Bible Strands
Genesis 47:11
So Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joseph acts as the Egyptian administrator, settling his father Jacob and their extended family in the land immediately after Jacob's formal audience with Pharaoh. This occurs at the moment of implementation following Pharaoh's directive to allocate territory.
The words — The verb וַיּוֹשֵׁב (vayyōšēḇ) carries a causative sense of "he caused to dwell" or "he settled," while אֲחֻזָּה (ʾaḥuzzâ) denotes a formal land possession or inheritance. These terms mark the shift from temporary refuge to established territorial holding.
The thread — This settlement in the district of Rameses fulfills Pharaoh's earlier command in Genesis 47:6 and establishes the geographic starting point for the Israelite exodus described in Exodus 12:37. The location later becomes the site of forced labor under Egyptian taskmasters in Exodus 1:11.
Why it lands — The text records a political arrangement that secures survival for a foreign clan through administrative favor. It requires the reader to note how temporary provision and geographic placement set the stage for future historical developments.
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
And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
Cross-references
- Genesis 47:6 the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They may dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any talented men among them, put them in charge of my own livestock.”
- Exodus 1:11 So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
- Exodus 12:37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children.
- John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.
- John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
- John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
- John 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
- John 17:2 For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
- John 17:24 Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.