Genesis 41:54

54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every other country, but there was food throughout Egypt. ¹

Genesis 41:54 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:54

And the seven years of dearth began to come, as Joseph had
said
In the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams; as soon as the seven years of plenty were over, there were quickly some appearances of the famine coming on; as particularly the river Nile not flowing to its usual height at the season of it; hence there was a drought, the earth was parched, and everything began to wither and decay, and the seed that was sown sprung not up: and the dearth was in all lands;
adjoining to Egypt, as Syria, Arabia, Palestine, Canaan but in all the land of Egypt there was bread;
which was in the hands of everyone, and remained of their old stores in the years of plenty not yet exhausted, and which continued for some time after the dearth began. It is very probable that to this seven years' drought in Egypt Ovid ^F20 refers, which he makes to be nine; as does also Apollodorus {u}.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 "Dicitur Aegyptus caruisse juvantibus arva Imbribus, atque annis sicca fuisse novem." --Ovid de Artc Amandi, l. 1. ver. 647.
F21 De Deor Orig. l. 2. p. 104.

Genesis 41:54 In-Context

52 He also said, "God has given me children in the land of my trouble"; so he named his second son Ephraim.

53 The seven years of plenty that the land of Egypt had enjoyed came to an end,

54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every other country, but there was food throughout Egypt.

55 When the Egyptians began to be hungry, they cried out to the king for food. So he ordered them to go to Joseph and do what he told them.

56 The famine grew worse and spread over the whole country, so Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians.

Cross References

• 1. 41.54Acts 7.11.