Genesis 45:6
New International Version
For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.

New Living Translation
This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

English Standard Version
For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.

Berean Standard Bible
For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.

King James Bible
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

New King James Version
For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

New American Standard Bible
For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

NASB 1995
“For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

NASB 1977
“For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

Amplified Bible
For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five more years in which there will be no plowing and harvesting.

Christian Standard Bible
For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.

American Standard Version
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.

Contemporary English Version
There has already been a famine for two years, and for five more years no one will plow fields or harvest grain.

English Revised Version
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in the which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The famine has been in the land for two years. There will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.

Good News Translation
This is only the second year of famine in the land; there will be five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor reaping.

International Standard Version
That's because this famine has been going on for two years now in this region, and there are still five years left, during which there won't be any plowing or harvesting.

Majority Standard Bible
For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.

NET Bible
For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

New Heart English Bible
For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.

Webster's Bible Translation
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in which there shall neither be tillage nor harvest.

World English Bible
For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be no plowing and no harvest.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Because these two years the famine [is] in the heart of the land, and yet five years [remain in] which there is neither plowing nor harvest;

Young's Literal Translation
Because these two years the famine is in the heart of the land, and yet are five years, in which there is neither ploughing nor harvest;

Smith's Literal Translation
For this the second year of the famine in the midst of the land: and yet five years in which no ploughing and reaping.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor reaping.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, in which there can be neither plowing, nor reaping.

New American Bible
The famine has been in the land for two years now, and for five more years cultivation will yield no harvest.

New Revised Standard Version
For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For behold the famine has been in the land for two years; and yet there are five years, in which there will be no one that sows or that reaps.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because now there would have been two years of famine within the land, and again there would be five years when there is no one sowing or reaping.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For these two years hath the famine been in the land; and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For this second year there is famine on the earth, and there are yet five years remaining, in which there is to be neither ploughing, nor mowing.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Reveals His Identity
5And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. 6For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.…

Cross References
Genesis 41:30-31
but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land. / The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.

Genesis 47:13
There was no food, however, in all that region, because the famine was so severe; the lands of Egypt and Canaan had been exhausted by the famine.

Genesis 41:54
the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was famine in every country, there was food throughout the land of Egypt.

Genesis 42:5
So the sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, since the famine had also spread to the land of Canaan.

Genesis 47:4
Then they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live in the land for a time, because there is no pasture for the flocks of your servants, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please allow your servants to settle in the land of Goshen.”

Genesis 41:56
When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:48
During those seven years, Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities. In every city he laid up the food from the fields around it.

Genesis 47:20
So Joseph acquired for Pharaoh all the land in Egypt; the Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields because the famine was so severe upon them. The land became Pharaoh’s,

Genesis 47:15
When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!”

Genesis 41:36
This food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.”

Acts 7:11
Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.

Psalm 105:16
He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food.

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.

Exodus 9:3
then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.

1 Kings 17:1
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”


Treasury of Scripture

For these two years has the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be ripening nor harvest.

two years.

Genesis 41:29-31,54,56
Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: …

Genesis 47:18
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:

earing.

Genesis 47:23
Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.

Exodus 34:21
Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

Deuteronomy 21:4
And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:

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Cutting Earing Famine Five Harvest Harvesting Heart Need Ploughing Plowing Reaping Tillage
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Cutting Earing Famine Five Harvest Harvesting Heart Need Ploughing Plowing Reaping Tillage
Genesis 45
1. Joseph makes himself known to his brothers.
5. He comforts them in God's providence.
9. He sends for his father.
16. Pharaoh confirms it.
21. Joseph furnishes then for their journey.
25. Jacob is revived with the news.














For the famine
The Hebrew word for "famine" is "רָעָב" (ra'av), which signifies a severe shortage of food. In the ancient Near East, famines were often seen as divine judgments or tests. This particular famine was part of God's sovereign plan to bring Joseph's family to Egypt, preserving them and setting the stage for the growth of the nation of Israel. Theologically, it reminds us of God's providence and His ability to use even dire circumstances for His purposes.

has covered the land
The phrase "has covered" comes from the Hebrew "הָיָה" (hayah), meaning "to be" or "to become." This indicates the pervasive and overwhelming nature of the famine. The "land" refers to the entire region, including Egypt and Canaan, emphasizing the widespread impact. Historically, such famines were devastating, affecting agriculture, economy, and daily life, and they often led to migrations and significant social changes.

these two years
The specific mention of "two years" highlights the duration of the famine up to this point. It serves as a marker of time within the narrative, showing that Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams was accurate. This precision underscores the reliability of God's revelation through Joseph, reinforcing the theme of divine wisdom and foresight.

and there will be five more years
This phrase reveals the prophetic knowledge given to Joseph. The "five more years" indicates the total duration of the famine as seven years, a number often associated with completeness or perfection in the Bible. This foresight allowed Joseph to prepare adequately, demonstrating God's provision and care for His people even in times of hardship.

without plowing or harvesting
The absence of "plowing or harvesting" signifies a complete halt in agricultural activity, which would have been catastrophic in an agrarian society. The Hebrew words "חָרַשׁ" (charash) for plowing and "קָצִיר" (qatsir) for harvesting emphasize the cessation of the normal cycle of sowing and reaping. This situation forced reliance on stored provisions, which Joseph had wisely accumulated, illustrating the importance of prudent stewardship and the blessings of obedience to God's guidance.

(6) Earing.--An old English word for ploughing, derived from the Latin arare, Anglo-Saxon erian, to plough.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the famine
הָרָעָ֖ב (hā·rā·‘āḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger

has covered
בְּקֶ֣רֶב (bə·qe·reḇ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7130: The nearest part, the center

the land
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

these
זֶ֛ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

two years,
שְׁנָתַ֥יִם (šə·nā·ṯa·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 8141: A year

and there will be five
חָמֵ֣שׁ (ḥā·mêš)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 2568: Five

more
וְעוֹד֙ (wə·‘ō·wḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

years
שָׁנִ֔ים (šā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8141: A year

without
אֵין־ (’ên-)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

plowing
חָרִ֖ישׁ (ḥā·rîš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2758: A plowing, plowing time

or harvesting.
וְקָצִּֽיר׃‪‬ (wə·qāṣ·ṣîr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7105: Severed, harvest, the crop, the time, the reaper, a limb


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OT Law: Genesis 45:6 For these two years the famine has (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 45:5
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