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.

GENESIS 45:6KJV
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Genesis 45:6 (KJV)

What does Genesis 45:6 mean?

Genesis 45:6 means that there have already been two years of famine in the land, and there are still five more years to come, during which there will be no planting or harvesting of crops. Joseph is explaining to his brothers how serious and long-lasting the famine will be.

Joseph is speaking to his brothers in Egypt after revealing his identity to them. He is explaining the reason for the ongoing hardship and why they should not be surprised by the lack of food. By saying there will be neither "earing" (an old word for plowing or planting) nor harvest, Joseph is making it clear that normal farming will not be possible for several more years, highlighting the severity of the crisis.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 45:6

  • "Earing" comes from the Hebrew word חָרֵשׁ (ḥāresh), which means plowing or preparing the ground for planting. This word shows that the famine is so severe that even the first steps of farming are not happening, not just the harvest.
  • "Harvest" is from the Hebrew קָצִיר (qatsir), meaning the gathering in of crops. By pairing this with "earing," the verse covers the entire farming process, stressing that the famine affects every stage of agriculture.

Why Genesis 45:6 matters

  • Genesis 45:6 clarifies the length and seriousness of the famine, showing that it is not a short-term problem but a disaster lasting seven years in total.
  • The verse helps explain why Joseph's brothers had to come to Egypt for food and why Joseph's earlier dreams and preparations were so important for survival.
  • This statement sets up the reason for Jacob’s family to move to Egypt, which is a key turning point in the story of Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“earing” Hebrew H2758 · used in 3 verses

  • 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.
  • 1 Samuel 8:12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

“neither” Hebrew H369 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
  • Isaiah 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

“harvest” Hebrew H7105 · used in 49 verses

  • Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
  • 1 Samuel 8:12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
  • Isaiah 16:9 Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.

“famine” Hebrew H7458 · used in 88 verses

  • Genesis 12:10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
  • 1 Chronicles 21:12 Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
  • Jeremiah 32:24 Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.