When all the land of Egypt was famished: that is, “When the people of Egypt became hungry.” Some translations say “… ran out of food” or “… began to be short of food.”

Cried to Pharaoh for bread: that is, “begged the king for food.”

Go to Joseph: that is, “Go and ask Joseph [for food].”

What he says to you, do: that is, “and do whatever he tells you to do.”

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 .