Genesis 41:56

56 The famine covered every part of the land, and Joseph opened all of the granaries and sold grain to the Egyptians. In the land of Egypt, the famine became more and more severe.

Genesis 41:56 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:56

And the famine was over all the face of the earth
Not over the whole world, but the land of Egypt; all the inhabitants of it were pinched with it, rich and poor; it reached all parts and all sorts of men: and Joseph opened all the storehouses;
in the several cities throughout the land where he had laid up corn: and sold unto the Egyptians;
for, as he had bought it with Pharaoh's money, it was no injustice to sell it; and as it could be sold at a moderate price, and yet Pharaoh get enough by it, being bought cheap in a time of plenty, no doubt but Joseph, who was a kind and benevolent man, sold it at such a price: and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt;
there being no overflow of the Nile year after year, and nothing left of the old stock but what was in the storehouses.

Genesis 41:56 In-Context

54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. The famine struck every country, but the entire land of Egypt had bread.

55 When the famine ravaged the entire land of Egypt and the people pleaded to Pharaoh for bread, Pharaoh said to all of the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. Do whatever he tells you."

56 The famine covered every part of the land, and Joseph opened all of the granaries and sold grain to the Egyptians. In the land of Egypt, the famine became more and more severe.

57 Every country came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because in every country the famine had also become more severe.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX, Syr; MT what was in them