׁchâmash · to take the fifth partH2567
- of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- in the sevenשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
- plenteousשָׂבָעώâbâ‛ · abundanceH7647
- yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
Cross-references for Genesis 41:34
- Numbers 31:14Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of the companies and battalions, who were returning from battle.
- 2 Kings 11:11The guards stood with their weapons in their hands. They were stationed around the king and around the altar and the temple (from the south side to the north side of the temple).
- 2 Chronicles 34:12The men did their work faithfully under the supervision of Jahath and Obadiah (Levites descended from Merari), and Zechariah and Meshullam (descendants of Kohath). The Levites, who were skilled musicians,
- Nehemiah 11:9Joel, son of Zichri, was in charge, and Judah, son of Senuah, was second-in-command over the city.
- Job 5:20“In famine he will save you from death, and in war he will save you from the sword.
- Psalms 33:19to rescue their souls from death and keep them alive during a famine.
- Proverbs 6:6Consider the ant, you lazy bum. Watch its ways, and become wise.
- Proverbs 22:3Sensible people foresee trouble and hide ⌞from it⌟, but gullible people go ahead and suffer ⌞the consequence⌟.
- Proverbs 27:12Sensible people foresee trouble and hide. Gullible people go ahead ⌞and⌟ suffer.
- Luke 16:5“So the manager called for each one of his master’s debtors. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
Commentaries on Genesis 41:34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34Let him appoint officers - פקדים pekidim, visitors, overseers: translated by Ainsworth, bishops; see Genesis 39:1. Take up the fifth part of the land - What is still called the meery, or that part of the produce which is claimed by the king by way of tax. It is probable that in Joseph's time it was not so much as a fifth part, most likely a tenth: but as this was an extraordinary occasion, and the earth brought forth by handfuls, Genesis 41:47, the king…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-57Verses 1-57 - Joseph Was Exalted 1. יאר ye'or “river, canal,” mostly applied to the Nile. Some suppose the word to be Coptic. 2. אחוּ 'āchû “sedge, reed-grass, marsh-grass.” This word is probably Coptic. 8. חרטמים charṭumı̂ym ̓̀ exēgētai ̔͂ hierogrammateis “sacred scribes, hieroglyphs.” חרט chereṭ “stylus,” a graving tool. 43. אברך 'abrēk “bend the knee.” In this sense it is put for הברך habrēk imperative hiphil of ברך bārak Those who take the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 33-45Verses 33-45 Joseph gave good advice to Pharaoh. Fair warning should always be followed by good counsel. God has in his word told us of a day of trial before us, when we shall need all the grace we can have. Now, therefore, provide accordingly. Pharaoh gave Joseph an honourable testimony. He is a man in whom the spirit of God is; and such men ought to be valued. Pharaoh puts upon Joseph marks of honour. He gave him such a name as spoke the value he had…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 33-36God’s message required a response. It was not given just to satisfy curiosity about the future. Joseph’s advice showed that he was wise and able to plan well. This is why Pharaoh chose him to lead (41:37–40). Joseph set up a system to store food. He placed one main leader over the work and local leaders in each area. He collected one-fifth (20 percent) of the grain and stored it for future needs. Later, wisdom literature (see study note on 37:2–50:26)…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. and let him appoint officers over the land--overseers, equivalent to the beys of modern Egypt. take up the fifth part of the land--that is, of the land's produce, to be purchased and stored by the government, instead of being sold to foreign corn merchants.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 41:34
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 41
- 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
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