Genesis 47:24

At harvest time, you are to give a fifth of it to Pharaoh, and four-fifths will be yours as seed for the field and food for yourselves and your households and children.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joseph addresses the Egyptian people after purchasing their land and livestock for Pharaoh during the famine. He outlines the agricultural terms under which they will now cultivate the soil.

The words — חֲמִישִׁ֖ית (cha.mi.Shit) means "a fifth," and בַּ/תְּבוּאֹ֔ת (ba./te.vu.'Ot) translates to "at the harvest." Joseph commands the population to deliver one-fifth of their crop to Pharaoh when gathering the yield.

The thread — This arrangement echoes the earlier administrative plan in Genesis 41:34 to reserve a fifth of Egypt's produce during the years of plenty. The people's acknowledgment in Genesis 47:25 confirms they now operate as Pharaoh's tenants and servants.

Why it lands — The text establishes a fixed agricultural levy that secures Pharaoh's economic control while guaranteeing the population's survival seed and food. Readers see how maintaining life during scarcity requires surrendering a portion of future yield to the ruling authority.

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

וְהָיָה֙ve./ha.Yahand/ it will be בַּתְּבוּאֹ֔תba./te.vu.'Otat the/ harvest<s>וּנְתַתֶּ֥םu./ne.ta.Temand/ you will give חֲמִישִׁ֖יתcha.mi.Shita fifth לְפַרְעֹ֑הle./far.'Ohto/ Pharaoh וְאַרְבַּ֣עve./'ar.Ba'and/ [the] four הַיָּדֹ֡תhai./ya.Dotthe/ hands יִהְיֶ֣הyih.Yehit will be[long]לָכֶם֩la./Khemto/ youלְזֶ֨רַעle./Ze.ra'to/ [the] seed of הַשָּׂדֶ֧הha./sa.Dehthe/ field וּֽלְאָכְלְכֶ֛םu./le./'a.khe.le./Khemand/ to/ food/ your וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥רve./la./'a.Sherand/ for/ [those] who בְּבָתֵּיכֶ֖םbe./va.tei./Khem[are] in/ households/ your וְלֶאֱכֹ֥לve./le./'e.Kholand/ to/ eat לְטַפְּכֶֽם׃le./ta.pe./Khemfor/ little one[s]/ your

King James Version

And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.

Cross-references

Genesis 41:34 Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
Psalms 41:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.
Psalms 112:5 It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.
Genesis 47:25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “We have found favor in our lord’s eyes, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”
Leviticus 27:32 Every tenth animal from the herd or flock that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the LORD.
1 Samuel 8:15 He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.

People named

Pharaoh