Bible Strands
Genesis 45:20
But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joseph addresses his brothers in Egypt, commanding them to bring their families to the land without anxiety over their possessions. This instruction follows his immediate provision of wagons and precedes their departure.
The words — The verb תָּחֹס (ta.Chos) means "to look with regret" or "to spare," combined with אַל־ ('al-) "do not" and עֵינְכֶם ('Ei.ne.Khem) "your eyes." The text explicitly commands against emotional attachment to goods because Egypt's best provisions are guaranteed to them.
The thread — The prohibition against clutching to possessions appears in Luke 17:31, where Jesus warns against returning for belongings. The promise of receiving "the best of the land" parallels Isaiah 1:19, which ties that inheritance to obedience.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to prioritize divine provision over personal security. It asks for immediate action and trust rather than calculated retention of earthly resources.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.
- Luke 17:31 On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind.
- Exodus 22:7 If a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.
- Deuteronomy 7:16 You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
- Deuteronomy 19:13 You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you.
- Deuteronomy 19:21 You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.
- Joshua 7:11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.
- 1 Samuel 10:22 So again they inquired of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD replied, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”
- 1 Samuel 25:13 And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
- 1 Samuel 30:24 Who will listen to your proposal? The share of the one who went to battle will match the share of the one who stayed with the supplies. They will share alike.”