The Meaning of Genesis 41:34 Explained

Genesis 41:34

KJV: 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.

YLT: let Pharaoh make and appoint overseers over the land, and receive a fifth of the land of Egypt in the seven years of plenty,

Darby: Let Pharaoh do this: let him appoint overseers over the land, and take the fifth part of the land of Egypt during the seven years of plenty,

ASV: 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 plenteous years.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 41:34 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 41:14-36 - Pharaoh's Dreams Interpreted
Notwithstanding the great urgency of the royal summons, and the speed with which the great events of his life crowded on one another, Joseph was kept in perfect peace. He found time to shave, and to change his raiment. Let us be at rest in God. He that believeth does not make needless haste. One of the loveliest traits in Joseph's character was his humility. He did not take on airs, nor assume superiority, nor pose as a superior and injured person. He said simply, "It is not in me; God will give." These words might have been uttered by our Lord; they are so perfectly in harmony with the tenor of his life. Surely we should appropriate them. At the best we are but God's almoners, passing on to others the good things of which He has made us the stewards. Joseph was set on using all he had, not for himself, but for others; therefore he had more and more to give. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 41

1  Pharaoh has two dreams
9  Joseph interprets them
33  He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced, and married
46  The seven years of plenty
50  He begets children
53  The famine begins

What do the individual words in Genesis 41:34 mean?

Let do [this] Pharaoh and let him appoint officers over the land to take a fifth - from the land of Egypt in seven years the plentiful
יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה פַרְעֹ֔ה וְיַפְקֵ֥ד פְּקִדִ֖ים עַל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וְחִמֵּשׁ֙ אֶת־ אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּשֶׁ֖בַע שְׁנֵ֥י הַשָּׂבָֽע

יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה  Let  do  [this] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
פַרְעֹ֔ה  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
וְיַפְקֵ֥ד  and  let  him  appoint 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
פְּקִדִ֖ים  officers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: פָּקִיד  
Sense: commissioner, deputy, overseer, officer.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הָאָ֑רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְחִמֵּשׁ֙  to  take  a  fifth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָמַשׁ  
Sense: to arrange in multiples of five, take one fifth.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֶ֣רֶץ  from  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
מִצְרַ֔יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
בְּשֶׁ֖בַע  in  seven 
Parse: Preposition-b, Number, feminine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
שְׁנֵ֥י  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
הַשָּׂבָֽע  the  plentiful 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂבָע  
Sense: plenty, satiety.