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Genesis 47:17
ESV So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.
NIV So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock.
NASB So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.
CSB So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks of sheep, the herds of cattle, and the donkeys. That year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.
NLT So they brought their livestock to Joseph in exchange for food. In exchange for their horses, flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and donkeys, Joseph provided them with food for another year.
KJV And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
NKJV So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year.

What does Genesis 47:17 mean?

The land of Egypt and nearby Canaan is barren. It has been barren for several years, and the famine will last for several more. Earlier verses described the land using terms related to fainting and insanity (Genesis 47:13). Joseph, as Pharaoh's representative in Egypt, holds great stores of grain. These were built up through taxes (Genesis 41:33–36), then sold back to the people for cash (Genesis 41:55–57).

Just two years into the seven-year disaster (Genesis 45:6), the people of the region have no more money to buy grain. They are still in danger of starvation. Joseph has suggested an alternative: trade livestock for food. It's not clear whether Joseph meant to literally hand over animals, physically, or simply consign their ownership to Pharaoh. This might have been a kind of mortgage or other arrangement.

Regardless of such details, the people comply. They don't have much choice since the alternative is starvation. So, the Egyptians and the Canaanites bring their horses, sheep, cows, and donkeys to Joseph. In whatever sense Joseph arranged, the ruler of Egypt now owned almost all the herded animals in Egypt and the surrounding region.
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