Genesis 41:57 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

NIV: And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.

NASB: Then the people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.

CSB: Every land came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, for the famine was severe in every land.

NLT: And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.

KJV: And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

NKJV: So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.

As prophesied (Genesis 41:28–32), the famine which struck Egypt was severe. The prior seven years of prosperity (Genesis 41:47) were quickly erased. When the Egyptians ran out of food, they came to Joseph (Genesis 41:55–56) and bought grain. They would not starve, thanks to Joseph's God and his preparations during the seven abundant years that came before.

It was not just Egypt, however, struck by the famine (Genesis 41:54). People were growing dangerously low on food in all lands. People came from everywhere to Egypt and to Joseph to buy grain. This will dramatically increase the wealth and power of Egypt and her ruler (Genesis 47:13–26). Through Joseph's God-empowered interpretation of the Pharaoh's dream (Genesis 41:14–15), people of many lands would be saved from starvation. As the following chapters will reveal, this includes Joseph's own family.

Genesis 41:37–57 describes Joseph's sudden and breathtaking rise to power. Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, is convinced that God's Spirit is with Joseph, after seeing him interpret dreams and offer sound advice. He appoints Joseph to be the second most powerful man in the nation. His main task is to prepare for the devastating famine to come. Pharaoh gives to Joseph his own signet ring, along with a new Egyptian name and wife. Joseph sets about to use Pharaoh's authority to gather and store massive amounts of grain. This stockpile, built during the seven years of abundance can then be accessed when the famine strikes (Genesis 47:13–26).

Joseph's status in Genesis 41 begins as "forgotten Hebrew prison slave" and ends as "the second most powerful man in Egypt." The cupbearer from the previous chapter finally mentions Joseph two years later, when Pharaoh is troubled by dreams which wise men can't interpret. Joseph reveals the meaning of the dreams: seven years of abundance will be followed by seven years of great famine in the land. Pharaoh, recognizing that God's Spirit is with Joseph, makes him second in command over the entire nation and tasks him with preparing for the famine.

Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers (Genesis 37:24–28). He then excelled in his work for an Egyptian official, only to be falsely accused and imprisoned (Genesis 39:20). There, he accurately interpreted dreams for servants of the Egyptian ruler (Genesis 40:20–22). Unfortunately, the restored cupbearer failed to mention Joseph, leaving him in prison for two more years (Genesis 40:23). A series of disturbing dreams leads to Joseph's audience with Pharaoh. This, in turn, leads to Joseph becoming the second most powerful man in the nation. The following chapters emphasize Joseph's reunion with his family. Details about his administration of food during the famine are recorded in Genesis 47:13–26.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 11/22/2024 8:25:47 AM