Genesis 45:6
 Genesis 45:6 
New International Version (©2011)
For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.

New Living Translation (©2007)
This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

English Standard Version (©2001)
For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.

International Standard Version (©2012)
That's because this famine has been going on for two years now in this region, and there are still five years left, during which there won't be any plowing or harvesting.

NET Bible (©2006)
For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The famine has been in the land for two years. There will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For these two years has the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in the which there shall neither be plowing nor harvest.

American King James Version
For these two years has the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be ripening nor harvest.

American Standard Version
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor reaping.

Darby Bible Translation
For the famine has been these two years in the land; and yet there are five years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest.

English Revised Version
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in the which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.

Webster's Bible Translation
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in which there shall neither be tillage nor harvest.

World English Bible
For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.

Young's Literal Translation
Because these two years the famine is in the heart of the land, and yet are five years, in which there is neither ploughing nor harvest;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

45:1-15 Joseph let Judah go on, and heard all he had to say. He found his brethren humbled for their sins, mindful of himself, for Judah had mentioned him twice in his speech, respectful to their father, and very tender of their brother Benjamin. Now they were ripe for the comfort he designed, by making himself known. Joseph ordered all his attendants to withdraw. Thus Christ makes himself and his loving-kindness known to his people, out of the sight and hearing of the world. Joseph shed tears of tenderness and strong affection, and with these threw off that austerity with which he had hitherto behaved toward his brethren. This represents the Divine compassion toward returning penitents. I am Joseph, your brother. This would humble them yet more for their sin in selling him, but would encourage them to hope for kind treatment. Thus, when Christ would convince Paul, he said, I am Jesus; and when he would comfort his disciples, he said, It is I, be not afraid. When Christ manifests himself to his people, he encourages them to draw near to him with a true heart. Joseph does so, and shows them, that whatever they thought to do against him, God had brought good out of it. Sinners must grieve and be angry with themselves for their sins, though God brings good out of it, for that is no thanks to them. The agreement between all this, and the case of a sinner, on Christ's manifesting himself to his soul, is very striking. He does not, on this account, think sin a less, but a greater evil; and yet he is so armed against despair, as even to rejoice in what God hath wrought, while he trembles in thinking of the dangers and destruction from which he has escaped. Joseph promises to take care of his father and all the family. It is the duty of children, if the necessity of their parents at any time require it, to support and supply them to the utmost of their ability; this is showing piety at home, 1Ti 5:4. After Joseph had embraced Benjamin, he caressed them all, and then his brethren talked with him freely of all the affairs of their father's house. After the tokens of true reconciliation with the Lord Jesus, sweet communion with him follows.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For these two years hath the famine been, in the land,.... In the land of Egypt and in the countries round about:

and yet there are five years; still remaining, which he knew by the above dreams and the interpretation of them:

in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest; that is, no tillage of land, neither ploughing nor sowing, and so no reaping, or gathering in of the fruits of the earth, as used to be in harvest; at least, there would be very little ground tilled, only it may be on the banks of the Nile, since they had no corn to spare for seed; and besides, as the Egyptians knew by Joseph's prediction that the Nile would not overflow, it was to no purpose to attempt to plough their land, which through seven years of drought was become very difficult, or to sow, could they get the seed into the ground, since there was no likelihood of its springing up again.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest—"Ear" is an old English word, meaning "to plough" (compare 1Sa 8:12; Isa 30:24). This seems to confirm the view given (Ge 41:57) that the famine was caused by an extraordinary drought, which prevented the annual overflowing of the Nile; and of course made the land unfit to receive the seed of Egypt.


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Joseph Reveals his Identity
5Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6For these two years has the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be ripening nor harvest. 7And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Genesis 37:2 This is the account of Jacob's family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
Genesis 41:46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt.
Genesis 41:53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end,