Genesis 47:26

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, [that] Pharaoh should have the fifth [part]; except the land of the priests only, [which] became not Pharaoh's.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Yosef made it a law for the country of Egypt, valid to this day, that Pharaoh should have twenty percent. Only the property belonging to the priests did not become Pharaoh's.

Berean Standard Bible:

So Joseph established a law that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh, and it is in effect in the land of Egypt to this day. Only the priests’ land does not belong to Pharaoh.

American Standard Version:

And Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; only the land of the priests alone became not Pharaoh’s.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Joseph^{H3130} made^{H7760} it a law^{H2706} over the land^{H127} of Egypt^{H4714} unto this day^{H3117}, that Pharaoh^{H6547} should have the fifth^{H2569} part; except^{H7535} the land^{H127} of the priests^{H3548} only, which became not Pharaoh's^{H6547}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Genesis 47:26

Genesis 47:26 is set within the larger narrative of Joseph's rise to power in Egypt and the subsequent famine that afflicted the region. After interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph becomes a key administrator in Egypt, overseeing the storage and distribution of grain during the seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.

**Themes:**
1. **God's Providence:** The story of Joseph illustrates God's providence, as Joseph's suffering and elevation to power ultimately save his family and many others from famine.
2. **Wisdom and Governance:** Joseph's ability to interpret dreams and his administrative skills demonstrate the importance of wisdom in governance and the benefits of prudent planning.
3. **Economic Systems:** The verse reflects ancient economic systems, particularly the idea of taxation or tribute to a central authority, in this case, Pharaoh.
4. **Religious Autonomy:** The exemption of the priests' land from Pharaoh's tax indicates respect for religious institutions and their independence, a theme that resonates with the broader biblical emphasis on the separation of religious and secular authority.

**Historical Context:**
- **Egyptian Society:** During the time of Joseph, Egypt was a highly organized society with sophisticated agricultural practices and a centralized government. The establishment of a tax system would have been consistent with the needs of such a society to maintain its infrastructure and support the ruling class.
- **Joseph's Policies:** Joseph's policy of collecting one-fifth of the produce as a tax for Pharaoh likely reflects a form of redistribution common in the ancient world, where the state collected and stored surplus to be used in times of need.
- **Priestly Privilege:** The priests in ancient Egypt held significant power and privilege. Their exemption from the tax reflected their special status and the cultural importance of religion in Egyptian society.

In summary, Genesis 47:26 encapsulates themes of divine providence, wise governance, economic management, and respect for religious autonomy within the context of ancient Egyptian society. Joseph's institution of a tax system under Pharaoh's authority, with the exception of priestly lands, is a reflection of both his role as an administrator and the societal norms of the time.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3130
   There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹסֵף
   Transliteration: Yôwçêph
   Pronunciation: yo-safe'
   Description: future of יָסַף; let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites; Joseph. Compare יְהוֹסֵף.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7760
   There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׂוּם
   Transliteration: sûwm
   Pronunciation: soom
   Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2706
   There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֹק
   Transliteration: chôq
   Pronunciation: khoke
   Description: from חָקַק; an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage); appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law, measure, [idiom] necessary, ordinance(-nary), portion, set time, statute, task.
   
4. Strong's Number: H127
   There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲדָמָה
   Transliteration: ʼădâmâh
   Pronunciation: ad-aw-maw'
   Description: from אָדַם; soil (from its general redness); country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4714
   There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
   Transliteration: Mitsrayim
   Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
   Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6547
   There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פַּרְעֹה
   Transliteration: Parʻôh
   Pronunciation: par-o'
   Description: of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings; Pharaoh.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2569
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֹמֶשׁ
   Transliteration: chômesh
   Pronunciation: kho'-mesh
   Description: from חָמַשׁ; a fifth tax; fifth participle
   
9. Strong's Number: H7535
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רַק
   Transliteration: raq
   Pronunciation: rak
   Description: the same as רַק as a noun; properly, leanness, i.e. (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although; but, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless, nothing but, notwithstanding, only, save, so (that), surely, yet (so), in any wise.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3548
    There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כֹּהֵן
    Transliteration: kôhên
    Pronunciation: ko-hane'
    Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer.