Genesis 47:19
Arabic Simplified (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)
فَإذَا لَمْ تُرِدْ، يَا سَيِّدِي، أنْ نَمُوتَ نَحْنُ وَأرَاضِينَا، فَاشْتَرِنَا نَحْنُ وَأرَاضِيَنَا مُقَابِلَ الطَّعَامِ. وَسَنَكُونُ عَبِيدًا مَعَ أرْضِنَا لِفِرْعَوْنَ. فَأعْطِنَا بِذَارًا لِنَزْرَعَ، فَنَحْيَا وَلَا نَمُوتَ، وَلَا تُصْبِحَ الأرْضُ قَاحِلَةً.»
What Does This Mean?
The people of Egypt are speaking to Pharaoh during a severe famine. They offer to become servants of Pharaoh and sell their land in exchange for food and seeds to survive and prevent the land from becoming desolate.
Explained for Children
Imagine your garden has no water, and your vegetables are dying. You ask your neighbor to give you some water in exchange for helping them clean their yard so you can save your garden. That's what the people are doing with Pharaoh—they want to work for him so they can save their land and have food to eat.
Historical Background
Genesis was written by Moses around 1446-1406 BC, detailing the history of the Hebrew people. This verse is set during a severe famine in Egypt and Canaan, where the people of Egypt are negotiating with Pharaoh for survival.
Living It Out Today
In modern times, this verse can be applied to situations where people must make difficult decisions to secure their survival or well-being, such as taking a job they don't like to support their family or making financial sacrifices to avoid bankruptcy.
Topics
survivalservanthoodfaminenegotiationprovisionhope
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh' mean?
It means that the people of Egypt are willing to work for Pharaoh in exchange for food and seeds to survive the famine.
How does this verse relate to the theme of survival?
This verse shows people making difficult choices to ensure their survival during a severe famine by offering servitude in exchange for food and seeds.
Why is the prevention of a desolate land important?
Preventing the land from becoming desolate is crucial because fertile land is essential for growing food, which is critical for survival during a famine.
Can you explain the concept of servanthood in this context?
In this context, servanthood means the people of Egypt agreeing to work for Pharaoh to secure food and seeds, essentially becoming his servants to avoid starvation and keep the land productive.