Genesis 47:21

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And as for the people {H5971}, he removed {H5674} them to cities {H5892} from one end {H7097} of the borders {H1366} of Egypt {H4714} even to the other end {H7097} thereof.

Complete Jewish Bible

As for the people, he reduced them to serfdom city by city, from one end of Egypt's territory to the other.

Berean Standard Bible

and Joseph reduced the people to servitude from one end of Egypt to the other.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 47:21 describes Joseph's administrative policy during the severe famine in Egypt, where he relocated the Egyptian populace from their scattered homes to centralized cities across the entire land. This action followed the people's complete surrender of their money, livestock, and land to Pharaoh in exchange for food, solidifying the crown's absolute ownership of all Egyptian territory and its people, thereby centralizing power and establishing a new societal structure based on profound dependence on the monarchy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the climactic phase of the seven-year famine that Joseph had prophesied and meticulously prepared for. Chapters [Genesis 41](/genesis/41 "Joseph's Rise and Famine Preparation") through [Genesis 47](/genesis/47 "Jacob's Family in Egypt and Joseph's Famine Policies") detail Joseph's rise to power, his wise management of Egypt's resources, and the subsequent arrival of his family. By [Genesis 47:13](/genesis/47-13 "The famine worsens"), the famine has become so severe that "there was no bread in all the land," leading the people to exhaust their money, then their livestock, and finally their land in exchange for food. [Genesis 47:19](/genesis/47-19 "People offer themselves and their land") explicitly states the people's desperate plea: "Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh." Verse 21, therefore, is the direct administrative consequence of this societal surrender, demonstrating Joseph's implementation of the new policy that centralized the population and solidified Pharaoh's dominion. It immediately precedes the establishment of the "law of the fifth part" ([Genesis 47:26](/genesis/47-26 "The law of the fifth part")), which became a lasting decree in Egypt.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Egypt was primarily an agrarian society, with much of the population living in scattered villages and cultivating land that was often held by local nobles or temple estates, though the Pharaoh was ultimately considered the owner of all land. The concept of a severe, multi-year famine was a terrifying reality, as the Nile's annual inundation was critical for agricultural success. Joseph's policy of relocating people to cities was a radical departure from traditional Egyptian social structures. Such centralization would have been unprecedented, driven by the extreme exigency of the famine. It allowed for more efficient distribution of the stored grain from royal granaries, better administration of the newly acquired royal lands, and easier collection of future taxes. This move also reflects the absolute authority of the Pharaoh, who, in times of crisis, could enact such sweeping changes, especially when the populace was utterly dependent on him for survival. The exception for the priests' land ([Genesis 47:22](/genesis/47-22 "The priests' land exception")) highlights their unique, privileged status in Egyptian society, often supported directly by the crown or through their own landholdings.
* **Key Themes:** [Genesis 47:21](/genesis/47-21 "Joseph's famine policy") contributes significantly to several key themes in the broader narrative. The most prominent is **Divine Providence**, as God uses Joseph's wisdom and the dire circumstances of the famine to preserve not only Egypt but also the nascent nation of Israel, ensuring their survival and growth in Goshen ([Genesis 47:27](/genesis/47-27 "Israel's prosperity in Goshen")). Another theme is **Wisdom in Leadership**, exemplified by Joseph's strategic foresight and administrative genius in managing an unprecedented national crisis. His policies, though leading to the **Centralization of Power** under Pharaoh, were presented as pragmatic solutions for survival. This also highlights the theme of **Absolute Dependence**, as the Egyptian people, stripped of their assets, became entirely reliant on the crown for their very existence. This dependence, born out of desperation, foreshadows the later **Servitude** of the Israelites in Egypt, though under very different circumstances and motivations ([Exodus 1:8-14](/exodus/1-8-14 "The oppression of Israel in Egypt")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **people (Hebrew, _ʻam'_):** This word refers to a collective unit, a congregated group, specifically "a people" or "nation." In this context, it emphasizes the entire populace of Egypt, indicating the widespread impact of Joseph's policy on the general citizenry, not just a select few.
* **removed (Hebrew, _ʻâbar'_):** This primitive root means "to cross over" or "to pass over," and is used widely for any transition, including "to remove." Here, it signifies a physical relocation, a movement of the populace from their previous scattered dwellings to new, centralized locations. While the word itself denotes movement, the context of the famine and the people's prior surrender of assets implies a significant, enforced transition in their social and economic status.
* **cities (Hebrew, _ʻîyr'_):** This term denotes a "city" or "town," a place typically guarded or watched. The relocation of the people to cities implies a strategic consolidation, moving them from rural, dispersed settlements into more organized and controllable urban centers. This facilitated the distribution of food and the administration of Pharaoh's newly acquired lands.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And as for the people,"**: This opening phrase sets the focus squarely on the general populace of Egypt, highlighting that the subsequent action pertains to the vast majority of the population who had, out of desperation, surrendered all their possessions to Pharaoh.
* **"he removed them to cities"**: This is the core action of the verse. "He" refers to Joseph, acting on behalf of Pharaoh. The "removal" signifies a forced relocation from their traditional, often rural, dwellings to urban centers. This was a strategic move to centralize the population, making the distribution of grain more efficient and consolidating Pharaoh's control over both the people and the land they would now cultivate as tenants.
* **"from [one] end of the borders of Egypt even to the [other] end thereof."**: This phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Joseph's policy. It was not a localized measure but a sweeping, nationwide reorganization. The "borders of Egypt" (gᵉbûwl) signifies the geographical limits of the kingdom, indicating that this policy was implemented uniformly across the entire land, from its furthest reaches to its center, ensuring total administrative control.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Hyperbole** to emphasize the scope of Joseph's policy, stating that people were moved "from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof." While not every single person was literally moved to a city, this phrase effectively conveys the comprehensive and nationwide nature of the relocation. Furthermore, the action described serves as **Symbolism** for the absolute consolidation of power under Pharaoh. The physical movement of the people to cities symbolizes their complete surrender of autonomy and their new, dependent status as tenants of the crown. It also functions as **Foreshadowing** of the later, more severe servitude that the Israelites would experience in Egypt, illustrating how a crisis can fundamentally alter societal structures and lead to widespread subjugation, even if initially for survival.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joseph's policy, while pragmatic and effective in saving lives during the famine, also reveals a profound theological truth about human dependence and divine sovereignty. The Egyptians' complete surrender of their assets and freedom to Pharaoh for survival serves as a powerful illustration of humanity's ultimate dependence on God for all provision, life, and salvation. God, in His infinite wisdom, orchestrated these events, using Joseph's administrative genius and the dire circumstances to preserve a remnant of humanity and, crucially, to safeguard the burgeoning nation of Israel, setting the stage for their future growth and deliverance. This demonstrates God's ability to work through secular authorities and challenging situations to achieve His redemptive purposes, even when human actions lead to significant shifts in power and social structure.

* [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Man lives by every word of God")
* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalm/33-10-11 "The Lord frustrates the plans of nations")
* [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Genesis 47:21](/genesis/47-21 "Joseph's administrative actions") offers a stark look at leadership during extreme crisis and the profound impact of socio-economic policies on a populace. It challenges us to consider the ethical dimensions of power when survival is at stake, and how human ingenuity, even when divinely inspired, can lead to both preservation and profound shifts in societal structures. For contemporary believers, this passage invites reflection on our own levels of dependence—on earthly systems, wealth, or human leaders—versus our ultimate reliance on God. It reminds us that God's providence often works through complex human circumstances, using individuals like Joseph to enact His larger plan, even when those plans involve difficult transitions or the consolidation of power. We are called to discern God's hand in the midst of societal upheaval and to trust in His sovereign care, recognizing that true security and provision come from Him alone, not from any earthly system or ruler, no matter how wise or powerful.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Joseph's administrative policy in this verse reflect both his wisdom and the desperate circumstances of the famine?**
* **In what ways does this account challenge our understanding of "freedom" and "dependence," especially in times of crisis?**
* **How can we discern God's sovereign hand at work in complex socio-economic or political events in our own time?**

### FAQ
**Was Joseph's policy of relocating the people ethical?**

Answer: From a purely humanitarian perspective in a time of severe famine, Joseph's policy ensured the survival of the populace. The people willingly exchanged their assets and freedom of movement for food, as they had no other means of survival. While it led to a significant centralization of power under Pharaoh and a form of servitude, it prevented widespread death. The Bible presents it as a pragmatic and effective solution to an unprecedented crisis, not explicitly condemning it as unethical, but rather highlighting Joseph's wisdom and God's providential hand in preserving life. This action ultimately solidified Pharaoh's control, as seen in the subsequent establishment of the "law of the fifth part" ([Genesis 47:26](/genesis/47-26 "The law of the fifth part")).

**What was the primary purpose of moving the people to cities?**

Answer: Moving the people to cities served several critical purposes during the famine. Firstly, it allowed for more efficient and equitable distribution of grain from Pharaoh's centralized storehouses, as people were concentrated rather than scattered across the land. Secondly, it facilitated the administration of the vast tracts of land newly acquired by the crown, making it easier to manage agricultural production and collect the future tax. Thirdly, it solidified Pharaoh's control by physically centralizing the population under direct royal oversight, reinforcing the new societal structure where the people were tenants of the crown.

**How did this policy affect the Israelite family, who were also in Egypt?**

Answer: The Israelite family, residing in the fertile land of Goshen, was largely exempt from these specific policies. Joseph, as Pharaoh's chief administrator, ensured that his family was settled in a distinct and productive region ([Genesis 47:11-12](/genesis/47-11-12 "Joseph settles his family in Goshen")), allowing them to flourish and remain separate from the direct impact of the Egyptian societal restructuring. [Genesis 47:27](/genesis/47-27 "Israel's prosperity in Goshen") explicitly states that "Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly," highlighting their unique and protected status.

**What was the "law of the fifth part" mentioned in connection with this event?**

Answer: The "law of the fifth part" ([Genesis 47:26](/genesis/47-26 "The law of the fifth part")) was a decree established by Joseph following the famine. It stipulated that after the famine, the people, now farming Pharaoh's land as tenants, would give one-fifth (20%) of their produce to Pharaoh as a tax. This became a lasting law in Egypt, cementing Pharaoh's ownership of the land and establishing a permanent revenue stream for the crown, stemming directly from the socio-economic changes brought about by Joseph's famine administration. The priests' land was notably exempt from this tax ([Genesis 47:22](/genesis/47-22 "The priests' land exception")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joseph, in his extraordinary role as savior and provider for Egypt and his own family during the devastating famine, serves as a profound type of Christ. Just as Joseph, through his God-given wisdom and his journey through suffering (imprisonment, separation from family), became the means of preserving physical life and bringing all people under the authority of Pharaoh for their survival, so too does Christ, through His ultimate wisdom and sacrificial suffering on the cross, become the ultimate provider and sustainer of eternal life. Through Christ, we find true spiritual sustenance and deliverance from the famine of sin and death, no longer enslaved by the curse but made willing servants of the King of kings, whose reign is one of perfect grace, righteousness, and eternal provision ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "Jesus, the Bread of Life")). He is the true Bread of Life who came down from heaven to give life to the world ([John 6:51](/john/6-51 "Jesus gives His flesh for the life of the world")), and all who come to Him will never hunger or thirst again ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "Jesus, the Bread of Life")). Just as Joseph centralized power under Pharaoh, Christ gathers all who believe under His glorious and benevolent kingship, offering a dominion far surpassing any earthly ruler's, leading to true freedom and abundant life ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Redemption through Christ's blood")).

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 41:48

And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which [was] round about every city, laid he up in the same.