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Genesis 47:26

in Genesis 47

So Joseph established a law that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh, and it is in effect in the land of Egypt to this day. Only the priests’ land does not belong to Pharaoh.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; only the land of the priests alone became not Pharaoh’s.

KJV

And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s.

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This verse in Genesis 47

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

HOMILIES ON GENESIS 16.5 · Written before 253.

Indeed, do you wish to know what the difference is between the priests of God and the priests of Pharaoh? Pharaoh grants lands to his priests. The Lord, on the other hand, does not grant his priests a portion in the land but says to them: "I am your portion."

This site's exposition

You have saved our lives

on Genesis 47:25-26

The people who have just sold themselves call Joseph their deliverer. They say he has saved their lives, and they have found favor in his eyes. Origen and Matthew Henry read Joseph here as a figure of Christ, the one man holding bread and giving back seed for the field.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

HOMILIES ON GENESIS 65.15-16 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

Let people of today take heed of the extent of the privilege enjoyed in antiquity by priests serving idols and learn a lesson to show at least equal regard for those entrusted with the service of the God of all.… You see, it is not for [the priest's] sake that you ought take pains but for him who is the object of the priest's service, and so you will gain reward from him in generous measure. Hence Jesus also said, "When you do it to one of these, you do it to me," and, "Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward." … As the respect shown for their sake wins us much confidence (he takes to himself, you see, what is done to his servants), so too neglect of them brings upon us heavy condemnation from above. I mean, as he takes to himself respect for them, so too contempt of them.Realizing this, let us never neglect attention to the priests of God. I say this not to set such store by them as by your love, and out of a wish for you to be advantaged in every way. What do you give, after all, that is so valuable as what you receive from the Lord? Yet, in return for that token that is expended in the present life, you gain undying reward and blessings beyond telling. With this in mind, let us hasten to render such services, considering not the expense but the gain and the favor arising from this action. If, for example, we had in view some friend of a person highly placed in this world's honors and went out of our way to give him every attention, in the belief that what was done to him redounded to the credit of his patron and that when this was communicated to the latter it would cause us to enjoy greater favor with him, all the more should this be true of the Lord of all.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

If afterwards the Egyptians thought it hard to pay so great a duty to the king out of their lands, they must remember, not only how just, but how kind, the first imposing of it was. They might thankfully pay a fifth where all was due. It is observable how faithful Joseph was to him that appointed him.
And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

And Joseph made it a law - That the people should hold their land from the king, and give him the fifth part of the produce as a yearly tax. Beyond this it appears the king had no farther demands. The whole of this conduct of Joseph has been as strongly censured by some as applauded by others. It is natural for men to run into extremes in attacking or defending any position.

The words behind it

19 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיָּ֣שֶׂםand he established

    vaiyasemH7760 →584 times

  • אֹתָ֣הּ<obj.> it

    ʾotahH853 →10935 times

  • יוֹסֵ֡ףJoseph

    yosefH3130 →213 times

  • לְחֹק֩to a statute

    lechokH2706 →127 times

  • עַד־until

    ʾad-H5704 →1261 times

  • הַיּ֨וֹםthe day

    haiyomH3117 →2304 times

  • הַזֶּ֜ה<the> this

    hazehH2088 →1180 times

  • עַל־on

    ʾal-H5921 →5755 times

  • אַדְמַ֥ת[the] land of

    ʾadmatH127 →225 times

  • מִצְרַ֛יִםEgypt

    mitzrayimH4714 →641 times

  • לְפַרְעֹ֖ה[belongs] to Pharaoh

    lefarohH6547 →274 times

  • לַחֹ֑מֶשׁto the fifth part

    lachomeshH2569 →

  • רַ֞קonly

    rakH7535 →109 times

  • אַדְמַ֤ת[the] land of

    ʾadmatH127 →225 times

  • הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙the priests

    hakohanimH3548 →750 times

  • לְבַדָּ֔םto alone them

    levadamH905 →200 times

  • לֹ֥אnot

    lo'H3808 →5168 times

  • הָיְתָ֖הit belonged

    hayetahH1961 →3559 times

  • לְפַרְעֹֽה׃to Pharaoh

    lefarohH6547 →274 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

2 in all, six open

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Genesis 47:22

    However, he did not acquire the priests’ portion of the land, for it had been given to them by Pharaoh. They ate the rations that Pharaoh supplied; so they did not sell their land.

    it leads to

    • Ezra 7:24

      And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

    • Deuteronomy 12:19

      and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

    • Genesis 41:50

      Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.

  • Through

    Ezekiel 7:24

    So I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will end the pride of the mighty, and their holy places will be profaned.

    it leads to

    • Ezekiel 28:7

      behold, I will bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations. They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and will defile your splendor.

    • Psalms 106:41

      He delivered them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.

    • Ezekiel 33:28

      I will make the land a desolate waste, and the pride of her strength will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will become desolate, so that no one will pass through.

    • Ezekiel 21:31

      I will pour out My anger upon you; I will breathe the fire of My fury against you; I will hand you over to brutal men, skilled in destruction.

    • Ezekiel 24:21

      Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of…

About Genesis

The Creation of Light, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Creation of Light, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Genesis: the study guide →Read Genesis 47 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 65.15-16; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 16.5 and Origen of Alexandria, Homilies on Genesis.

Read on in Genesis 47 →