וַיִּ֨קֶן יוֹסֵ֜ף אֶת־כָּל־אַדְמַ֤ת מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לְפַרְעֹ֔ה כִּֽי־מָכְר֤וּ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ אִ֣ישׁ שָׂדֵ֔הוּ כִּֽי־חָזַ֥ק עֲלֵהֶ֖ם הָרָעָ֑ב וַתְּהִ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ לְפַרְעֹֽה׃
Da kaufte Joseph das ganze Ackerland der Ägypter für Pharao; denn die Ägypter verkauften allesamt ihre Felder, weil die Hungersnot stark auf ihnen lastete. So kam das Land an Pharao.
Rashi on Genesis
ותהי הארץ לפרעה SO THE LAND BECAME PHARAOH’S — possessed by him.
Malbim on Genesis
Yoseif bought all the land. He did not wish to purchase their bodies in exchange for bread, since it is the duty of a ruler to feed his people. Only when they asked to return to their lands did he make serfdom a precondition.
Siftei Chakhamim
Bought for him. Rashi is explaining that it does not mean under his rulership, as that was so even beforehand. 21