Genesis 41:49 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.

NIV: Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

NASB: Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.

CSB: So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance--like the sand of the sea--that he stopped measuring it because it was beyond measure.

NLT: He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure.

KJV: And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

NKJV: Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.

The nation of Egypt is gathering 20 percent of the harvest from every field. This is happening during a period of unprecedented abundance (Genesis 41:47), under the direction of Joseph (Genesis 41:44). The purpose for this stockpile is to create a buffer against an impending famine (Genesis 41:28–32).

As part of his diligent work, Joseph begins by carefully measuring the grain. This would allow for a record of how much would be available when the famine hits. Eventually, though, his team gives up keeping track of how much grain they are storing away. The act of counting the grain starts to take so long it's virtually impossible: like counting the sand grains on a beach! By setting aside a portion of the abundance of the first seven years, Joseph is helping to provide for the people during the seven years of famine (Genesis 47:13–26).

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 5/2/2024 4:02:20 PM