Genesis 43:1

ยถ And the famine [was] sore in the land.

And the famine {H7458} was sore {H3515} in the land {H776}.

But the famine was severe in the land;

Now the famine was still severe in the land.

And the famine was sore in the land.

Commentary

Context of Genesis 43:1

Genesis 43:1 opens a new chapter in the unfolding drama of Joseph and his family. Following the first trip of Jacob's ten sons to Egypt to buy grain, they have returned to Canaan, but the food they brought is running out. This verse starkly reminds the reader of the dire circumstances: the famine continued to be severe, not just in Egypt but also in the land of Canaan where Jacob and his family resided. This intense scarcity forced Jacob to confront the difficult decision of sending his sons back to Egypt, a journey that would require Benjamin to accompany them, as demanded by the Egyptian governor (Joseph).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Severity of Famine: The phrase "the famine was sore in the land" emphasizes the extreme hardship and desperation faced by Jacob's family and the entire region. It underscores the physical reality of scarcity and its impact on daily life.
  • Divine Providence Amidst Hardship: While a natural disaster, this severe famine was a key element in God's overarching plan to preserve the family of Jacob and bring them to Egypt, ultimately fulfilling His covenant promises. Even in hardship, God's purposes are at work.
  • Human Dependency: The verse highlights humanity's fundamental dependence on natural resources and, ultimately, on God's provision. Without the grain from Egypt, survival was impossible.

Linguistic Insight

The KJV word "sore" in this verse translates the Hebrew word kฤbฤ“d (ื›ึผึธื‘ึตื“), which literally means "heavy," "weighty," or "grievous." When applied to a famine, it denotes extreme severity and oppressive intensity. This emphasizes that the famine was not merely inconvenient but a crushing burden threatening life itself.

Practical Application

Genesis 43:1 serves as a powerful reminder that life often presents us with challenging and "sore" circumstances beyond our control. Whether it's a personal crisis, economic hardship, or global events, such times test our faith and reliance. This verse encourages us to remember that even in the most difficult situations, God's plan can be at work, often leading to unexpected outcomes and blessings. Joseph's later words in Genesis 50:20, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good," encapsulate this profound truth that God can use even famine and human suffering for His ultimate redemptive purposes.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 12:10 (3 votes)

    ยถ And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine [was] grievous in the land.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, [are] in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred [by] all [that is] before them.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:2 (2 votes)

    All [things come] alike to all: [there is] one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as [is] the good, so [is] the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as [he] that feareth an oath.

  • Genesis 42:5 (2 votes)

    And the sons of Israel came to buy [corn] among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

  • Acts 7:11 (2 votes)

    Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

  • Acts 7:13 (2 votes)

    And at the second [time] Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

  • Genesis 41:54 (2 votes)

    And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.