Back to Genesis 47

Genesis 47:4-10

They also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.”

Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.”

Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?”

Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have been few and evil. They have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    They also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.”

    Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you.

    The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.”

    Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

    Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?”

    Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have been few and evil. They have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.”

    Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.

  • KJV King James Version

    They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.

    And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:

    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.

    And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

    And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?

    And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

    And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And they said unto Pharaoh: 'To sojourn in the land are we come; for there is no pasture for thy servants' flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.'

    And Pharaoh spoke unto Joseph, saying: 'Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee;

    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.'

    And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

    And Pharaoh said unto Jacob: 'How many are the days of the years of thy life?'

    And Jacob said unto Pharaoh: 'The days of the years of my sojournings are a hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojournings.'

    And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.

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Cross-references (78)

  • Genesis 46:34 (v4) that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:’ that you may…
  • Genesis 47:7 (v10) Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
  • Job 14:1 (v9) “Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
  • Psalms 39:12 (v9) “Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers…
  • Genesis 15:13 (v4) He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will…
Show all 76 cross-references
  • Genesis 35:28 (v9) The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.
  • Genesis 47:10 (v7) Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.
  • Deuteronomy 26:5 (v4) You shall answer and say before Yahweh your God, “My father was a Syrian ready to perish. He went down into Egypt, and lived there, few in…
  • Psalms 39:5 (v9) Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.”
  • 2 Samuel 8:10 (vv7, 10) then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him; for…
  • 2 Samuel 19:39 (vv7, 10) All the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. Then the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own…
  • Genesis 14:19 (v10) He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.
  • Genesis 43:1 (v4) The famine was severe in the land.
  • Genesis 47:11 (v6) Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of…
  • Genesis 50:26 (v9) So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
  • Exodus 6:4 (v9) I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens.
  • Exodus 7:7 (v9) Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
  • Exodus 18:21 (v6) Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be…
  • Deuteronomy 33:1 (v10) This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
  • Deuteronomy 34:7 (v9) Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his strength gone.
  • Joshua 24:29 (v9) After these things, Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred ten years old.
  • Psalms 129:8 (v10) Neither do those who go by say, “The blessing of Yahweh be on you. We bless you in Yahweh’s name.”
  • Proverbs 22:29 (v6) Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
  • Hebrews 7:7 (v10) But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
  • James 4:14 (v9) Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time, and…
  • 1 Peter 2:11 (v9) Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
  • Genesis 11:11 (v9) Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
  • Genesis 11:24-25 (v9) Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah. Nahor lived one hundred nineteen years after he became the father of Terah,…
  • Genesis 25:7-8 (v9) These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years. Abraham gave up his spirit, and died at a…
  • Genesis 47:4 (v6) They also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks. For the…
  • Genesis 47:28 (v9) Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years.
  • Exodus 18:25 (v6) Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties,…
  • Numbers 6:23-27 (v10) “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you shall bless the children of Israel.’ You shall tell them, ‘Yahweh bless you, and…
  • 2 Chronicles 26:10 (v6) He built towers in the wilderness, and dug out many cisterns, for he had much livestock; in the lowland also, and in the plain. He had…
  • Job 8:8-9 (v9) “Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers. (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because…
  • Job 42:16-17 (v9) After this Job lived one hundred forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, to four generations. So Job died, being old and full of…
  • Psalms 105:23 (v4) Israel also came into Egypt. Jacob lived in the land of Ham.
  • Psalms 119:19 (v9) I am a stranger on the earth. Don’t hide your commandments from me.
  • Psalms 119:54 (v9) Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I live.
  • Acts 7:11 (v4) Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food.
  • Hebrews 11:9-16 (v9) By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him…
  • Genesis 5:27 (v9) All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.
  • Genesis 12:10 (v4) There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land.
  • Genesis 13:9 (v6) Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to…
  • Genesis 20:15 (v6) Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”
  • Genesis 34:10 (v6) You shall dwell with us, and the land will be before you. Live and trade in it, and get possessions in it.”
  • Genesis 35:27 (v7) Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.
  • Genesis 45:18-20 (v6) Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the…
  • Genesis 47:16 (v6) Joseph said, “Give me your livestock; and I will give you food for your livestock, if your money is gone.”
  • Exodus 9:3-6 (v6) behold, Yahweh’s hand is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the…
  • Exodus 9:10 (v6) They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became boils and blisters…
  • Exodus 9:21 (v6) Whoever didn’t respect Yahweh’s word left his servants and his livestock in the field.
  • Exodus 12:32 (v7) Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!”
  • Numbers 6:23-24 (v7) “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you shall bless the children of Israel.’ You shall tell them, ‘Yahweh bless you, and…
  • Joshua 14:13 (v7) Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
  • 1 Samuel 2:20 (v7) Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “May Yahweh give you offspring from this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh.”…
  • 1 Samuel 21:7 (v6) Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Yahweh; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the best of the…
  • 2 Samuel 14:22 (v7) Joab fell to the ground on his face, showed respect, and blessed the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in…
  • 2 Samuel 19:32-35 (v9) Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old. He had provided the king with sustenance while he stayed at Mahanaim; for he was…
  • 1 Kings 1:47 (v7) Moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and…
  • 2 Kings 4:29 (v7) Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him;…
  • 1 Chronicles 27:29-31 (v6) and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai;…
  • 1 Chronicles 29:15 (v9) For we are strangers before you, and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no remaining.
  • Psalms 89:47-48 (v9) Remember how short my time is, for what vanity you have created all the children of men! What man is he who shall live and not see death,…
  • Psalms 90:3-12 (v9) You turn man to destruction, saying, “Return, you children of men.” For a thousand years in your sight are just like yesterday when it is…
  • Psalms 119:46 (v10) I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed.
  • Proverbs 21:1 (v6) The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
  • Isaiah 52:4 (v4) For the Lord Yahweh says: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to live there: and the Assyrian has oppressed them without cause.
  • Matthew 26:26 (v7) As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
  • Luke 22:19 (v7) He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in…
  • John 17:2 (v6) even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
  • Acts 7:6 (v4) God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four…
  • Hebrews 13:14 (v9) For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.
  • 1 Peter 2:17 (v7) Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
  • Ruth 2:4 (v10) Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.” They answered him, “May Yahweh bless you.”
  • 2 Corinthians 5:6 (v9) Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;

76 distinct cross-references across this passage (78 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (18 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv5–9 5. And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph. It is to…

5. And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph. It is to be ascribed to the favor of God that Pharaoh was not offended when they desired that a separate dwelling-place might be granted to them; for we know that nothing is more indignantly borne by kings, than that their favors should be rejected. Pharaoh offers them a perpetual home, but they rather wish to depart from him. Should any one ascribe this to modesty, on the ground that it would have been proud to ask for the right of citizenship, in order that they might enjoy the same privilege as natives; the suggestion is indeed plausible. It is, however, fallacious, for in asking to be admitted as guests and strangers, they took timely precaution that Pharaoh should not hold them bound in the chains of servitude. The passage of Sophocles is known: —

%Os tiv derannon ejmporeu>etai, Kei>nou ojtilov, ka}n ejleu>qerov mo>lh|

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Who refuge seeks within a tyrant’s door, When once he enters there, is free no more. Langhorne’s Plutarch

It was therefore of importance to the sons of Jacob to declare, in limine, on what condition they wished to live in Egypt. And so much the more inexcusable was the cruelty exercised towards them, when, in violation of this compact, they were most severely oppressed, and were denied that opportunity of departure, for which they had stipulated. Isaiah indeed says that the king of Egypt had some pretext for his conduct, because the sons of Jacob had voluntarily placed themselves under his authority, (Isaiah 52:4;) but he is speaking comparatively, in order that he may the more grievously accuse the Assyrians, who had invaded the posterity of Jacob, when they were quiet in their own country, and expelled them thence by unjust violence. Therefore the law of hospitality was wickedly violated when the Israelites were oppressed as slaves, and when the return into their own country, for which they had silently covenanted, was denied them; though they had professed that they had come thither as guests; for fidelity and humanity ought to have been exercised towards them, by the king, when once they were received under his protection. It appears, therefore, that the children of Israel so guarded themselves, as in the presence of God, that they had just ground of complaint against the Egyptians. But seeing that the pledge given them by the king proved of no advantage to them according to the flesh; let the faithful learn, from their example, to train themselves to patience. For it commonly happens, that he who enters the court of a tyrant, is under the necessity of laying down his liberty at the door.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 8, 10 Joseph’s great modesty appeareth in that he would enterprise…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv4–10 Gen 47:4 They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv4, 6, 7, 9 To sojourn in the land are we come; not…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv4–10 They said moreover unto Pharaoh, for to sojourn in…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv4, 8, 9, 10 To sojourn in the land are we cane -…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 9 Verse 6. In the best of the land make…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv4, 6, 7, 8, 9 Gen 47:4. To sojourn in the land are we…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv7, 9 Blessed him, Pharao; saying, perhaps, God save the king;…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv4, 7, 8, 9 For to sojourn . . . are we come--The…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv4, 6 4. To sojourn in the land are we come…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv4, 6, 7, 9 4. And they said unto Pharaoh] Joseph’s brethren were…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv4, 7, 9 (4) To sojourn.—Joseph’s brethren ask for permission only for…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 They said moreover (literally, and they said) unto Pharaoh,…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv5, 7, 8, 9 In the best of the land make thy father…
Alexander MacLaren 1905 · Public Domain On vv9–10
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv5, 7 The land of Egypt is before you
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v7 47:7-10 When Jacob entered Pharaoh’s court and when he…
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