Genesis 45:6

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

For these two years {H8141} hath the famine {H7458} been in {H7130} the land {H776}: and yet there are five {H2568} years {H8141}, in the which there shall neither {H369} be earing {H2758} nor harvest {H7105}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The famine has been over the land for the last two years, and for yet another five years there will be neither plowing nor harvest.

Berean Standard Bible

For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.

American Standard Version

For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 45:6 captures a pivotal moment in Joseph's reunion with his brothers, where he precisely reveals the ongoing famine's duration and severity. He clarifies that two years of devastating scarcity have already passed, with an additional five years remaining during which no plowing or harvesting will be possible. This statement underscores the profound divine foresight and strategic preparations that preserved not only his family but also the wider region from utter desolation, highlighting God's meticulous orchestration of events for His redemptive purposes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the highly emotional and dramatic narrative of Joseph revealing his identity to his astonished brothers. Chapters 42-44 detail the brothers' initial journeys to Egypt, their encounters with Joseph (whom they do not recognize), and the tests Joseph puts them through, culminating in Judah's impassioned plea for Benjamin. In [Genesis 45](/genesis/45 "Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers"), Joseph can no longer control his emotions and, after sending everyone else away, makes himself known. His immediate concern, after the initial shock and tears, is to reassure his brothers that their past actions, though evil, were ultimately orchestrated by God for their preservation. Verse 6 serves as a crucial piece of information, validating his earlier interpretations of Pharaoh's dreams and explaining the necessity of their relocation to Egypt. It sets the stage for Joseph's invitation for Jacob and his entire household to join him in Goshen.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Famine was a recurring and devastating threat in the ancient Near East, where agricultural productivity was highly dependent on rainfall or riverine irrigation. Egypt, with its reliance on the annual inundation of the Nile, was typically more resilient, but even it was vulnerable to prolonged droughts or irregular floods, as depicted in Pharaoh's dream. The concept of "seven years of plenty" followed by "seven years of famine" (as seen in [Genesis 41:29-30](/genesis/41-29-30 "Pharaoh's Dream of Plenty and Famine")) reflects a historical understanding of cyclical agricultural patterns, though this specific famine is presented as divinely ordained and exceptionally severe. The inability to "ear" (plow) or "harvest" signifies a complete agricultural collapse, making the storage of grain during abundant years (as Joseph orchestrated in [Genesis 41:47-49](/genesis/41-47-49 "Joseph's Strategic Grain Storage")) not merely wise but absolutely essential for survival. Joseph's position as vizier, effectively second only to Pharaoh, granted him the authority to implement such a large-scale, life-saving policy.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 45:6 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the Joseph narrative and the book of Genesis. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Providence and Sovereignty**, demonstrating God's meticulous control over all circumstances, even natural disasters, to fulfill His redemptive purposes. The famine, though a hardship, is the very mechanism God uses to bring Jacob's family to Egypt, preserving the nascent nation of Israel. This ties into the theme of **God's Preservation of His Covenant People**, as the survival of Jacob's descendants is crucial for the continuation of God's promises, including the eventual coming of the Messiah. The verse also highlights **Joseph's Role as a Preserver and Deliverer**, a divinely appointed figure whose foresight and wisdom, empowered by God, save countless lives. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Reconciliation and Forgiveness**, as Joseph's explanation of the famine's divine purpose allows his brothers to understand that their past wrongdoings were ultimately woven into God's larger, good plan, paving the way for genuine forgiveness and family reunion, as further articulated in [Genesis 50:20](/genesis/50-20 "Joseph's Affirmation of God's Redemptive Purpose").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **famine (Hebrew, _râʻâb'_):** (H7458) This word denotes hunger, often on a widespread scale, indicating a severe lack of food. In this context, it describes a prolonged and extensive period of scarcity that has gripped not only Egypt but also the surrounding lands, forcing people like Jacob's family to seek provisions from Egypt's stores. Its use here emphasizes the dire and life-threatening nature of the situation.
* **five (Hebrew, _châmêsh'_):** (H2568) A primitive numeral indicating the quantity 'five'. Its specific mention here, alongside "two years" and the total "seven years" of famine from Pharaoh's dream, highlights the precise and predetermined nature of the famine's duration, underscoring Joseph's divine insight and the fulfillment of prophecy.
* **earing (Hebrew, _chârîysh'_):** (H2758) Derived from a root meaning "to plough," this term refers to the act of plowing or the season for it. In the KJV, "earing" (from Old English *erian*) means 'tilling the ground.' The phrase "neither be earing" signifies that the ground will be too hard, dry, or barren to be cultivated, making the essential agricultural practice of preparing the soil for planting impossible. This emphasizes the extreme severity of the famine, going beyond just a poor harvest to a complete inability to even attempt cultivation.
* **harvest (Hebrew, _qâtsîyr'_): (H7105) This word refers to the act of reaping, the crop itself, or the time of harvest. Coupled with "no earing," "nor harvest" signifies a complete absence of agricultural yield. If the land cannot be plowed and seeds cannot be sown, then naturally, there will be no crops to gather. This phrase paints a picture of total agricultural devastation, making reliance on stored provisions the only means of survival.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For these two years [hath] the famine [been] in the land":** Joseph begins by stating the current reality: the famine, a period of severe food scarcity, has already afflicted the land for two full years. This aligns perfectly with the timeline established by Pharaoh's dreams and Joseph's subsequent preparations. It immediately establishes the dire context for his brothers and validates the necessity of their journey to Egypt.
* **"and yet [there are] five years, in the which [there shall] neither [be] earing nor harvest."**: This clause reveals the remaining duration and the extreme intensity of the famine. Joseph declares that five more years of famine are yet to come. Crucially, he specifies that during these remaining years, there will be no possibility of "earing" (plowing or tilling the ground) nor "harvest" (gathering crops). This signifies a complete cessation of agricultural activity and productivity, indicating that the land will be utterly barren and incapable of supporting life through conventional means. It underscores the absolute reliance on the grain reserves Joseph had diligently stored during the years of plenty.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Foreshadowing** by subtly referencing the earlier prophetic dreams of Pharaoh, interpreted by Joseph in [Genesis 41](/genesis/41 "Pharaoh's Dreams and Joseph's Wisdom"). Joseph's precise knowledge of the famine's duration (two years passed, five remaining, totaling seven) confirms the fulfillment of these prophecies, reinforcing the divine origin of his wisdom. There is also an element of **Dramatic Irony**, as Joseph's brothers are only now grasping the full extent of the famine and the providential reason for their journey to Egypt, while the audience has been privy to Joseph's knowledge and preparations for chapters. The description of "neither earing nor harvest" uses **Hyperbole** to emphasize the extreme, almost absolute, agricultural desolation, highlighting the severity of the famine beyond mere scarcity to a complete breakdown of the natural order of cultivation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 45:6 powerfully illustrates God's meticulous **Divine Providence** and **Sovereignty** over all creation and human affairs. The famine, though a natural disaster, is presented not as a random event but as a divinely orchestrated mechanism to fulfill God's redemptive purposes. It highlights how God can use even calamitous circumstances to advance His plan, specifically to preserve the nascent family of Israel, through whom His covenant promises would be fulfilled and the Messiah would ultimately come. Joseph's role as the preserver, empowered by God's wisdom, serves as a testament to God's faithfulness to His covenant people, ensuring their survival against overwhelming odds. This narrative reminds us that God is always at work, even in the midst of hardship, weaving together circumstances for the good of His people and the glory of His name.

* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10-11 "God's Counsel Stands Forever")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "God Works All Things for Good")
* [Isaiah 46:10](/isaiah/46-10 "God Declares the End from the Beginning")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 45:6 offers profound lessons for our lives, particularly concerning trust in God's sovereign plan amidst uncertainty and hardship. Joseph's revelation of the famine's precise timeline and severity, coupled with his understanding of God's overarching purpose, teaches us that even when our circumstances appear bleak or chaotic, God is often working behind the scenes with a grand, redemptive design. The "five years" of no "earing nor harvest" represent periods of extreme difficulty where our usual efforts yield no fruit, forcing us to rely entirely on God's provision. This verse encourages us to cultivate a perspective of faith, recognizing that God's foresight extends far beyond our immediate vision, and His provisions are often made long before our needs become apparent. It calls us to trust that He is faithful to preserve His people and to work all things, even famine-like seasons, for our ultimate good and His glory, just as He preserved Jacob's family for the future of Israel.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Joseph's precise knowledge of the famine's duration encourage your trust in God's foresight for your own life?**
* **In what "famine-like" seasons of life have you experienced a complete inability to "ear or harvest," and how did God provide for you during those times?**
* **How can understanding God's sovereign control over difficult circumstances help you to respond with greater faith and less anxiety?**

### FAQ
**What does "earing" mean in Genesis 45:6?**

Answer:In the King James Version, "earing" (H2758, *chârîysh*) does not refer to the 'ears' of grain but is an archaic term derived from an Old English word, *erian*, meaning 'to plow' or 'to till the ground.' Therefore, "neither be earing nor harvest" means that the land would be too hard, dry, or barren to be plowed and cultivated, and consequently, no crops could be sown or harvested. It emphasizes the complete agricultural devastation and the utter impossibility of producing food through conventional means during the remaining five years of famine.

**Why did God allow such a severe famine to occur?**

Answer:While famines can be natural disasters, the biblical narrative presents this specific famine as a divinely ordained event, part of God's providential plan for His covenant people. Joseph himself clarifies this in [Genesis 45:7-8](/genesis/45-7-8 "Joseph's Explanation of God's Purpose"), explaining that God sent him ahead to Egypt to preserve life and fulfill His purposes. The famine served as the divine mechanism to bring Jacob's family (the nascent nation of Israel) to Egypt, where they would be preserved, grow into a great nation, and be prepared for their eventual exodus back to the Promised Land. It highlights God's sovereign control over all circumstances, even difficult ones, to achieve His redemptive will and demonstrate His faithfulness to His promises.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Genesis 45:6, through the figure of Joseph, powerfully foreshadows the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Joseph, rejected by his brothers, sold into slavery, and unjustly imprisoned, ultimately rises to a position of immense power in Egypt, becoming the savior and provider for his family and many nations during a time of great famine. This narrative arc deeply resonates with the story of Christ: Jesus, though rejected by His own people ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "Jesus Came to His Own")), suffered unjustly ([Isaiah 53:3-5](/isaiah/53-3-5 "The Suffering Servant")), yet through His death, resurrection, and ascension, He was exalted to the right hand of God ([Philippians 2:8-11](/philipians/2-8-11 "Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")). Just as Joseph provided physical sustenance to save lives from starvation, Christ offers spiritual sustenance and eternal life, becoming the "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "Jesus, the Bread of Life")) who delivers humanity from the spiritual famine of sin and death. God used Joseph's suffering and exaltation to preserve the lineage through which the Messiah would come, and similarly, He used Christ's suffering and death to bring about the ultimate salvation and preservation of His people, turning the greatest evil (the crucifixion) into the greatest good (redemption for all who believe).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 47:23

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.

Genesis 41:29

Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

Genesis 41:31

And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it [shall be] very grievous.

Genesis 41:54

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.

Genesis 41:56

And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

Isaiah 30:24

The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.

1 Samuel 8:12

And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.