Genesis 47:13 Meaning: When the Land Itself Fainted
There was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.
And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.
And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.
And there is no bread in all the land, for the famine is very grievous, and the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan are feeble because of the famine;
And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very grievous; and the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan were exhausted through the famine.
Meaning in one sentence
Genesis 47:13 shows that even the most fertile lands are helpless without God's blessing. A verse about dependence on divine provision.
Context
By this point in the story, the famine Joseph predicted has settled over the region like a heavy fog. The previous verses tell us that Joseph provided for his own father and brothers, settling them in the best part of Egypt. But for everyone else, the situation was desperate. This verse sits right at that turning point: the land of Egypt, the granary of the ancient world, and the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, are both described as fainting. The Hebrew verb used here is rare, appearing only once in the Old Testament, and it paints a picture of total exhaustion. Moses is not just giving weather report. He is setting up the contrast between human helplessness and God's hidden provision working through Joseph.
Key Words
The most arresting word in this verse is the one rendered fainted (Hebrew lahah). It appears only here in this form in the entire Old Testament. The Cambridge Bible calls it “a striking metaphor.” The word means to languish, to be completely drained of strength, like a runner who collapses at the finish line. This is not ordinary hunger; it is a total giving way of body and spirit.
Then there is the word for very sore (Hebrew kaved), which literally means “heavy.” The famine pressed down on the people like a weight they could not lift. And the word for bread (Hebrew lechem) often stands for food in general, the basic necessity for life. To say “no bread in all the land” is to say that the most fundamental support had vanished. Together these words show a world that has run out of answers. Even the most fertile soil cannot save you when the One who sends the rain has not.
How Christians Read This Verse
Reformed commentator John Calvin read this verse as a warning against trusting in fertile land: “It is not for those who cultivate fertile lands to trust in their abundance; rather let them acknowledge that a large supply of provision does not so much spring from the bowels of the earth, as it distills from heaven by the secret blessing of God.” Matthew Henry emphasized the distress itself as a demonstration of God's sovereignty, while the Cambridge Bible notes that the linking of Egypt and Canaan in these verses shows that even the land promised to Abraham was subject to the same famine. All these readings converge on one point: the land cannot save itself. Dependence on God is the only sure ground.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
Think of one area in your life where you feel most secure. Your job. Your savings. Your health. Your family. The verse asks: what if that area suddenly “fainted”? That is not meant to scare you, but to free you. When you see that even the breadbasket of Egypt could not feed itself, you are invited to stop trusting in your own resources as if they were ultimate. This week, notice one moment when you catch yourself relying on your own abundance rather than on the Giver of all good things. Then turn that moment into a quiet prayer of dependence.
Main takeaway: Even the most fertile land cannot sustain itself without God; our daily bread is a gift from His hand alone.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The land was so hungry that it felt like it was fainting. But God took care of Joseph’s family. God always takes care of His people, even when things are hard.
For ages 9, 12
This verse shows that even the richest farmland can’t grow food without God’s help. The famine was so severe that people had no strength left. It reminds us that everything we have comes from God. When we feel like we’re running out, we can ask Him for help. He knows what we need even before we ask.
Questions People Ask
Why does the verse say the land 'fainted'?
The Hebrew word for 'fainted' (lahah) appears only here in this form in the Old Testament. It means to be completely exhausted, like a person collapsing from hunger. The verse uses this word to describe the land itself, showing that the famine was so severe that even the soil and its people had no strength left.
Was the famine a punishment from God?
The narrative does not present this famine as a direct punishment. It was predicted by Joseph through God's revelation (Genesis 41:25, 32). In the broader story, the famine serves to drive Jacob's family to Egypt, where God preserved them and fulfilled His promise to Abraham. Christians across traditions see it as part of God's providential plan, not as a judgment on Egypt or Canaan.
Why are both Egypt and Canaan mentioned?
The verse names both Egypt, where Joseph was, and Canaan, where Jacob's family had lived. The Cambridge Bible notes that this shows the famine affected the entire region, not just one country. It also sets up the contrast: even the Promised Land (Canaan) could not sustain Jacob's family; they had to rely on God's provision through Joseph in Egypt.
How does this verse connect to Joseph's actions later in the chapter?
The verse sets the stage for Joseph's economic policies in verses 14, 26. Because the people had no bread, they first gave their money, then their livestock, then their land, and finally themselves as servants to Pharaoh. The severity of the famine explains why the people were willing to surrender everything for food.
What does this teach about trusting in material abundance?
Calvin commented that fertile lands should not trust in their abundance, because a harvest ultimately comes from God's blessing. The verse teaches that human resources, even the richest soil, can fail completely. True security is found in God, not in the land, the harvest, or the bank account.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study