Genesis 47:16

16 And Joseph answered, "Give me your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone."

Genesis 47:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 47:16

And Joseph said, give your cattle
Oxen, sheep, horses, asses, as follows: and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail;
that is, corn for cattle, if they had no money to give.

Genesis 47:16 In-Context

14 Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

15 When the money from the land of Egypt and from the land of Canaan was spent, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, "Give us food! Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone."

16 And Joseph answered, "Give me your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone."

17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph; and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. That year he supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

18 When that year was ended, they came to him the following year, and said to him, "We can not hide from my lord that our money is all spent; and the herds of cattle are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands.