King James Version

What Does Genesis 47:18 Mean?

Genesis 47:18 in the King James Version says “When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how t... — study this verse from Genesis chapter 47 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:

Genesis 47:18 · KJV


Context

16

And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

17

And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. fed: Heb. led them

18

When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:

19

Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.

20

And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it... This passage is part of the Joseph narrative, a masterfully crafted account demonstrating God's sovereign providence working through human choices and circumstances to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The Joseph cycle shows how God transforms evil intentions into instruments of salvation.

Central themes include divine providence orchestrating events toward redemptive ends, the testing and refinement of character through suffering and success, forgiveness overcoming betrayal and injustice, and the preservation of God's covenant people through famine. Joseph's rise from slavery to second-in-command of Egypt illustrates how God exalts the humble and uses seeming disasters for ultimate good.

Theologically, these chapters reveal: (1) God's meticulous sovereignty over all events, even evil human actions; (2) suffering as preparation for future service rather than punishment; (3) forgiveness as reflecting divine character and enabling reconciliation; (4) God's covenant faithfulness across generations ensuring the survival and blessing of His people; (5) how present suffering gains meaning when viewed from the perspective of God's larger purposes. Joseph's words "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (50:20) epitomize biblical theodicy and providence.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?
  2. What specific changes in thinking or behavior does this verse call us to make?
  3. What connections can we trace from this verse to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 28 words
תַּ֣ם1 of 28

is spent

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה2 of 28

When that year

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

הַהִוא֒3 of 28
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ4 of 28

they came

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֶל5 of 28

also hath

H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה6 of 28

When that year

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

הַשֵּׁנִ֗ית7 of 28

unto him the second

H8145

properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again

וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ8 of 28

and said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לוֹ֙9 of 28
H0
לֹֽא10 of 28
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

נְכַחֵ֣ד11 of 28

unto him We will not hide

H3582

to secrete, by act or word; hence (intensively) to destroy

אֲדֹנִ֔י12 of 28

it from my lord

H113

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

כִּ֚י13 of 28
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אִם14 of 28
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

תַּ֣ם15 of 28

is spent

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

הַכֶּ֔סֶף16 of 28

how that our money

H3701

silver (from its pale color); by implication, money

וּמִקְנֵ֥ה17 of 28

our herds

H4735

something bought, i.e., property, but only live stock; abstractly, acquisition

הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה18 of 28

of cattle

H929

properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)

אֶל19 of 28

also hath

H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֲדֹנִ֔י20 of 28

it from my lord

H113

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

לֹ֤א21 of 28
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

נִשְׁאַר֙22 of 28

there is not ought left

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

לִפְנֵ֣י23 of 28

in the sight

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

אֲדֹנִ֔י24 of 28

it from my lord

H113

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

בִּלְתִּ֥י25 of 28
H1115

properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n

אִם26 of 28
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

גְּוִיָּתֵ֖נוּ27 of 28

but our bodies

H1472

a body, whether alive or dead

וְאַדְמָתֵֽנוּ׃28 of 28

and our lands

H127

soil (from its general redness)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 47:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 47:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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