And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

GENESIS 41:55KJV
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Genesis 41:55 (KJV)

What does Genesis 41:55 mean?

Genesis 41:55 describes a time when Egypt was suffering from severe hunger, and the people begged Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh told the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do whatever Joseph instructed them to do.

Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, is speaking to his own people during a crisis caused by famine. Joseph, who had been put in charge of storing and distributing food, is given full authority by Pharaoh. This verse shows the trust Pharaoh placed in Joseph and sets the stage for Joseph’s key role in providing for the people during the famine.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 41:55

  • "Famished" (רָעֵב, rāʿēv) means to be hungry or starving. The word highlights the seriousness of the famine—people were not just hungry, but desperate for food.
  • "Cried" (צָעַק, tsaʿaq) means to call out or plead loudly. This shows the urgency and distress of the people as they appealed to Pharaoh for help.
  • "Bread" (לֶחֶם, lechem) in Hebrew often means food in general, not just literal bread. The people were asking for basic sustenance, not just one type of food.
  • "Do" (עָשָׂה, ʿasah) means to act or carry out instructions. Pharaoh’s command to "do" whatever Joseph says shows Joseph’s authority and the seriousness of obeying his directions.

Why Genesis 41:55 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Joseph was not just a manager but held real authority, trusted by Pharaoh to make life-and-death decisions for the nation.
  • The verse connects to the wider story of Joseph’s rise from prisoner to a leader who saves many lives, showing how his earlier dreams and hardships led to this moment.
  • It highlights the severity of the famine and the dependence of an entire nation on one man’s wisdom and preparation, emphasizing the importance of Joseph’s role in God’s plan.

Where else these words appear

“famished” Hebrew H7456 · used in 11 verses

  • Deuteronomy 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
  • Proverbs 6:30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
  • Isaiah 8:21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

“cried” Hebrew H6817 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
  • Joshua 24:7 And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
  • 2 Kings 8:5 And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.