Genesis 47:18When that year was ended, they came to him the second year, and said to him, "We will not hide from my lord how our money is all spent, and the herds of livestock are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands.
The setting
Egypt, ~1689 BC. Third year of famine. Emaciated families return to Joseph's distribution centers with empty hands and desperate honesty - no money, no animals, only their bodies and land left. Modern-day Egypt.
The emotion here: documenting with sorrow the complete humiliation of proud people
The original word
tam (תַּם) — ended/finished/completed, implying total exhaustion of resources
Why it matters
Ancient Near Eastern famines typically lasted 2-3 years; this seven-year famine was unprecedented and historically recorded
Read with care
What most readers miss in Genesis 47:18
The phrase 'we will not hide' shows they're being completely transparent - no pride, no pretense, just raw honesty about their desperation
Common misconceptionThis seems like failure, but honest admission of need is actually the first step toward receiving help - both human and divine.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Genesis 47:18
Bible Genome reading
Genesis 47:18 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Genesis 47:18 comes from the book of Genesis, written during the Patriarchal period. The setting is a royal palace. These words are attributed to narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include transparency, desperation. Notable phrases: We will not hide; nothing left; our bodies and our lands.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Genesis 47:18 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "anxious"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.