New King James Version
Genesis 41:34
34Let 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years.
Context of Genesis 41:34
32And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 33“Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 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. 35And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during 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 31:14But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, with the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, who had come from the battle.
- 2 Kings 11:11Then the escorts stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, all around the king, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, by the altar and the house.
- 2 Chronicles 34:12And the men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to supervise. Others of the Levites, all of whom were skillful with instruments of music,
- Nehemiah 11:9Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.
- Job 5:20In famine He shall redeem you from death, And in war from the power of the sword.
- Psalms 33:19To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
- Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,
- Proverbs 22:3A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.
- Proverbs 27:12A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished.
- Luke 16:5“So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries