Genesis 47:16
New International Version
“Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.”

New Living Translation
Joseph replied, “Since your money is gone, bring me your livestock. I will give you food in exchange for your livestock.”

English Standard Version
And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Then bring me your livestock,” said Joseph. “Since the money is gone, I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock.”

King James Bible
And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

New King James Version
Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.”

New American Standard Bible
Then Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, since your money is gone.”

NASB 1995
Then Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, since your money is gone.”

NASB 1977
Then Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, since your money is gone.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, since your money is gone.”

Amplified Bible
Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, since the money is gone.”

Christian Standard Bible
But Joseph said, “Give me your livestock. Since the silver is gone, I will give you food in exchange for your livestock.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Joseph said, “Give me your livestock. Since the money is gone, I will give you food in exchange for your livestock.”

American Standard Version
And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

Contemporary English Version
"If you don't have any money," Joseph answered, "give me your animals, and I'll let you have some grain."

English Revised Version
And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Joseph replied, "If you don't have any more money, give me your livestock, and I'll give you food in exchange."

Good News Translation
Joseph answered, "Bring your livestock; I will give you food in exchange for it if your money is all gone."

International Standard Version
"You can surrender your livestock," Joseph replied. "I'll feed them in exchange, since your money is gone."

Majority Standard Bible
“Then bring me your livestock,” said Joseph. “Since the money is gone, I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock.”

NET Bible
Then Joseph said, "If your money is gone, bring your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock."

New Heart English Bible
Then Joseph said, "Give me your livestock and I will give you food for your livestock, if your silver is gone."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money hath failed.

World English Bible
Joseph said, “Give me your livestock; and I will give you food for your livestock, if your money is gone.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joseph says, “Give your livestock; and I give to you for your livestock, if the money has ceased.”

Young's Literal Translation
and Joseph saith, 'Give your cattle; and I give to you for your cattle, if the money hath ceased.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joseph will say, Give your cattle; and I will give to you for your cattle if silver failed.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he answered them: Bring your cattle, and for them I will give you food, if you have no money.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he responded to them: “Bring me your cattle, and I will give food to you in exchange for them, if you do not have money.”

New American Bible
“Give me your livestock if your money is gone,” replied Joseph. “I will give you food in return for your livestock.”

New Revised Standard Version
And Joseph answered, “Give me your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joseph said to them, Give me your cattle, and I will give you grain for your cattle, if your money is spent.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Yoseph said to them, “Give me your livestock and I shall give to you for your livestock if the money is spent.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joseph said: 'Give your cattle, and I will give you [bread] for your cattle, if money fail.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joseph said to them, Bring your cattle, and I will give you bread for your cattle, if your money is spent.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph's Leadership During the Famine
15When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!” 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.…

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 42:6
Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.

Genesis 43:18-23
But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.” / So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. / “Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy 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 50:19-21
But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? / As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. / Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

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 15:7-11
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. / Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs. / Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” so that you look upon your poor brother begrudgingly and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. ...

2 Kings 4:1-7
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” / “How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” / “Go,” said Elisha, “borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. ...

Nehemiah 5:1-5
About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. / Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” / Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” ...

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.

Ezekiel 18:7-8
He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing. / He does not engage in usury or take excess interest, but he withholds his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between men.

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.


Treasury of Scripture

And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

Give your cattle.

Daniel 6:5-7
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God…

Proverbs 12:17
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

1 Corinthians 10:32
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

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Bread Cattle Ceased Exchange Fail Failed Food Grain Joseph Livestock Money Sell
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.














Then Joseph said
This phrase introduces Joseph as the central figure in this narrative. Joseph, the son of Jacob, is now the vizier of Egypt, a position of immense power and responsibility. His journey from being sold into slavery by his brothers to becoming the second most powerful man in Egypt is a testament to God's providence and faithfulness. The Hebrew root for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which often implies not just speaking but also commanding or advising, reflecting Joseph's authoritative role.

Give me your livestock
In the context of the severe famine described in Genesis, Joseph's request for livestock in exchange for food is a pragmatic solution to a dire situation. Livestock was a valuable asset in ancient agrarian societies, representing wealth, sustenance, and economic stability. By asking for livestock, Joseph ensures that the people have a means to survive while also maintaining the economic structure of Egypt. The Hebrew word for "livestock" is "מִקְנֶה" (miqneh), which encompasses cattle, sheep, and other domesticated animals, highlighting their importance in the ancient world.

since the money has run out
This phrase indicates the severity of the famine and the depletion of resources among the people. The economic crisis forced the Egyptians to barter their possessions for survival. The Hebrew word for "money" is "כֶּסֶף" (kesef), which also means silver, a common medium of exchange in the ancient Near East. The depletion of money signifies a complete economic collapse, necessitating Joseph's intervention. This situation underscores the wisdom and foresight of Joseph, who had stored grain during the years of plenty, as well as the fulfillment of God's plan to preserve His people through Joseph's leadership.

JOSEPH'S POLICY IN EGYPT.

(16) Give your cattle.--As the people were in want of food, and their land incapable of cultivation as long as the Nile ceased to overflow, this was a merciful arrangement, by which the owners were delivered from a burden, and also a portion of the cattle saved for the time when they would be needed again for agricultural purposes. As the charge of so many cattle in time of dearth would be a very serious matter (1Kings 18:5-6), we now see the reason why Pharaoh wished the ablest of Joseph's brethren to be employed in the task; and probably while there was no food for them in the Nile Valley, there would still be grass in the alluvial soil of the delta, which men used to move about with cattle would be able to find.

Verses 16, 17. - And Joseph said, Give (literally, bring) your cattle; and I will give you (sc. bread) for your cattle, if money fail. And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks (literally, and for cattle of the flocks), and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses (the severity of these terms of sale and purchase was not so great as at first sight appears, since to a famishing people under-fed cattle and starving horses must have been comparatively worthless): and he fed them - literally, led, in the sense of cared for and maintained, them (cf. Psalm 23:2; Isaiah 40:11) - for all their cattle for that year - this was the sixth year of the famine (vide ver. 23).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Then bring me
הָב֣וּ (hā·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3051: To give, to put, imperatively, come

your livestock,”
מִקְנֵיכֶ֔ם (miq·nê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 4735: Something bought, property, livestock, acquisition

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

“Since
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

the money
כָּֽסֶף׃ (kā·sep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

is gone,
אָפֵ֖ס (’ā·p̄ês)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 656: To cease, fail, come to an end

I will sell
וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה (wə·’et·tə·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you food
לָכֶ֖ם (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

in exchange for your livestock.”
בְּמִקְנֵיכֶ֑ם (bə·miq·nê·ḵem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 4735: Something bought, property, livestock, acquisition


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