Skip to content
mannafest.faith

Genesis 47:6

in Genesis 47

the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They may dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any talented men among them, put them in charge of my own livestock.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

the land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and thy brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any able men among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

KJV

The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

This verse in Genesis 47

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

In the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell - So it appears that the land of Goshen was the best of the land of Egypt. Men of activity - אנשי חיל anshey chayil, stout or robust men - such as were capable of bearing fatigue, and of rendering their authority respectable.

This site's exposition

your father and brothers have come to you

on Genesis 47:5-6

Pharaoh grants more than the brothers asked for. They asked for pasture in Goshen, and he settles them in the best part of the land of Egypt. He also offers to put any talented man among them in charge of his own livestock. Jacob's family enters Egypt as guests of the crown.

This site's exposition

the land of Egypt is before you

Abimelech made the same kind of offer to Abraham at 20:15. Talented men translates men of chayil, the phrase Jethro uses at Exodus 18:21 for the capable men who would judge Israel. Pharaoh offers Joseph's brothers charge of the royal livestock along with the best part of the land.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

The land of Egypt is before thee,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

This was an instance of Pharaoh's gratitude to Joseph; because he had been such a blessing to him and his kingdom, he would be kind to his relations, purely for his sake. He offered them preferment as shepherds over his cattle, provided they were men of activity; for it is the man who is diligent in his business that shall stand before kings.

The words behind it

26 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.

  • אֶ֤רֶץ[the] land of

    ʾeretzH7762504 times

  • מִצְרַ֙יִם֙Egypt

    mitzrayimH4714641 times

  • לְפָנֶ֣יךָ[is] <to> before you

    lefaneikhaH64402123 times

  • הִ֔ואit

    hi'H19311879 times

  • בְּמֵיטַ֣בin [the] best of

    bemeitavH4315

  • הָאָ֔רֶץthe land

    haaretzH7762504 times

  • הוֹשֵׁ֥בcause to dwell

    hoshevH34271079 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H85310935 times

  • אָבִ֖יךָfather your

    ʾavikhaH11212 times

  • וְאֶת־and <obj.>

    veetH85310935 times

  • אַחֶ֑יךָbrothers your

    ʾacheikhaH251630 times

  • יֵשְׁבוּ֙let them dwell

    yeshevuH34271079 times

  • בְּאֶ֣רֶץin [the] land of

    beeretzH7762504 times

  • גֹּ֔שֶׁןGoshen

    goshenH165715 times

  • וְאִם־and if

    veim-H5181069 times

  • יָדַ֗עְתָּyou know

    yada'taH3045945 times

  • וְיֶשׁ־and there

    veyesh-H3426140 times

  • בָּם֙among them

    bam

  • אַנְשֵׁי־[are] men of

    ʾanshei-H582566 times

  • חַ֔יִלability

    chayilH2428

  • וְשַׂמְתָּ֛םand you will appoint them

    vesamtamH7760584 times

  • שָׂרֵ֥יoverseers of

    sareiH8269421 times

  • מִקְנֶ֖הlivestock

    miknehH473576 times

  • עַל־over

    ʾal-H59215755 times

  • אֲשֶׁר־[that] which

    ʾasher-H8345497 times

  • לִֽי׃[belongs] to me

    li

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

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

    Proverbs 22:29

    Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

    it leads to

    • 1 Kings 11:28

      Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.

    • Matthew 25:21

      His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

    • Proverbs 12:24

      The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

    • Proverbs 10:4

      Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

    • Ecclesiastes 9:10

      Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

  • Through

    Exodus 18:21

    Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

    it leads to

    • Acts 6:3

      Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them

    • 2 Chronicles 19:5–10

      He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

    • Deuteronomy 1:13–17

      Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”

About Genesis

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.