Genesis 47:23

²¹ And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.

²² Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands.

Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.

²⁴ And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.

²⁵ And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.

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: Then Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have acquired you and your land for Pharaoh this day, here is seed for you to sow in the land.
KJV: Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.
WEB: Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. Behold, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.
ASV: Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.
DARBY: And Joseph said to the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and sow the land.
BLB: And Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you⁺ this day, and your⁺ land, for Pharaoh. Behold, seed for you⁺, and you⁺ shall sow the land.

ÅB: Og Josef sa til folket: Nå har jeg kjøpt dere og deres jord til Farao; se, her har dere såkorn, tilså nå jorden!
OTB: Josef sa til folket: “I dag har jeg kjøpt dere og deres land for farao. Her er såkorn for dere til å så jorden.
B1930: Og Josef sa til folket: Nu har jeg kjøpt eder og eders jord til Farao; se, her har I såkorn, tilså nu jorden!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 55:10
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Read in context
Isaiah 28:24–25
Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?
Read in context
Genesis 45:6
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
Read in context
Psalms 112:5
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
Read in context
Proverbs 12:11
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
Read in context
Psalms 107:36–37
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
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2 Corinthians 9:10
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Read in context
Matthew 24:45
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Read in context