Genesis 41:54
ESV
and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
NIV
and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.
NASB
and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
CSB
and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every land, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.
NLT
Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food.
KJV
And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
NKJV
and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
What does Genesis 41:54 mean?
Joseph and his God are proved right yet again. The seven years of abundant crops in Egypt come to an end (Genesis 41:53), and the seven years of desperate famine in the region begin. We're reminded (Genesis 41:57) that this was not a local famine. It afflicted all surrounding lands. The difference was that though Egypt did not have crops, the people still had bread, thanks to Joseph's preparations during seven years of abundance (Genesis 41:33–36).Famines were not unusual during this time, though ones that endured for seven years would be especially severe. Lack of rainfall as far away as Sudan would prevent the annual flooding of the Nile, leading to a loss of crops. When accompanied by lack of rainfall elsewhere in the region, famine would strike many nations together. Egypt alone would be adequately prepared for this particular disaster (Genesis 47:13–26).
