So when the famine had spread over the land is literally “and the famine was on all the face of the land.” See Good News Translation.

Opened all the storehouses: the Hebrew text says “opened all that was in them.” See Revised Standard Version footnote. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project supports Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation storehouses. Storehouses, as used here, refers to large buildings with walls and roof, where grain was kept until needed. In some areas these may be the equivalent of “barns” or “storage sheds.” Translators may be helped by referring to 6.21.

And sold to the Egyptians: that is, “sold the grain to the people of Egypt.”

For the famine was severe: note that this clause is expressed at the beginning of verse 56 in Good News Translation, “The famine grew worse and spread….”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .