Literary Devices – Bereshit 47

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Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the most frequently appearing words of this chapter are פרעה, ארץ, אדמה (Paroh, country/region and land). These words relate to the main theme of the chapter which contrasts Pharaoh’s offer of "אֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן" to Yaakov’s family, with Yosef’s acquisition of the land of Egypt (אַדְמַת מִצְרַיִם) on behalf of Paroh.¹
Secondary Literature – See "ותהי הארץ לפרעה – שורשו של שעבוד מצרים" by R. David Sabato² who notes that these guiding words serve to highlight the contrast between the Egyptians and Israelites, suggesting that the favoritism shown to Yosef's family instilled jealousy and bitterness which later contributed to the enslavement of Israel.

מִקְנֶה – See the Tanakh Lab that relative to the rest of Tanakh, the word "מִקְנֶה" is the most frequently appearing word in the chapter. It, too, serves to contrast the lot of the Egyptians and that of Yaakov's family. Paroh offers Yaakov's shepherding family their own piece of land and to be officers over his cattle. In contrast, the rest of the Egyptians are forced to sell their cattle to Paroh in return for food.
Secondary Literature – See "ותהי הארץ לפרעה – שורשו של שעבוד מצרים" by R. David Sabato, discussed above.

As in many of the chapters in the Yosef narrative, forms of the words אב (father) and "אח" (brother) appear frequently in the chapter (ten and seven times, respectively), highlighting the theme of family discord and reconciliation.

Makbilot Bamikra demonstrates that the statement that Israel “were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly” (verse 27) is both an allusion and foreshadowing. It recalls previous divine promises of fertility to the Patriarchs, reflecting that Yaakov’s family has inherited the covenantal promise and continues to flourish even in Egypt. It simultaneously foreshadows the population increase described at the beginning of Shemot, which contributes to Pharaoh’s decision to enslave the nation.
Secondary Literature – See U. Simon, "יוסף משעבד את המצרים לפרעה" in בקש שלום ורדפהו, (Tel Aviv, 2002): 86-90, T. Granot, "מנהיגותו של יוסף במצרים", and D. Sabato, "ותהי הארץ לפרעה - שורשו של שעבוד מצרים", Megadim 52 (2011): 41-59. who all suggest that the foreshadowing is meant to link the later enslavement with Yosef's enslaving of the Egyptians in this chapter. They posit that the later decree stemmed from Egyptian resentment towards Yosef's favoring of his family who proliferated while everyone else was struggling to survive.

Yaakov and Yisrael – In this chapter, as in the previous one, both of Yaakov’s names are used. He is called Yaakov when he appears before Paroh, while he is referred to as Yisrael when he gives Yosef instructions to bury him in Israel. In verses 27-28, both names are used in quick succession and in similar contexts.
Secondary Literature – See R. Ezra Bick’s article, The Twilight Years, in which he suggests that Yaakov is generally called Yaakov in contexts having to do with exile, and Yisrael in contexts that relate to Jewish destiny.

Literary Devices – Bereshit 47/0