Genesis 47:17

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they brought {H935} their cattle {H4735} unto Joseph {H3130}: and Joseph {H3130} gave {H5414} them bread {H3899} in exchange for horses {H5483}, and for the flocks {H6629}, and for the cattle {H4735} of the herds {H1241}, and for the asses {H2543}: and he fed {H5095} them with bread {H3899} for all their cattle {H4735} for that year {H8141}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So they brought Yosef their livestock; and Yosef gave them food in exchange for the horses, flocks, cattle and donkeys -all that year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 47:17 vividly portrays the deepening severity of the famine in Egypt during its second year, as the populace, having exhausted their monetary resources, is compelled to surrender their valuable livestock—including horses, flocks, herds, and asses—in exchange for essential grain. This pivotal transaction underscores the escalating desperation of the people and highlights Joseph's continued, divinely guided administration of Pharaoh's vast provisions, systematically consolidating national assets to ensure the survival of the population through an unprecedented crisis.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader narrative of Joseph's administration during the seven years of severe famine, as foretold by his interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams. It immediately follows the account of the first year of famine, where the people exhausted their money to purchase grain from Joseph ([Genesis 47:15](/genesis/47-15 "The depletion of money for grain")). With their currency depleted, their livestock represents the next and most significant asset they possess. The passage sets the stage for the subsequent phase of the famine, where the people will eventually offer their land and themselves into servitude to Pharaoh in exchange for food, culminating in Joseph's establishment of a new economic and social order for Egypt ([Genesis 47:18-26](/genesis/47-18-26 "The Egyptians sell their land and themselves to Pharaoh")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Egypt was an agrarian society heavily dependent on the annual flooding of the Nile for its fertility. A prolonged famine, as described here, would have been an existential threat, disrupting the entire socio-economic fabric. Livestock, including horses (often associated with military and elite status), cattle (essential for plowing and sustenance), sheep, goats, and asses (crucial for daily life, transport, and labor), represented the primary form of wealth and productive capital for the common people. Pharaoh, as the divine king, held ultimate authority and was responsible for the welfare of his people. Joseph's actions, while seemingly harsh by modern standards, were a pragmatic and systematic response to an unprecedented national catastrophe, designed to prevent widespread starvation and maintain social order, all while centralizing power under the crown.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 47:17 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis. It powerfully illustrates the **escalating nature of crisis** and the profound impact of famine on human society, forcing people to relinquish their most valuable possessions for survival. It further highlights **Joseph's strategic administration and divine wisdom**, showcasing his methodical approach to managing the crisis and consolidating resources, a wisdom clearly attributed to God's guidance throughout his life ([Genesis 41:38-40](/genesis/41-38-40 "Pharaoh recognizes Joseph's divine wisdom")). The verse also underscores the theme of **God's providence through human agency**, as Joseph's actions, though economically driven, are ultimately part of God's larger plan to preserve life, including the lineage of Israel, ensuring the fulfillment of His covenant promises.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cattle (Hebrew, _miqneh'_):** From H4735, this term specifically refers to "something bought, i.e. property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition." In this context, it emphasizes that the animals were not merely possessions but the very "capital" or "acquired wealth" of the people, representing their means of production, sustenance, and future livelihood. Their surrender signifies the depth of their desperation and the depletion of all other assets.
* **Bread (Hebrew, _lechem'_):** From H3899, while literally "bread," this word often broadly signifies "food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)." Here, it refers to the vast stores of grain accumulated by Joseph, indicating that the exchange was for essential provisions necessary to sustain life, rather than just baked loaves. It highlights the fundamental nature of the commodity being exchanged.
* **Fed (Hebrew, _nâhal'_):** From H5095, a primitive root meaning "to run with a sparkle, i.e. flow; hence (transitively), to conduct, and (by inference) to protect, sustain." This word choice is significant, implying more than just giving food. It suggests Joseph's active role in guiding, sustaining, and protecting the people through the crisis, emphasizing the ongoing, systematic provision rather than a one-time transaction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they brought their cattle unto Joseph:"** This clause sets the scene, indicating the people's initiative in seeking sustenance from Joseph, who is the sole administrator of the grain. It reveals the previous year's monetary resources have been exhausted, forcing them to resort to their most valuable physical assets.
* **"and Joseph gave them bread [in exchange] for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses:"** This details the specific nature of the exchange. The list of livestock—horses (often for military/transport), flocks (sheep/goats for wool, milk, meat), cattle of the herds (oxen/cows for labor, milk, meat), and asses (for transport/labor)—comprehensively covers the various forms of animal wealth. This exchange was a direct trade of productive assets for life-sustaining food.
* **"and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year."** This concluding phrase clarifies the duration and scope of the transaction. The phrase "fed them" (from _nâhal_) implies sustained provision, and "for that year" specifies that the surrendered livestock provided a full year's worth of food. This highlights the systematic and comprehensive nature of Joseph's plan, designed to ensure continued survival for an extended period, further consolidating Pharaoh's control over the nation's assets.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Progression** to illustrate the escalating severity of the famine, moving from the exchange of money in the previous year to the surrender of livestock in this year, setting the stage for the eventual sale of land and person. This **Narrative Progression** emphasizes the inexorable grip of the crisis. There is also an element of **Irony** in Joseph's actions; while he is providentially saving lives, his policies are simultaneously centralizing all wealth and power under Pharaoh, a system that will later be used to oppress his own descendants. The various categories of livestock also serve as **Metonymy**, where each type of animal represents a broader aspect of the people's livelihood and capital—their transportation, agricultural capacity, and daily sustenance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 47:17 profoundly illustrates the escalating human desperation in the face of prolonged crisis, forcing individuals to relinquish their most fundamental assets for survival. It underscores the ultimate value of basic sustenance over material wealth when life itself is at stake. The passage also highlights Joseph's extraordinary administrative wisdom, divinely bestowed, which enabled him to manage an unprecedented national catastrophe. His systematic consolidation of Egypt's resources—first money, then livestock, and subsequently land and persons—was a strategic response that ensured the nation's survival, all while strengthening the crown's power. Ultimately, Joseph's actions, even in their economic severity, are a testament to God's overarching providence, preserving not only the Egyptians but also the nascent family of Israel, ensuring the continuity of the covenant line through which the Messiah would eventually come.

* [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Man does not live by bread alone")
* [Proverbs 11:24](/proverbs/11-24 "There is one who scatters, yet increases more")
* [Psalm 37:25](/psalms/37-25 "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 47:17 offers profound lessons for contemporary life, emphasizing the critical importance of preparedness and wise stewardship of resources, both individually and collectively, in anticipation of difficult times. Joseph's example reminds us that true value often lies not in accumulated wealth but in the fundamental necessities for life, urging us to prioritize what truly sustains us. Furthermore, the passage illustrates the vital role of effective and compassionate leadership during crises, demonstrating how difficult measures, when administered with foresight and integrity, can preserve a community and ensure its survival. It challenges us to consider our own priorities in times of abundance and scarcity, ultimately pointing to our dependence on divine provision in all circumstances and encouraging us to trust in God's ability to sustain us even when our own resources fail.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this passage challenge our modern understanding of wealth and security, especially in times of crisis?**
* **In what ways can we, like Joseph, exercise wise stewardship and foresight in our personal lives and communities to prepare for future challenges?**
* **How does the willingness of the Egyptians to surrender their assets for food reflect our own deepest human needs and our ultimate dependence on God's provision?**

### FAQ
**Was Joseph's administration during the famine exploitative?**

Answer: While Joseph's policies centralized immense power and wealth under Pharaoh, they were primarily a response to an unprecedented crisis designed to preserve the lives of all Egyptians and foreigners within the land. The people willingly surrendered their assets because the alternative was starvation. Joseph's actions, though consolidating power, were ultimately life-saving and demonstrated remarkable foresight and administrative skill in a time of extreme desperation. The narrative consistently portrays Joseph as acting with integrity and wisdom, serving Pharaoh faithfully while also fulfilling God's providential plan to save many lives, including his own family ([Genesis 50:20](/genesis/50-20 "Joseph's words about God's purpose for good")).

**Why did the people surrender their livestock?**

Answer: The people surrendered their livestock because they had exhausted all their money in the previous year's exchange for grain, as detailed in [Genesis 47:15](/genesis/47-15 "The exchange of money for grain"). With no other means to purchase food, their animals—which represented their remaining wealth, labor, and future sustenance—became the only currency available to them to acquire the essential provisions needed to survive the ongoing, severe famine. This act underscores the extreme pressure and desperation caused by the prolonged crisis.

**What is the significance of "for that year"?**

Answer: The phrase "for that year" indicates that the exchange of livestock provided the people with a full year's supply of food. This highlights the systematic and comprehensive nature of Joseph's plan, ensuring sustained provision for the population through an extended period of crisis. It suggests that this was not a one-off, opportunistic transaction, but rather part of an ongoing, structured system of distribution designed to provide long-term relief and stability, further solidifying Pharaoh's control over the nation's assets and ensuring the survival of his people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joseph, in his role as a provident administrator who preserved life during a time of great scarcity, serves as a profound type of Christ. Just as Joseph gathered all resources to sustain a starving nation, ultimately saving his own family and preparing the way for Israel's growth, so too does Christ gather all things to Himself, offering the ultimate provision for humanity's spiritual hunger. He is the true "bread of life," who declares, "[I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")". Through His ultimate sacrifice, Christ offers eternal sustenance when all other resources fail, redeeming humanity from spiritual starvation. Joseph's understanding that what others intended for evil, God intended for good ([Genesis 50:20](/genesis/50-20 "Joseph's words about God's purpose")), powerfully foreshadows the divine reversal of the cross, where the ultimate human evil was transformed into God's greatest act of salvation, providing eternal life and true sustenance to 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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.