Genesis 47:17

15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.

16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.

18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:

19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their flocks and herds, and their donkeys. Throughout that year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.
KJV
And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
WEB
They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock for that year.
ASV
And they brought their cattle unto Joseph; and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their cattle for that year.
DARBY
And they brought their cattle to Joseph; and Joseph gave them bread for horses, and for flocks of sheep, and for herds of cattle, and for asses; and he fed them with bread for all their cattle that year.
BLB
And they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave to them bread for the horses, and for the livestock of the sheep, and for the livestock of the cattle, and for the donkeys. And he led them with bread for all their livestock that year.
ÅB
Så kom de til Josef med sin buskap, og Josef gav dem brød for hestene og for småfeet og storfeet som de hadde, og for eslene, og han holdt dem med brød det år for hele deres buskap.
OTB
De brakte sin buskap til Josef, og han forsynte dem med mat i bytte for deres hester, sauer, geiter, storfe og esler. Han opprettholdt dem gjennom det året med mat for deres buskap.
B1930
Så kom de til Josef med sin buskap, og Josef gav dem brød for hestene og for småfeet og storfeet som de hadde, og for asenene, og han holdt dem med brød det år for hele deres buskap.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 31:1

    Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

    Read in context
  • Job 2:4

    And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 6:24

    No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 10:28

    And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 9:3

    Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

    Read in context