Genesis 45:6

Genesis 45:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
• New Living Translation (NLT)This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

Context of Genesis 45:6

4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Genesis 45:6 word by word

כִּי־זֶ֛ה שְׁנָתַ֥יִם הָרָעָ֖ב בְּקֶ֣רֶב הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעוֹד֙ חָמֵ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־חָרִ֖ישׁ וְקָצִּֽיר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For these two yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• the famineרָעָבrâ‛âb · famineH7458
• inקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
• the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
• neitherאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• earingחָרִישׁchârîysh · plowingH2758
• nor harvestקָצִירqâtsîyr · harvestH7105

Cross-references for Genesis 45:6

• Genesis 41:29Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
• Genesis 47:18When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land.
• Genesis 47:23Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground.
• Exodus 34:21“Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.
• Deuteronomy 21:4and lead it down to a valley that has not been plowed or planted and where there is a flowing stream. There in the valley they are to break the heifer’s neck.
• 1 Samuel 8:12Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
• Isaiah 30:24The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat fodder and mash, spread out with fork and shovel.

Commentaries on Genesis 45:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6There shall neither be earing nor harvest - Earing has been supposed to mean collecting the ears of corn, which would confound it with harvest: the word, however, means ploughing or seed-time, from the Anglo-Saxon erian, probably borrowed from the Latin aro, to plough, and plainly means that there should be no seed-time, and consequently no harvest; and why? Because there should be a total want of rain in other countries, and the Nile should not rise…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-28Verses 1-28 - Joseph Made Himself Known to His Brethren 10. גשׁן gôshen Goshen, Gesem (Arabias related perhaps to גשׁם geshem “rain, shower”), a region on the borders of Egypt and Arabia, near the gulf of Suez. The appeal of Judah is to Joseph irresistible. The repentance of his brothers, and their attachment to Benjamin, have been demonstrated in the most satisfactory manner. This is all that Joseph sought. It is evident, throughout the whole narrative…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-8it was not you who sent me here, but God: This is the main message of Jacob's family story (37:2). As the Lord had told Abraham, he was bringing the Israelites into Egypt (15:13). God sent Joseph ahead to prepare a way to save his family during the famine. This is a clear statement about God’s sovereignty (his complete rule and control over all things). Joseph explained that God was at work through all events and human actions to carry out his plan…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest--"Ear" is an old English word, meaning "to plough" (compare 1Sa 8:12; Is 30:24). This seems to confirm the view given (Ge 41:57) that the famine was caused by an extraordinary drought, which prevented the annual overflowing of the Nile; and of course made the land unfit to receive the seed of Egypt.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 45:6

• Forgiveness
• Joseph
• Readings, Select

In the dictionaries

• Earing
• Famine
• Joseph
• Live
• Plough
• Preserve
• Refrain
• Revive
• Save
• Tarry

Commentaries on Genesis 45

• 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