Genesis 47:23

23 And Joseph said to all the Egyptians, Behold, I have bought you and your land this day for Pharao; take seed for you, and sow the land.

Genesis 47:23 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 47:23

Then Joseph said unto the people
After he had bought their land, and before the removal of them to distant parts:

behold, I have bought you this day, and your land, for Pharaoh:
which he observes to them, that they might take notice of it, and confirm it, or object if they had anything to say to the contrary:

lo, [here is] seed for you, and ye shall sow the land:
by which it should seem that they were not removed from the spot where they lived, but retained their own land under Pharaoh, and had seed given them to sow it with, which may seem contrary to ( Genesis 47:21 ) ; wherefore that must be understood of a purpose and proposal to remove them, and not that it was actually done; or, as Musculus gives the sense, Joseph by a public edict called all the people from the extreme parts of Egypt to the cities nearest to them, and there proclaimed the subjection of them, and their lands to Pharaoh, but continued them to them as tenants of his; unless it should be said, that in those distant parts to which they were sent, land was put into their hands to till and manure for the king, and have seed given them to sow it with; but this seems to be said to them at the same time the bargain was made.

Genesis 47:23 In-Context

21 And he brought the people into bondage to him, for servants, from one extremity of Egypt to the other,
22 except only the land of the priests; Joseph bought not this, for Pharao gave a portion in the way of gift to the priests; and they ate their portion which Pharao gave them; therefore they sold not their land.
23 And Joseph said to all the Egyptians, Behold, I have bought you and your land this day for Pharao; take seed for you, and sow the land.
24 And there shall be the fruits of it; and ye shall give the fifth part to Pharao, and the four parts shall be for yourselves, for seed for the earth, and for food for you, and all that are in your houses.
25 And they said, Thou hast saved us; we have found favour before our lord, and we will be servants to Pharao.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.