19 Why should we die here in front of you—both us and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food. Then we with our land will become Pharaoh’s slaves. Give us seed so that we can live and not die, and so that the land won’t become desolate.”

20 In this way, Joseph acquired all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh, because every Egyptian sold his field since the famine was so severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21 and Joseph moved the people to the cities[a] from one end of Egypt to the other.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 47:21 Sam, LXX, Vg read and he made the people servants

19 Why should we perish before your eyes(A)—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food,(B) and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh.(C) Give us seed so that we may live and not die,(D) and that the land may not become desolate.”

20 So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe(E) for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude,[a](F) from one end of Egypt to the other.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 47:21 Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also Vulgate); Masoretic Text and he moved the people into the cities