Genesis 47:17 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.

◄ Genesis 47:17 ►

New International Version
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock.

New Living Translation
So they brought their livestock to Joseph in exchange for food. In exchange for their horses, flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and donkeys, Joseph provided them with food for another year.

English Standard Version
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.

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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year.

New American Standard Bible
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.

NASB 1995
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.

NASB 1977
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.

Legacy Standard Bible
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.

Amplified Bible
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.

Christian Standard Bible
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks of sheep, the herds of cattle, and the donkeys. That year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for the horses, the herds of sheep, the herds of cattle, and the donkeys. 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.

Contemporary English Version
From then on, they brought him their horses and donkeys and their sheep and goats in exchange for grain. Within a year Joseph had collected every animal in Egypt.

English Revised 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. During that year he supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

Good News Translation
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. That year he supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

International Standard Version
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph traded food in exchange for horses, various flocks and herds, and donkeys. He fed them with food in exchange for their livestock during that year.

Majority 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.

NET Bible
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for their horses, the livestock of their flocks and herds, and their donkeys. He got them through that year by giving them food in exchange for livestock.

New Heart English Bible
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle, and for the donkeys. And he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock for that year.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they brought their cattle to 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.

World English Bible
They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock for that year.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And they bring in their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gives to them bread, for the horses, and for the livestock of the flock, and for the livestock of the herd, and for the donkeys; and he tends them with bread, for all their livestock, during that year.

Young's Literal Translation
And they bring in their cattle unto Joseph, and Joseph giveth to them bread, for the horses, and for the cattle of the flock, and for the cattle of the herd, and for the asses; and he tendeth them with bread, for all their cattle, during that year.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will bring their cattle to Joseph, and Joseph will give to them bread for horses, and for the possession of the sheep, and for the possession of the cattle, and for the asses; and he will feed them with bread, for all their cattle for that year.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they had brought them, he gave them food in exchange for their horses, and sheep, and oxen, end asses and he maintained them that year for the exchange of their cattle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when they had brought them, he gave them food for their horses, and sheep, and oxen, and donkeys. And he sustained them in that year in exchange for their cattle.

New American Bible
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, and their donkeys. Thus he supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock in that year.

New Revised Standard Version
So they brought their livestock to Joseph; and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. That year he supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
So they brought their cattle to Joseph; and Joseph gave them grain in exchange for horses and for flocks, and for herds and for asses; and he supplied them with food in exchange for all their herds that year.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they brought to him their livestock, and Yoseph gave to them grain for horses, and for livestock of sheep, and for livestock of oxen, and of donkeys, and he sustained them with bread that year for all their livestock.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they brought their cattle to Joseph; and Joseph gave them bread in return for their horses, and for their sheep, and for their oxen, and for their asses; and Joseph maintained them with bread for all their cattle in that year.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Joseph's Leadership During the Famine
…16“Then bring me your livestock,” said Joseph. “Since the money is gone, I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock.” 17So 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. 18When that year was over, they came to him the second year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord that our money is gone and all our livestock belongs to you. There is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 41:56-57
When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. / And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Genesis 42:1-3
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” / “Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.” / So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

Genesis 43:1-2
Now the famine was still severe in the land. / So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

Genesis 45:6-11
For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. / God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. / Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. ...

Genesis 47:13-14
There was no food, however, in all that region, because the famine was so severe; the lands of Egypt and Canaan had been exhausted by the famine. / Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and he brought it into Pharaoh’s palace.

Exodus 16:3
“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”

Exodus 16:12-15
“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” / That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. / When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground. ...

Leviticus 25:35-37
Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. / Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you. / You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.

Deuteronomy 2:6
You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’”

Deuteronomy 2:28-29
You can sell us food to eat and water to drink in exchange for silver. Only let us pass through on foot, / just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for us, until we cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving us.”

2 Kings 4:42-44
Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

Nehemiah 5:3
Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.”

Psalm 105:16
He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food.

Proverbs 11:26
The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.

Isaiah 55:1-2
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! / Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.

Treasury of Scripture

And they brought their cattle to 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.

for horses.

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.

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.

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.

fed them.

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Asses Bread Cattle Donkeys Exchange Fed Flock Flocks Food Goats Herd Herds Horses Joseph Livestock Sheep Supplied Tendeth

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Asses Bread Cattle Donkeys Exchange Fed Flock Flocks Food Goats Herd Herds Horses Joseph Livestock Sheep Supplied Tendeth

Genesis 47

1. Joseph presents his father, and five of his brothers before Pharaoh.
11. He gives them habitation and maintenance.
13. He gets the Egyptian's money;
16. their cattle;
18. and their lands, except the priests', to Pharaoh.
23. He restores the land for a fifth.
28. Jacob's age.
29. He swears Joseph to bury him with his fathers.

Berean Study Bible

So they brought their livestock to Joseph
In this phrase, the act of bringing livestock to Joseph signifies a desperate measure taken by the Egyptians during a severe famine. The Hebrew root for "brought" (בּוֹא, bo) implies a movement towards a place or person, indicating the people's reliance on Joseph's authority and provision. Historically, this reflects the centralized power of the Egyptian government under Pharaoh, with Joseph as his appointed steward. The livestock, a significant asset in ancient agrarian societies, represents the people's willingness to sacrifice their wealth for survival.

and he gave them food in exchange
The phrase highlights Joseph's role as a provider and sustainer during the famine. The Hebrew word for "gave" (נָתַן, natan) suggests a deliberate and generous act of provision. Joseph's actions can be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ's provision for humanity's spiritual famine. The concept of "exchange" here is crucial, as it underscores the economic transactions that sustained Egypt during this crisis, reflecting the wisdom and administrative skills Joseph possessed.

for their horses, the flocks of sheep and goats, the herds of cattle, and donkeys
This list of animals represents the wealth and livelihood of the Egyptian people. Horses were valuable for transportation and military purposes, while sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys were essential for agriculture and daily life. The Hebrew terms for these animals emphasize their importance in the ancient world. The exchange of such valuable assets for food illustrates the severity of the famine and the people's trust in Joseph's leadership. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of stewardship and the responsible management of resources.

And he brought them through that year with food
The phrase "brought them through" indicates Joseph's successful management of the crisis. The Hebrew root (עָבַר, avar) conveys the idea of passing through or overcoming a difficult period. Joseph's provision of food symbolizes God's faithfulness in sustaining His people through trials. This narrative encourages believers to trust in God's provision and timing, even in dire circumstances.

in exchange for all their livestock
The repetition of "exchange" emphasizes the transactional nature of the arrangement. The phrase "all their livestock" underscores the totality of the Egyptians' sacrifice, highlighting their dependence on Joseph's wisdom. This scenario serves as a reminder of the cost of survival and the importance of wise leadership in times of crisis. It also points to the ultimate exchange in Christian theology: Christ's sacrifice for humanity's redemption.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) Horses . . . flocks . . . herds . . . asses.--The mention of horses is a most important fact in settling the much-debated question as to the dynasty under which Joseph became governor of Egypt. When Abram went there, horses do not seem as yet to have been known (see Note on Genesis 12:16), but oxen and asses were common, and the former indigenous in the country (Maspero, Histoire Ancienne, pp. 11, 12). The horse was introduced by the Hyksos, according to Lenormant, Les Prem. Civilisations, i., 306 ff.; Rawlin-son, Egypt, i., 74; and the first representation of one is drawing the war-chariot of the king who expelled them. The "flocks" are expressly said in the. Hebrew to be sheep. This, too, is important; for while goats were indigenous in Egypt, sheep do not appear in the most ancient monuments, though they were introduced at an earlier date than horses.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

So they brought
וַיָּבִ֣יאוּ (way·yā·ḇî·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

their livestock
מִקְנֵיהֶם֮ (miq·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4735: Something bought, property, livestock, acquisition

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Joseph,
יוֹסֵף֒ (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

and he
יוֹסֵ֨ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

gave
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן (way·yit·tên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

them
לָהֶם֩ (lā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

food
לֶ֜חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

in exchange for their horses,
בַּסּוּסִ֗ים (bas·sū·sîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

the animals
וּבְמִקְנֵ֥ה (ū·ḇə·miq·nêh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4735: Something bought, property, livestock, acquisition

of their flocks
הַצֹּ֛אן (haṣ·ṣōn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

and herds,
הַבָּקָ֖ר (hab·bā·qār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd

and their donkeys.
וּבַחֲמֹרִ֑ים (ū·ḇa·ḥă·mō·rîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2543: A male ass

Throughout that
הַהִֽוא׃ (ha·hi·w)
Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

year
בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה (baš·šā·nāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

he provided
וַיְנַהֲלֵ֤ם (way·na·hă·lêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5095: To lead or guide to a watering place, bring to a place of rest, refresh

them with food
בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙ (bal·le·ḥem)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

in exchange for all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

their livestock.
מִקְנֵהֶ֔ם (miq·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4735: Something bought, property, livestock, acquisition

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OT Law: Genesis 47:17 They brought their livestock to Joseph (Gen. Ge Gn)