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Genesis 41:33-45

Listen to Genesis 41:33-45
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land[a] of Egypt during the seven plentiful years.
35 And 1let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.
36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine. ”

Joseph Rises to Power

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, 2in whom is the Spirit of God? ” [b]
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.
40 3You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. [c] Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you. ”
41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, 4I have set you over all the land of Egypt. ”
42 Then Pharaoh 5took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and 6clothed him in garments of fine linen 7and put a gold chain about his neck.
43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. 8And they called out before him, “Bow the knee! ” [d] Thus he set him 9over all the land of Egypt.
44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and 10without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. ”
45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:33-45 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 41

In this chapter are related Pharaoh's dreams, which his magicians could not interpret, Ge 41:1-9, upon which the chief butler now remembering Joseph, recommended him to Pharaoh as an interpreter, having had an happy experience of him as such himself, Ge 41:10-13, when Joseph was sent for out of prison; and Pharaoh having related his dreams, he interpreted them of seven years of plenty, and seven years of famine, that should be in the land of Egypt, Ge 41:14-32; and having done, he gave his advice to provide in the years of plenty against the years of famine, and proposed a scheme for doing it, which was approved of by Pharaoh and his ministers, Ge 41:33-37; and Joseph himself was pitched upon as the most proper person to execute it, and was appointed chief over the kingdom next to Pharaoh, who gave him a new name and a wife upon this occasion, Ge 41:38-45; accordingly, in the years of plenty he took a tour throughout the whole land, and gathered and laid up food in vast quantities in every city, Ge 41:46-49; an account is given of two sons born to Joseph, and of their names, Ge 41:50-52; and of the seven years of famine, beginning to come on at the end of the seven years of plenty, which brought great distress on the land of Egypt, and the countries round about, who all came to Joseph to buy corn, Ge 41:53-57.

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Cross References 10

  • 1. 41:35 ver. 48
  • 2. 41:38 Num. 27:18; Dan. 4:8, 18; 5:11, 14
  • 3. 41:40 Ps. 105:21; Acts 7:10
  • 4. 41:41 ch. 42:6
  • 5. 41:42 Esth. 3:10; 8:2, 8, 10
  • 6. 41:42 [Esth. 8:15]
  • 7. 41:42 Ezek. 16:11; [Dan. 5:7, 29]
  • 8. 41:43 [Esth. 6:9]
  • 9. 41:43 ver. 40; ch. 42:6; 45:8, 9, 26
  • 10. 41:44 [Ps. 105:21, 22]

Footnotes 4

  • [a] 41:34 Or 'over the land and organize the land'
  • [b] 41:38 Or 'of the gods'
  • [c] 41:40 Hebrew 'and according to your command all my people shall kiss the ground'
  • [d] 41:43 'Abrek', probably an Egyptian word, similar in sound to the Hebrew word meaning 'to kneel'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025

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