Genesis 47

Genesis 47 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Abrahamic covenant

Part of the Abrahamic covenant was that Yahweh would bless those who bless Abraham's descendants. Since Pharaoh cared for the Hebrew people, Yahweh blessed the Egyptians while the Hebrew people lived in Egypt. The Hebrew people also multiplied greatly as this covenant promised. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenant and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise)

Jacob was not buried in Egypt

In the ancient Near east, a person was typically buried in their hometown. Since Egypt was not the Israelites' home, Jacob did not wish to be buried in Egypt. This was a lesson to the Israelites that Canaan was their true home, the promised land. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promisedland)

<< | >>

Genesis 47:1

Joseph went in and told Pharaoh

It is not clear whether Joseph went with his father and family from Canaan to Goshen and then alone from Goshen to see the Pharaoh, back to Goshen for his five brothers, and then back to Pharaoh, as the ULB implies, or whether he brought the five brothers with him the first time he went from Goshen to Pharaoh, as the UDB states. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-events)

Genesis 47:2

He took five of his brothers and introduced them

It is not clear whether Joseph went with his father and family from Canaan to Goshen and then alone from Goshen to see the Pharaoh, back to Goshen for his five brothers, and then back to Pharaoh, as the ULB implies, or whether he brought the five brothers with him the first time he went from Goshen to Pharaoh, as the UDB states. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-events)

Genesis 47:3

Your servants are shepherds

"Your servants shepherd flocks"

Your servants

Joseph's brothers refer to themselves as "your servants." This is a formal way of speaking to someone with more authority. This can be stated in first person. Alternate translation: "We, your servants" or "We" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-123person)

as our ancestors

"both we and our forefathers" or "both we and our ancestors"

Genesis 47:4

We come as temporary residents in the land

"We have come to stay for a while in Egypt"

There is no pasture

"There is no grass to eat"

now

This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.

Genesis 47:5

General Information:

This page has intentionally been left blank.

Genesis 47:6

The land of Egypt is before you

"The land of Egypt is open to you" or "All of the land of Egypt is available to you"

Settle your father and your brothers in the best region, the land of Goshen

"Settle your father and your brothers in the land of Goshen, which is the best region"

If you know any capable men among them

It is implied that they are capable of taking care of animals. Alternate translation: "If you know of any men among them who have great skill taking care of animals" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 47:7

Jacob blessed Pharaoh

Here "blessed" means to express a desire for positive and beneficial things to happen to that person.

Genesis 47:8

How long have you lived?

"How old are you?"

Genesis 47:9

The years of my sojourning are 130

The phrase "years of my sojourning" refers to how long he has lived on the earth traveling from one place to another. Alternate translation: "I have lived as a foreigner in many places on the earth for 130 years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

The years of my life have been few ... not been as long as the days of my ancestors' sojourning

Jacob means his life is short compared to the lives of Abraham and Isaac.

painful

Jacob has experienced much pain and trouble during his life.

Genesis 47:10

General Information:

This page has intentionally been left blank.

Genesis 47:11

Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers

"Then Joseph took care of his father and his brothers and helped them establish where they would live"

the land of Rameses

This is another name for the land of Goshen. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 47:12

according to the number of their little ones

Here, the word "little ones" means the small children in the family. Alternate translation: "according to how many small children were in their families"

Genesis 47:13

Now

This word is used here to mark a stop in the main story. Here the author starts to tell a new part of the story.

The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan

This refers to the people living in these lands. Alternate translation: "The people of Egypt and the people of Canaan" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

wasted away

"became thin and weak"

Genesis 47:14

Joseph gathered all the money that was in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, by selling grain to the inhabitants

"The people of Egypt and Canaan spent all of their money buying grain from Joseph"

Joseph gathered ... Joseph brought

Most likely Joseph ordered his servants to gather and bring the money. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 47:15

When all the money of the lands of Egypt and Canaan was spent

Here "lands" stands for the people who live in the lands. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "When the people of Egypt and Canaan used up all their money" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

of the lands of Egypt and Canaan

"from the land of Egypt and from the land of Canaan"

Why should we die in your presence because our money is gone?

The people used a question to emphasize how desperate they are to buy food. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "Please, do not let us die because we have used up all of our money!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)

Genesis 47:16

General Information:

This page has intentionally been left blank.

Genesis 47:17

He fed them with bread

Here "bread" stands for food in general. Alternate translation: "He gave them food" or "He provided them with food" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

Genesis 47:18

they came to him

"the people came to Joseph"

We will not hide from my master

The people refer to Joseph as "my master." This is a formal way of speaking to someone with greater authority. It can be stated in second person. Alternate translation: "We will not hide from you, our master" or "We will not hide from you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-123person)

There is nothing left in the sight of my master, except our bodies and our land

This double negative emphasizes that the speakers' bodies and land were the only things they had left. Alternate translation: "The only things we have left in the sight of my master is our bodies and our land" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublenegatives)

There is nothing left in the sight of my master

Here "sight" stands for Joseph himself. Alternate translation: "We have nothing left to give you, our master" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 47:19

Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land?

The word "eyes" refers to Joseph's sight. The people use a question to emphasize how desperate they are to buy food. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "Please do not just watch as we die and our land is ruined!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)

Why should we die ... both we and our land

The land becomes useless and ruined because there is no seed to plant; thus it is spoken of as if the land would die. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Genesis 47:20

In this way, the land became Pharaoh's

"So the land became Pharaoh's"

Genesis 47:21

General Information:

This page has intentionally been left blank.

Genesis 47:22

It was only the land of the priests that Joseph did not buy

"But he did not buy the land of the priests"

the priests were given an allowance

An "allowance" is an amount of money or food that someone regularly gives to another person. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Pharaoh gave the priests a certain amount of food each day" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

They ate from the allotment which Pharaoh gave them

"They ate from what Pharaoh gave them"

Genesis 47:23

and you will plant

"that you might sow"

Genesis 47:24

At the harvest, you must give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four parts will be your own

The word "fifth" is a fraction. Alternate translation: "At harvest time you will divide the crops into five parts. You will give one part back to Pharaoh for payment and the four parts are for your own" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-fraction)

for food for your households and your little ones

You can state clearly the understood information. Alternate translation: "for food for your households and for food for your little ones" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-ellipsis)

Genesis 47:25

May we find favor in your eyes

The phrase "find favor" is an idiom which means to be approved of by someone. Also, the eyes represent seeing, and seeing represents thoughts or judgment. Alternate translation: "May you be pleased with us" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Genesis 47:26

in the land of Egypt

"over the land of Egypt" or "throughout the land of Egypt"

to this day

This means to the time that the author was writing this.

one-fifth

See how you translated "a fifth" in Genesis 47:24.

Genesis 47:27

They were fruitful and multiplied greatly

The word "multiplied" explains how they were "fruitful." Alternate translation: "They had very many children" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)

were fruitful

Here "fruitful" means to prosper or to have children. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

Genesis 47:28

seventeen years

"17 years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

so the years of Jacob's life were one hundred forty-seven years

"so Jacob lived to be 147 years old" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 47:29

When the time approached for Israel to die

This speaks about time as if it travels and comes to a place. Alternate translation: "When it was almost time for Israel to die" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

If now I have found favor in your eyes

Here "eyes" is a metonym for sight, and "sight" stands for thoughts or opinions. Alternate translation: "If I have found favor with you" or "If I have pleased you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

now

This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.

found favor

This means that someone is approved of by someone else. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

put your hand under my thigh

This act is a sign of making a serious promise. See how you translated this in Genesis 24:2. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)

show me faithfulness and trustworthiness

The abstract nouns "faithfulness" and "trustworthiness" can be translated as adjectives. Alternate translation: "treat me in a faithful and trustworthy manner" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)

Please do not bury me in Egypt

The word "please" adds emphasis to this request.

Genesis 47:30

When I lie down with my fathers

This is a polite way of saying that he will die. Alternate translation: "When I die and join my family members who died before me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

Genesis 47:31

Swear to me

"Promise me" or "Make an oath to me"

swore to him

"promised him" or "made an oath to him"