Genesis 47:12

12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

Genesis 47:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 47:12

And. Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and his
father's household, with bread
For though there might be in Rameses pasture sufficient for their cattle, yet not corn for their families, the famine still continuing; during which time Joseph, as a dutiful and affectionate son, and as a kind brother, supplied them with all necessary provision, signified by bread: according to [their] families;
according to the number of them, some of his brethren having more and others less in their families; and in proportion to their number he distributed food unto them, so that there was no want: or "according to the mouth of an infant" F1; he nourished them like infants, he put as it were the bread into their mouths, and fed them with as much care and tenderness as infants are fed; and they had no more care to provide food for themselves than children have, such a full and constant supply was handed forth to them: in this Joseph was an eminent type of Christ, who supplies the wants of his people.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (Pjh ypl) "ad os parvuli", Montanus, Schmidt.

Genesis 47:12 In-Context

10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.
11 Then Joseph settled 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 Ram'eses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.
13 Now there was no food in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine.
14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.