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.
The famine has been in the land for two years now, and there are still five more years to come when there will be no plowing or harvesting.
Joseph is explaining that they're only two years into a seven-year famine, with five more difficult years ahead where no crops will grow.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and later rose to power in Egypt, is speaking during a severe famine that he had predicted through interpreting Pharaoh's dreams about seven years of abundance followed by seven years of scarcity. At this point in the story, two years into the famine, Joseph is reassuring his family that there are still five more years ahead with no opportunity for planting or harvesting, emphasizing the ongoing crisis and his role in managing Egypt's resources. This verse underscores the fulfillment of divine prophecy and the providence of God in Joseph's life.
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