Bible Strands
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Egyptian landowners speak to Joseph after he outlines the one-fifth tax that will sustain them through the famine. They acknowledge his provision and formally submit themselves as Pharaoh’s servants.
The words — The term הֶחֱיִתָ֑/נוּ (he.che.yi.Ta./nu) literally means "you have preserved alive us," and חֵן֙ (chen) denotes "favor" or acceptance before a superior.
The thread — The language of finding favor in a lord’s eyes recurs in Genesis 33:15 and Genesis 18:3, while the theme of being preserved alive parallels the life-saving mandate of Genesis 6:19.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to acknowledge that survival often depends on submitting to established authority and accepting the terms of provision.
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 they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.
Cross-references
- Genesis 33:15 “Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
- Genesis 6:19 And you are to bring two of every living creature into the ark—male and female—to keep them alive with you.
- Genesis 18:3 “My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.
- Genesis 41:45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah, and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph took charge of all the land of Egypt.
- Genesis 45:6 For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.
- Genesis 50:20 As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.
- Ruth 2:13 “My lord,” she said, “may I continue to find favor in your eyes, for you have comforted and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your servant girls.”
- Proverbs 11:26 The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.