In Egypt the Israelites were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them. Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power over Egypt. The new king feared that the Israelite people might join with his enemies in time of war. So he put foremen over the Israelites to oppress them with hard labor.
When he was brought before Pharaoh to interpret his dreams Joseph acknowledged, It is not within my power, but God will speak concerning the welfare of Pharaoh. And it was through God’s Spirit that Joseph interpreted the dreams and warned Pharaoh of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. But I think I’m safe to say that Joseph’s advice to Pharaoh was not of God, because its execution differed so dramatically from the economic system God ordained for Israel in the law.
So now Pharaoh should look for a wise and discerning man and give him authority over all the land of Egypt…he should appoint officials throughout the land to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming…This food should be held in storage for the land in preparation for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout the land of Egypt [Table].
It seemed like a good idea to Pharaoh and his officials, so Joseph was put in charge: I am Pharaoh, but without your permission no one will move his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt, Pharaoh said to Joseph. When the seven years of famine came Joseph sold grain back to the people. Joseph collected all the money that could be found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan as payment for the grain they were buying. Later Joseph said, “If your money is gone, bring your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock.” When their livestock was gone the Egyptians said, Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we, with our land, will become Pharaoh’s slaves. So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, and, Joseph made all the people slaves from one end of Egypt’s border to the other end of it.
The land must not be sold without reclaim because the land belongs to me, the Lord said, for you are foreigners and residents with me. In all your landed property you must provide for the right of redemption of the land. If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, his near redeemer is to come to you and redeem what his brother sold. If a man has no redeemer, but he prospers and gains enough for its redemption, he is to calculate the value of the years it was sold, refund the balance to the man to whom he had sold it, and return to his property. If he has not prospered enough to refund a balance to him, then what he sold will belong to the one who bought it until the jubilee year [every fiftieth year], but it must revert in the jubilee and the original owner may return to his property.
If your brother becomes impoverished and is indebted to you, the Lord continued, you must support him; he must live with you like a foreign resident. Do not take interest or profit from him, but you must fear your God and your brother must live with you. You must not lend him your money at interest and you must not sell him food for profit. I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan – to be your God.
If your brother becomes impoverished with regard to you so that he sells himself to you, the Lord added, you must not subject him to slave service. He must be with you as a hired worker, as a resident foreigner; he must serve with you until the year of jubilee, but then he may go free, he and his children with him, and may return to his family and to the property of his ancestors. Since they are my servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt, they must not be sold in a slave sale. You must not rule over him harshly, but you must fear your God.
So when a new king put foremen over the Israelites to oppress them with hard labor it sounds like karma, what goes around comes around. Karma is never mentioned by name in the Bible, but one can certainly find it there. What I recognize as karma is codified in the law: I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me [Table], and showing covenant faithfulness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments [Table]. I want to address it directly here because I’ve confused karma for justice, and have thought at times that God was beholden to, rather than the dealer of, karma, whether good or bad.
I don’t suspect Joseph of any particular malice. I’m sure he thought he was doing a good job for Pharaoh. It was just good business. But I believe now that he was wrong, just like I was wrong to confuse the tit-for-tat of karma for justice. The law according to Jesus was about justice and mercy and faithfulness and love for God. And though visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations, sounds like bad karma to me, Yahweh is the One who looked my idea of karma right in the eyes and declared, I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.
And so I’ll amend my original statement that Joseph’s advice was not of God. The Egyptians were not able to eat with Hebrews, for the Egyptians think it is disgusting to do so. Perhaps it was part of their karma from the hand of God to be enslaved by a Hebrew slave. I don’t know. But it came with a price for Israel, too, or an opportunity to walk a mile in the Egyptians’ shoes. But clearly God is not beholden to karma. To break the wheel of karma one need only look to the One who said I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
The new king of Egypt hoped that hard labor would kill the Israelites off and diminish their population. But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread. Instant karma. So he made their service harder. And, The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, “When you assist the Hebrew women in childbirth, observe at the delivery: If it is a son, kill him, but if it is a daughter, she may live.” But the midwives feared (yārē’, וַתִּירֶאןָ) God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.
I was actually surprised that the rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose ἐφοβήθησαν (a form of φοβέω) here. I suppose I expected something that was more clearly reverence for God. The next occurrence of ἐφοβήθησαν in the New Testament was in response to Jesus’ telling the chief priests, elders and Pharisees that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit (καρποὺς, a form of καρπός).
For me that is a sobering statement. Am I allowing Him to justify his word in me? Is the fruit (καρπὸς) of [his] Spirit which flows so graciously into me, flowing out in worthy proportion as his love, his joy, his peace, his patience, his kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness, and his self-control [Table]? The chief priests and Pharisees had a different reaction. They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid (ἐφοβήθησαν, a form of φοβέω) of the crowds, because the crowds regarded him as a prophet.
I doubt they wanted “to reverence, venerate, to treat [the crowds] with deference or reverential obedience.” I suspect that they feared or hesitated “to do something (for fear of harm).” That may be what the rabbis had in mind concerning the Hebrew midwives’ motives. Perhaps they hesitated (or feared) to kill baby boys because they thought that God would, or could, visit them with worse karma than the new king of Egypt.
And because the midwives feared (yārē’, יָרְאוּ) God, he made households for them. Good karma followed upon their fear. Here the rabbis chose ἐφοβοῦντο. Jesus said, The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise. His disciples did not understand this statement and were afraid (ἐφοβοῦντο, another form of φοβέω) to ask him. It was a fear that seemed like respect, but lacked the knowledge or the faith of reverence. And the Hebrew midwives I think also exhibited that kind of fear.
Addendum: November 27, 2025
The English translations of Genesis 47:21 in the Masoretic text and Septuagint diverge here. It seems possible that the Septuagint explains a Hebrew idiom.
|
Masoretic Text
|
Septuagint
|
|
Genesis 47:21 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 47:21 (NET)
|
Genesis 47:21 (NETS)
|
Genesis 47:21 (English Elpenor)
|
| And as for the people, he removed (הֶֽעֱבִ֥יר) them city by city (לֶֽעָרִ֑ים), from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end thereof. |
Joseph made (ʿāḇar, העביר) all the people slaves (ʿîr, לערים) from one end of Egypt’s border to the other end of it. |
and the people he subjugated (κατεδουλώσατο) to him as slaves (παῖδας) from the furthest boundaries of Egypt to the furthest— |
And he brought the people into bondage (κατεδουλώσατο) to him, for servants (παῖδας), from one extremity of Egypt to the other, |
So rather than nomadic shepherds wandering freely with their herds, or even agrarian freeholders, Joseph “enslaved” the Egyptians as dependents in cities, as he “elevated” the office of Pharaoh from chieftain to god-king. Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power over Egypt, may well be an understated critique of the unreliability of Egyptian “history.” And my own focus on history, political science and sociology probably obfuscates the meaning of the story of Joseph (and Abraham) in the Bible.
My focus is natural to me: History, political science and sociology are some of the academic pursuits that lead people astray, some of the sources of my own objections to faith in God and his word through Jesus Christ. Yes, a Pharaoh’s lust for Sarai, enriched Abram materially and made him like a king. And here a great-grandson of Abraham enriched and empowered another Pharaoh beyond anything he might ask or think. But the point is God’s care of, and provision for, his people: Abraham first and then the children of Israel. Through Joseph the Lord created a space in Egypt to incubate the relatively small population of Israel until they were more numerous and stronger than the Egyptians.
Tables comparing Exodus 1:7; 1:8; 1:11; Genesis 41:16; 41:33; 41:34; 41:35; 41:44; 47:14; 47:16; 47:19; 47:20; 47:21; Leviticus 25:23; 25:24; 25:25; 25:26; 25:27; 25:28; 25:35; 25:36; 25:37; 25:38; 25:39; 25:40; 25:41; 25:42; 25:43; Genesis 43:32; Exodus 1:12; 1:15; 1:16; 1:17; 1:21 and 1:9 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Exodus 1:7; 1:8; 1:11; Genesis 41:16; 41:33; 41:34; 41:35; 41:44; 47:14; 47:16; 47:19; 47:20; 47:21; Leviticus 25:23; 25:24; 25:25; 25:26; 25:27; 25:28; 25:35; 25:36; 25:37; 25:38; 25:39; 25:40; 25:41; 25:42; 25:43; Genesis 43:32 (43:31); Exodus 1:12; 1:15; 1:16; 1:17; 1:21 and 1:9 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Matthew 21:46 in the KJV and NET follow.
|
Exodus 1:7 (Tanakh)
|
Exodus 1:7 (KJV)
|
Exodus 1:7 (NET)
|
| And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. |
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. |
The Israelites, however, were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them. |
|
Exodus 1:7 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Exodus 1:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ηὐξήθησαν καὶ ἐπληθύνθησαν καὶ χυδαῖοι ἐγένοντο καὶ κατίσχυον σφόδρα σφόδρα ἐπλήθυνεν δὲ ἡ γῆ αὐτούς |
οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ηὐξήθησαν καὶ ἐπληθύνθησαν καὶ χυδαῖοι ἐγένοντο. καὶ κατίσχυον σφόδρα σφόδρα, ἐπλήθυνε δὲ ἡ γῆ αὐτούς |
|
Exodus 1:7 (NETS)
|
Exodus 1:7 (English Elpenor)
|
| But the sons of Israel increased and multiplied and became common and were growing very, very strong. Now the land kept multiplying them. |
And the children of Israel increased and multiplied, and became numerous and grew exceedingly strong, and the land multiplied them. |
|
Exodus 1:11 (Tanakh)
|
Exodus 1:11 (KJV)
|
Exodus 1:11 (NET)
|
| Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses. |
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. |
So they put foremen over the Israelites to oppress them with hard labor. As a result they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. |
|
Exodus 1:11 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Exodus 1:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| καὶ ἐπέστησεν αὐτοῖς ἐπιστάτας τῶν ἔργων ἵνα κακώσωσιν αὐτοὺς ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν πόλεις ὀχυρὰς τῷ Φαραω τήν τε Πιθωμ καὶ Ραμεσση καὶ Ων ἥ ἐστιν Ἡλίου πόλις |
καὶ ἐπέστησεν αὐτοῖς ἐπιστάτας τῶν ἔργων, ἵνα κακώσωσιν αὐτοὺς ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις· καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν πόλεις ὀχυρὰς τῷ Φαραώ, τήν τε Πειθὼ καὶ Ῥαμεσσῆ καὶ ῎Ων, ἥ ἐστιν ῾Ηλιούπολις |
|
Exodus 1:11 (NETS)
|
Exodus 1:11 (English Elpenor)
|
| And he set over them overseers of tasks in order to afflict them in the tasks. And they built fortified cities for Pharao, both Pithom and Ramesses and On, which is Heliopolis. |
And he set over them task-masters, who should afflict them in their works; and they built strong cities for Pharao, both Pitho, and Ramesses, and On, which is Heliopolis. |
|
Genesis 41:16 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 41:16 (KJV)
|
Genesis 41:16 (NET)
|
| And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: ‘It is not in me; G-d will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.’ |
And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. |
Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “It is not within my power, but God will speak concerning the welfare of Pharaoh.” |
|
Genesis 41:33 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 41:33 (KJV)
|
Genesis 41:33 (NET)
|
| Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. |
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. |
“So now Pharaoh should look for a wise and discerning man and give him authority over all the land of Egypt. |
|
Genesis 41:34 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 41:34 (KJV)
|
Genesis 41:34 (NET)
|
| Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven years of plenty. |
Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. |
Pharaoh should do this—he should appoint officials throughout the land to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. |
|
Genesis 41:34 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Genesis 41:34 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| καὶ ποιησάτω Φαραω καὶ καταστησάτω τοπάρχας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἀποπεμπτωσάτωσαν πάντα τὰ γενήματα τῆς γῆς Αἰγύπτου τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐτῶν τῆς εὐθηνίας |
καὶ ποιησάτω Φαραὼ καὶ καταστησάτω τοπάρχας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἀποπεμπτωσάτωσαν πάντα τὰ γεννήματα τῆς γῆς Αἰγύπτου τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐτῶν τῆς εὐθηνίας |
|
Genesis 41:34 (NETS)
|
Genesis 41:34 (English Elpenor)
|
| And let Pharao make and appoint district governors over the land, and let them take one-fifth of all the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of plenty, |
And let Pharao make and appoint local governors over the land; and let them take up a fifth part of all the produce of the land of Egypt for the seven years of the plenty. |
|
Genesis 41:35 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 41:35 (KJV)
|
Genesis 41:35 (NET)
|
| And let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. |
And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. |
They should gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. By Pharaoh’s authority they should store up grain so the cities will have food, and they should preserve it. |
|
Genesis 41:35 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Genesis 41:35 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| καὶ συναγαγέτωσαν πάντα τὰ βρώματα τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐτῶν τῶν ἐρχομένων τῶν καλῶν τούτων καὶ συναχθήτω ὁ σῖτος ὑπὸ χεῖρα Φαραω βρώματα ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν φυλαχθήτω |
καὶ συναγαγέτωσαν πάντα τὰ βρώματα τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐτῶν τῶν ἐρχομένων τῶν καλῶν τούτων, καὶ συναχθήτω ὁ σῖτος ὑπὸ χεῖρα Φαραώ, βρώματα ἐν ταῖς πόλεσι φυλαχθήτω |
|
Genesis 41:35 (NETS)
|
Genesis 41:35 (English Elpenor)
|
| and let them gather all the provisions of these seven good years that are coming, and let the grain be gathered under the authority of Pharao; let provisions be kept in the cities. |
And let Pharao make and appoint local governors over the land; and let them take up a fifth part of all the produce of the land of Egypt for the seven years of the plenty. |
|
Genesis 41:44 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 41:44 (KJV)
|
Genesis 41:44 (NET)
|
| And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: ‘I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.’ |
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. |
Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission no one will move his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.” |
|
Genesis 47:14 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 47:14 (KJV)
|
Genesis 47:14 (NET)
|
| And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. |
And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. |
Joseph collected all the money that could be found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan as payment for the grain they were buying. Then Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s palace. |
|
Genesis 47:14 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Genesis 47:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| συνήγαγεν δὲ Ιωσηφ πᾶν τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ εὑρεθὲν ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐν γῇ Χανααν τοῦ σίτου οὗ ἠγόραζον καὶ ἐσιτομέτρει αὐτοῖς καὶ εἰσήνεγκεν Ιωσηφ πᾶν τὸ ἀργύριον εἰς τὸν οἶκον Φαραω |
συνήγαγε δὲ ᾿Ιωσὴφ πᾶν τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ εὑρεθὲν ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐν γῇ Χαναὰν τοῦ σίτου, οὗ ἠγόραζον, καὶ ἐσιτομέτρει αὐτοῖς, καὶ εἰσήνεγκεν ᾿Ιωσὴφ πᾶν τὸ ἀργύριον εἰς τὸν οἶκον Φαραώ |
|
Genesis 47:14 (NETS)
|
Genesis 47:14 (English Elpenor)
|
| Then Ioseph collected all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Chanaan for the grain that they would buy, and he would measure out grain to them, and Ioseph brought all the money into Pharao’s house. |
And Joseph gathered all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and the land of Chanaan, [in return for] the corn which they bought, and he distributed corn to them; and Joseph brought all the money into the house of Pharao. |
|
Genesis 47:16 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 47:16 (KJV)
|
Genesis 47:16 (NET)
|
| And Joseph said: ‘Give your cattle, and I will give you bread for your cattle, if money fail.’ |
And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. |
Then Joseph said, “If your money is gone, bring your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock.” |
|
Genesis 47:19 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 47:19 (KJV)
|
Genesis 47:19 (NET)
|
| Wherefore should we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be bondmen unto Pharaoh; and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land be not desolate.’ |
Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. |
Why should we die before your very eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we, with our land, will become Pharaoh’s slaves. Give us seed that we may live and not die. Then the land will not become desolate.” |
|
Genesis 47:19 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Genesis 47:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| ἵνα οὖν μὴ ἀποθάνωμεν ἐναντίον σου καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐρημωθῇ κτῆσαι ἡμᾶς καὶ τὴν γῆν ἡμῶν ἀντὶ ἄρτων καὶ ἐσόμεθα ἡμεῖς καὶ ἡ γῆ ἡμῶν παῖδες Φαραω δὸς σπέρμα ἵνα σπείρωμεν καὶ ζῶμεν καὶ μὴ ἀποθάνωμεν καὶ ἡ γῆ οὐκ ἐρημωθήσεται |
ἵνα οὖν μὴ ἀποθάνωμεν ἐναντίον σου καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐρημωθῇ, κτῆσαι ἡμᾶς καὶ τὴν γῆν ἡμῶν ἀντὶ ἄρτων, καὶ ἐσόμεθα ἡμεῖς καὶ ἡ γῆ ἡμῶν παῖδες τῷ Φαραώ· δὸς σπέρμα, ἵνα σπείρωμεν καὶ ζῶμεν καὶ μὴ ἀποθάνωμεν καὶ ἡ γῆ οὐκ ἐρημωθήσεται |
|
Genesis 47:19 (NETS)
|
Genesis 47:19 (English Elpenor)
|
| So lest we die in your presence and the land be desolated, acquire us and our land in exchange for bread loaves, and we with our land will be Pharao’s slaves; grant seed in order that we may sow and live and not die, and the land will not be desolated.” |
In order, then, that we die not before thee, and the land be made desolate, buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants to Pharao: give seed that we may sow, and live and not die, so our land shall not be made desolate. |
|
Genesis 47:20 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 47:20 (KJV)
|
Genesis 47:20 (NET)
|
| So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine was sore upon them; and the land became Pharaoh’s. |
And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s. |
So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. Each of the Egyptians sold his field, for the famine was severe. So the land became Pharaoh’s. |
|
Genesis 47:20 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Genesis 47:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| καὶ ἐκτήσατο Ιωσηφ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν τῶν Αἰγυπτίων τῷ Φαραω ἀπέδοντο γὰρ οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν τῷ Φαραω ἐπεκράτησεν γὰρ αὐτῶν ὁ λιμός καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ γῆ Φαραω |
καὶ ἐκτήσατο ᾿Ιωσὴφ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν τῶν Αἰγυπτίων τῷ Φαραώ· ἀπέδοντο γὰρ οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν τῷ Φαραώ, ἐπεκράτησε γὰρ αὐτῶν ὁ λιμός· καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ γῇ τῷ Φαραώ |
|
Genesis 47:20 (NETS)
|
Genesis 47:20 (English Elpenor)
|
| And Ioseph acquired all the land of the Egyptians for Pharao. For the Egyptians sold their land to Pharao, because the famine gained mastery over them. And the land became Pharao’s— |
And Joseph bought all the land of the Egyptians, for Pharao; for the Egyptians sold their land to Pharao; for the famine prevailed against them, and the land became Pharao’s. |
|
Genesis 47:21 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 47:21 (KJV)
|
Genesis 47:21 (NET)
|
| And as for the people, he removed them city by city, from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end thereof. |
And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. |
Joseph made all the people slaves from one end of Egypt’s border to the other end of it. |
|
Leviticus 25:23 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:23 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:23 (NET)
|
| And the land shall not be sold in perpetuity; for the land is Mine; for ye are strangers and settlers with Me. |
The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. |
The land must not be sold without reclaim because the land belongs to me, for you are foreign residents, temporary settlers, with me. |
|
Leviticus 25:25 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:25 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:25 (NET)
|
| If thy brother be waxen poor, and sell some of his possession, then shall his kinsman that is next unto him come, and shall redeem that which his brother hath sold. |
If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. |
“‘If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, his near redeemer is to come to you and redeem what his brother sold. |
|
Leviticus 25:25 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Leviticus 25:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| ἐὰν δὲ πένηται ὁ ἀδελφός σου ὁ μετὰ σοῦ καὶ ἀποδῶται ἀπὸ τῆς κατασχέσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλθῃ ὁ ἀγχιστεύων ἐγγίζων ἔγγιστα αὐτοῦ καὶ λυτρώσεται τὴν πρᾶσιν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ |
ἐὰν δὲ πένηται ὁ ἀδελφός σου ὁ μετὰ σοῦ καὶ ἀποδῶται ἀπὸ τῆς κατασχέσεως αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔλθῃ ὁ ἀγχιστεύων ὁ ἐγγίζων αὐτῷ, καὶ λυτρώσεται τὴν πρᾶσιν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ |
|
Leviticus 25:25 (NETS)
|
Leviticus 25:25 (English Elpenor)
|
| But if your brother who is with you should become poor and should sell some of what he holds and the next of kin who is nearest should come, then he shall redeem the sale of his brother. |
And if thy brother who is with thee be poor, and should have sold [part] of his possession, and his kinsman who is nigh to him come, then he shall redeem the possession which his brother has sold. |
|
Leviticus 25:27 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:27 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:27 (NET)
|
| then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; and he shall return unto his possession. |
Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession. |
he is to calculate the value of the years it was sold, refund the balance to the man to whom he had sold it, and return to his property. |
|
Leviticus 25:27 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Leviticus 25:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| καὶ συλλογιεῖται τὰ ἔτη τῆς πράσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀποδώσει ὃ ὑπερέχει τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ᾧ ἀπέδοτο ἑαυτὸν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀπελεύσεται εἰς τὴν κατάσχεσιν αὐτοῦ |
καὶ συλλογιεῖται τὰ ἔτη τῆς πράσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀποδώσει ὃ ὑπερέχει τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, ᾧ ἀπέδοτο αὐτὸ αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀπελεύσεται εἰς τὴν κατάσχεσιν αὐτοῦ |
|
Leviticus 25:27 (NETS)
|
Leviticus 25:27 (English Elpenor)
|
| then he shall compute the years of his sale and give back what he has over to the person who sold it to him, and he shall depart to his holding. |
then shall he calculate the years of his sale, and he shall give what is due to the man to whom he sold it, and he shall return to his possession. |
|
Leviticus 25:28 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:28 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:28 (NET)
|
| But if he have not sufficient means to get it back for himself, then that which he hath sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubilee; and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession. |
But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile: and in the jubile it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession. |
If he has not prospered enough to refund a balance to him, then what he sold will belong to the one who bought it until the Jubilee year, but it must revert in the Jubilee and the original owner may return to his property. |
|
Leviticus 25:28 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Leviticus 25:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| ἐὰν δὲ μὴ εὐπορηθῇ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ τὸ ἱκανὸν ὥστε ἀποδοῦναι αὐτῷ καὶ ἔσται ἡ πρᾶσις τῷ κτησαμένῳ αὐτὰ ἕως τοῦ ἕκτου ἔτους τῆς ἀφέσεως καὶ ἐξελεύσεται τῇ ἀφέσει καὶ ἀπελεύσεται εἰς τὴν κατάσχεσιν αὐτοῦ |
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ εὐπορηθῇ αὐτοῦ ἡ χεὶρ τὸ ἱκανόν, ὥστε ἀποδοῦναι αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔσται ἡ πρᾶσις τῷ κτησαμένῳ αὐτὰ ἕως τοῦ ἕκτου ἔτους τῆς ἀφέσεως· καὶ ἐξελεύσεται ἐν τῇ ἀφέσει, καὶ ἀπελεύσεται εἰς τὴν κατάσχεσιν αὐτοῦ |
|
Leviticus 25:28 (NETS)
|
Leviticus 25:28 (English Elpenor)
|
| But if his hand does not find what is sufficient to give it back to him, then the sale shall belong to the one who acquired them until the year of release, and at the release it shall expire, and he shall depart to his holding. |
But if his hand have not prospered sufficiently, so as that he should restore the money to him, then he that bought the possessions shall have them till the sixth year of the release; and it shall go out in the release, and the owner shall return to his possession. |
|
Leviticus 25:35 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:35 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:35 (NET)
|
| And if thy brother be waxen poor, and his means fail with thee; then thou shalt uphold him: as a stranger and a settler shall he live with thee. |
And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. |
“‘If your brother becomes impoverished and is indebted to you, you must support him; he must live with you like a foreign resident. |
|
Leviticus 25:35 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Leviticus 25:35 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| ἐὰν δὲ πένηται ὁ ἀδελφός σου καὶ ἀδυνατήσῃ ταῖς χερσὶν παρὰ σοί ἀντιλήμψῃ αὐτοῦ ὡς προσηλύτου καὶ παροίκου καὶ ζήσεται ὁ ἀδελφός σου μετὰ σοῦ |
᾿Εὰν δὲ πένηται ὁ ἀδελφός σου ὁ μετὰ σοῦ καὶ ἀδυνατήσῃ ταῖς χερσὶ παρὰ σοί, ἀντιλήψῃ αὐτοῦ ὡς προσηλύτου καὶ παροίκου καὶ ζήσεται ὁ ἀδελφός σου μετὰ σοῦ |
|
Leviticus 25:35 (NETS)
|
Leviticus 25:35 (English Elpenor)
|
| Now if your brother is needy and with you becomes weak in his hands, you shall help him as a guest and a resident alien, and your brother shall live with you. |
And if thy brother who is with thee become poor, and he fail in resources with thee, thou shalt help him as a stranger and a sojourner, and thy brother shall live with thee. |
|
Leviticus 25:36 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:36 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:36 (NET)
|
| Take thou no interest of him or increase; but fear thy G-d; that thy brother may live with thee. |
Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. |
Do not take interest or profit from him, but you must fear your God, and your brother must live with you. |
|
Leviticus 25:36 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Leviticus 25:36 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| οὐ λήμψῃ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ τόκον οὐδὲ ἐπὶ πλήθει καὶ φοβηθήσῃ τὸν θεόν σου ἐγὼ κύριος καὶ ζήσεται ὁ ἀδελφός σου μετὰ σοῦ |
οὐ λήψῃ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ τόκον, οὐδὲ ἐπὶ πλήθει· καὶ φοβηθήσῃ τὸν Θεόν σου, ἐγὼ Κύριος, καὶ ζήσεται ὁ ἀδελφός σου μετὰ σοῦ |
|
Leviticus 25:36 (NETS)
|
Leviticus 25:36 (English Elpenor)
|
| You shall not take interest from him, not even in any amount, and you shall fear your God; I am the Lord. And your brother shall live with you. |
Thou shalt not receive from him interest, nor increase: and thou shalt fear thy God: I [am] the Lord: and thy brother shall live with thee. |
|
Leviticus 25:37 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:37 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:37 (NET)
|
| Thou shalt not give him thy money upon interest, nor give him thy victuals for increase. |
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. |
You must not lend him your money at interest, and you must not sell him food for profit. |
|
Leviticus 25:38 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:38 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:38 (NET)
|
| I am HaShem your G-d, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, to be your G-d. |
I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. |
I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan—to be your God. |
|
Leviticus 25:39 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:39 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:39 (NET)
|
| And if thy brother be waxen poor with thee, and sell himself unto thee, thou shalt not make him to serve as a bondservant. |
And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: |
“‘If your brother becomes impoverished with regard to you so that he sells himself to you, you must not subject him to slave service. |
|
Leviticus 25:40 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:40 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:40 (NET)
|
| As a hired servant, and as a settler, he shall be with thee; he shall serve with thee unto the year of jubilee. |
But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile: |
He must be with you as a hired worker, as a resident foreigner; he must serve with you until the Year of Jubilee, |
|
Leviticus 25:41 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:41 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:41 (NET)
|
| Then shall he go out from thee, he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. |
And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. |
but then he may go free, he and his children with him, and may return to his family and to the property of his ancestors. |
|
Leviticus 25:41 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Leviticus 25:41 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| καὶ ἐξελεύσεται τῇ ἀφέσει καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπελεύσεται εἰς τὴν γενεὰν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν κατάσχεσιν τὴν πατρικὴν ἀποδραμεῖται |
καὶ ἐξελεύσεται τῇ ἀφέσει καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπελεύσεται εἰς τὴν γενεὰν αὐτοῦ, εἰς τὴν κατάσχεσιν τὴν πατρικὴν ἀποδραμεῖται |
|
Leviticus 25:41 (NETS)
|
Leviticus 25:41 (English Elpenor)
|
| And he and his children with him shall go forth at the release, and he shall go away to his kin; he shall depart to his ancestral holding. |
and he shall go out in the release, and his children with him; and he shall go to his family, he shall hasten back to his patrimony. |
|
Leviticus 25:42 (Tanakh)
|
Leviticus 25:42 (KJV)
|
Leviticus 25:42 (NET)
|
| For they are My servants, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as bondmen. |
For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. |
Since the Israelites are my servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt, they must not be sold in a slave sale. |
|
Genesis 43:32 (Tanakh)
|
Genesis 43:32 (KJV)
|
Genesis 43:32 (NET)
|
| And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, that did eat with him, by themselves; because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. |
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. |
They set a place for him, a separate place for his brothers, and another for the Egyptians who were eating with him. (The Egyptians are not able to eat with Hebrews, for the Egyptians think it is disgusting to do so.) |
|
Genesis 43:32 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Genesis 43:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| καὶ παρέθηκαν αὐτῷ μόνῳ καὶ αὐτοῖς καθ᾽ ἑαυτοὺς καὶ τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις τοῖς συνδειπνοῦσιν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καθ᾽ ἑαυτούς οὐ γὰρ ἐδύναντο οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι συνεσθίειν μετὰ τῶν Εβραίων ἄρτους βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστιν τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις |
καὶ παρέθηκαν αὐτῷ μόνῳ καὶ αὐτοῖς καθ᾿ ἑαυτοὺς καὶ τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις τοῖς συνδειπνοῦσι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καθ᾿ ἑαυτούς· οὐ γὰρ ἐδύναντο οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι συνεσθίειν μετὰ τῶν ῾Εβραίων ἄρτους, βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστι τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις |
|
Genesis 43:32 (NETS)
|
Genesis 43:31 (English Elpenor)
|
| And they served him alone and them by themselves, for the Egyptians could not eat bread loaves together with the Hebrews, for it is an abomination to the Egyptians. |
And they set on [bread] for him alone, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians feasting with him by themselves, for the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for it is an abomination to the Egyptians. |
|
Exodus 1:12 (Tanakh)
|
Exodus 1:12 (KJV)
|
Exodus 1:12 (NET)
|
| But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were adread because of the children of Israel. |
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. |
But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread. As a result the Egyptians loathed the Israelites, |
|
Exodus 1:12 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Exodus 1:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| καθότι δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐταπείνουν τοσούτῳ πλείους ἐγίνοντο καὶ ἴσχυον σφόδρα σφόδρα καὶ ἐβδελύσσοντο οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ |
καθότι δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐταπείνουν, τοσούτῳ πλείους ἐγίγνοντο, καὶ ἴσχυον σφόδρα σφόδρα· καὶ ἐβδελύσσοντο οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ |
|
Exodus 1:12 (NETS)
|
Exodus 1:12 (English Elpenor)
|
| But as much as they were humbling them, by so much the more they kept becoming more numerous and stronger, and the Egyptians were disgusted with the sons of Israel. |
But as they humbled them, by so much they multiplied, and grew exceedingly strong; and the Egyptians greatly abhorred the children of Israel. |
|
Exodus 1:15 (Tanakh)
|
Exodus 1:15 (KJV)
|
Exodus 1:15 (NET)
|
| And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah; |
And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: |
The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, |
|
Exodus 1:15 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Exodus 1:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Αἰγυπτίων ταῖς μαίαις τῶν Εβραίων τῇ μιᾷ αὐτῶν ᾗ ὄνομα Σεπφωρα καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς δευτέρας Φουα |
Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Αἰγυπτίων ταῖς μαίαις τῶν ῾Εβραίων· τῇ μιᾷ αὐτῶν ὄνομα Σεπφώρα, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς δευτέρας Φουά |
|
Exodus 1:15 (NETS)
|
Exodus 1:15 (English Elpenor)
|
| And the king of the Egyptians spoke to the Hebrews’ midwives, to one of them whose name was sepphora, and the name of the second was Phoua, |
And the king of the Egyptians spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews; the name of the one was, Sepphora; and the name of the second, Phua. |
|
Exodus 1:16 (Tanakh)
|
Exodus 1:16 (KJV)
|
Exodus 1:16 (NET)
|
| and he said: ‘When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, ye shall look upon the birthstool: if it be a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.’ |
And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. |
“When you assist the Hebrew women in childbirth, observe at the delivery: If it is a son, kill him, but if it is a daughter, she may live.” |
|
Exodus 1:16 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Exodus 1:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| καὶ εἶπεν ὅταν μαιοῦσθε τὰς Εβραίας καὶ ὦσιν πρὸς τῷ τίκτειν ἐὰν μὲν ἄρσεν ᾖ ἀποκτείνατε αὐτό ἐὰν δὲ θῆλυ περιποιεῖσθε αὐτό |
καὶ εἶπεν· ὅταν μαιοῦσθε τὰς ῾Εβραίας καὶ ὦσι πρὸς τῷ τίκτειν, ἐὰν μὲν ἄρσεν ᾖ, ἀποκτείνατε αὐτό, ἐὰν δὲ θῆλυ, περιποιεῖσθε αὐτό |
|
Exodus 1:16 (NETS)
|
Exodus 1:16 (English Elpenor)
|
| and he said, “Whenever you act as midwives to the Hebrew women and they should be at the birthing stage, if then it may be male, kill it, but if female, preserve it alive.” |
And he said, When ye do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and they are about to be delivered, if it be a male, kill it; but if a female, save it. |
|
Exodus 1:17 (Tanakh)
|
Exodus 1:17 (KJV)
|
Exodus 1:17 (NET)
|
| But the midwives feared G-d, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive. |
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. |
But the midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live. |
|
Exodus 1:17 (Septuagint BLB)
|
Exodus 1:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
|
| ἐφοβήθησαν δὲ αἱ μαῖαι τὸν θεὸν καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησαν καθότι συνέταξεν αὐταῖς ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐζωογόνουν τὰ ἄρσενα |
ἐφοβήθησαν δὲ αἱ μαῖαι τὸν Θεὸν καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησαν καθότι συνέταξεν αὐταῖς ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐζωογόνουν τὰ ἄρσενα |
|
Exodus 1:17 (NETS)
|
Exodus 1:17 (English Elpenor)
|
| But the midwives feared God, and they did not do as the king of Egypt instructed them and tried to keep the males alive. |
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt appointed them; and they saved the male children alive. |
|
Exodus 1:21 (Tanakh)
|
Exodus 1:21 (KJV)
|
Exodus 1:21 (NET)
|
| And it came to pass, because the midwives feared G-d, that He made them houses. |
And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. |
And because the midwives feared God, he made households for them. |
|
Exodus 1:9 (Tanakh)
|
Exodus 1:9 (KJV)
|
Exodus 1:9 (NET)
|
| And he said unto his people: ‘Behold, the people of the children of Israel are too many and too mighty for us; |
And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: |
He said to his people, “Look at the Israelite people, more numerous and stronger than we are! |
|
Matthew 21:46 (NET)
|
Matthew 21:46 (KJV)
|
| They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds because the crowds regarded him as a prophet. |
But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. |
