Genesis 41:56

56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses^[a] and ¹sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

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 to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do."

56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 42:6; [Genesis 47:14, 20, 24]

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew all that was in them