Genesis 47:13
ESV
Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine.
NIV
There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine.
NASB
Now there was no food in all the land, because the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine.
CSB
But there was no food in the entire region, for the famine was very severe. The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan were exhausted by the famine.
NLT
Meanwhile, the famine became so severe that all the food was used up, and people were starving throughout the lands of Egypt and Canaan.
KJV
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.
NKJV
Now 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 languished because of the famine.
What does Genesis 47:13 mean?
This begins a new section about how the severe famine changed life for the people of Egypt (Genesis 41:53–55). Under Joseph's management as the second in command to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:44), grain had been saved during the seven years of plenty that preceded the famine (Genesis 41:47–49). This was enough to keep the people of Egypt from starving to death. Likewise, the people of Canaan were able to come to Egypt and buy grain to keep themselves alive.Now, with the famine moving into its third year, merely getting surplus food from Joseph is not enough to sustain the people. The land "languished," described by a Hebrew word which applies to fainting, insanity, or collapse. The region was no longer capable of sustaining life naturally. Worse, as the following verses will reveal, the people are running out of money to buy food (Genesis 47:14–15).
