Genesis 41

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams

1 Two years later Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,

2 when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds.

3 After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile.

4 The sickly, thin cows ate the healthy, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

5 He fell asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, full and good, came up on one stalk.

6 After them, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up.

7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven full, good ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream.

8 When morning came, he was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I remember my faults.

10 Pharaoh had been angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard.

11 He and I had dreams on the same night; each dream had its own meaning.

12 Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, and each had its own interpretation.

13 It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged."^[a]

14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it."

16 "I am not able to," Joseph answered Pharaoh. "It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."^[b]

17 So Pharaoh said to Joseph: "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

18 when seven well-fed, healthy-looking cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds.

19 After them, seven other cows-ugly, very sickly, and thin-came up. I've never seen such ugly ones as these in all the land of Egypt.

20 Then the thin, ugly cows ate the first seven well-fed cows.

21 When they had devoured them, you could not tell that they had devoured them; their appearance was as bad as it had been before. Then I woke up.

22 In my dream I had also seen seven heads of grain, full and good, coming up on one stalk.

23 After them, seven heads of grain- withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind-sprouted up.

24 The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full ones. I told this to the magicians, but no one can tell me what it means."

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.

26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing.

27 The seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless, scorched heads of grain are seven years of famine.

28 "It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.

29 Seven^[c] years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt.

30 After them, seven years of famine will take place, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land.

31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe.

32 Because the dream was given twice to Pharaoh, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and He will soon carry it out.

33 "So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.

34 Let Pharaoh do this: Let him appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth [of the harvest] of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

35 Let them gather all the [excess] food during these good years that are coming, store the grain under Pharaoh's authority as food in the cities, and preserve [it].

36 The food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine that will take place in the land of Egypt. Then the country will not be wiped out by the famine."

Joseph Exalted

37 The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.

38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find anyone like this, a man who has the spirit of God^[d] in him?"

39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as intelligent and wise as you.

40 You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands.^[e] Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you."

41 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "See, I am placing you over all the land of Egypt."

42 Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck.

43 He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, and [servants] called out before him, "Abrek!"^[f] So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your permission no one will be able to raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On.^[g] And Joseph went throughout^[h] the land of Egypt.

Joseph's Administration

46 Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph left Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.

47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced outstanding harvests.

48 Joseph gathered all the [excess] food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and placed it in the cities. He placed the food in every city from the fields around it.

49 So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance-like the sand of the sea-that he stopped measuring it because it was beyond measure.

50 Two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine arrived. Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On,^[i] bore [them] to him.

51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, meaning, "God has made me forget all my hardship in my father's house."

52 And the second son he named Ephraim, meaning, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

53 Then the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end,

54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every country, but throughout the land of Egypt there was food.

55 Extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt, and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh told all Egypt, "Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you."

56 Because the famine had spread across the whole country, Joseph opened up [all the storehouses] and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

57 The whole world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, for the famine was severe all over the earth.

Genesis 41 Commentary

Chapter 41

Pharaoh's dreams. (1-8) Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams. (9-32) Joseph's counsel, He is highly advanced. (33-45) Joseph's children, The beginning of the famine. (46-57)

Verses 1-8 The means of Joseph's being freed from prison were Pharaoh's dreams, as here related. Now that God no longer speaks to us in that way, it is no matter how little we either heed dreams, or tell them. The telling of foolish dreams can make no better than foolish talk. But these dreams showed that they were sent of God; when he awoke, Pharaoh's spirit was troubled.

Verses 9-32 God's time for the enlargement of his people is the fittest time. If the chief butler had got Joseph to be released from prison, it is probable he would have gone back to the land of the Hebrews. Then he had neither been so blessed himself, nor such a blessing to his family, as afterwards he proved. Joseph, when introduced to Pharaoh, gives honour to God. Pharaoh had dreamed that he stood upon the bank of the river Nile, and saw the kine, both the fat ones, and the lean ones, come out of the river. Egypt has no rain, but the plenty of the year depends upon the overflowing of the river Nile. See how many ways Providence has of dispensing its gifts; yet our dependence is still the same upon the First Cause, who makes every creature what it is to us, be it rain or river. See to what changes the comforts of this life are subject. We cannot be sure that to-morrow shall be as this day, or next year as this. We must learn how to want, as well as how to abound. Mark the goodness of God in sending the seven years of plenty before those of famine, that provision might be made. The produce of the earth is sometimes more, and sometimes less; yet, take one with another, he that gathers much, has nothing over; and he that gathers little, has no lack, ( Exodus 16:18 ) . And see the perishing nature of our worldly enjoyments. The great harvests of the years of plenty were quite lost, and swallowed up in the years of famine; and that which seemed very much, yet did but just serve to keep the people alive. There is bread which lasts to eternal life, which it is worth while to labour for. They that make the things of this world their good things, will find little pleasure in remembering that they have received them.

Verses 33-45 Joseph gave good advice to Pharaoh. Fair warning should always be followed by good counsel. God has in his word told us of a day of trial before us, when we shall need all the grace we can have. Now, therefore, provide accordingly. Pharaoh gave Joseph an honourable testimony. He is a man in whom the spirit of God is; and such men ought to be valued. Pharaoh puts upon Joseph marks of honour. He gave him such a name as spoke the value he had for him, Zaphnath-paaneah, "a revealer of secrets." This preferment of Joseph encourages all to trust in God. Some translate Joseph's new name, "the saviour of the world." The brightest glories, even of the upper world, are put upon Christ, the highest trust lodged in his hand, and all power given him, both in heaven and earth.

Verses 46-57 In the names of his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph owned the Divine providence. 1. He was made to forget his misery. 2. He was made fruitful in the land of his affliction. The seven plenteous years came, and were ended. We ought to look forward to the end of the days, both of our prosperity and of our opportunity. We must not be secure in prosperity, nor slothful in making good use of opportunity. Years of plenty will end; what thy hand finds to do, do it; and gather in gathering time. The dearth came, and the famine was not only in Egypt, but in other lands. Joseph was diligent in laying up, while the plenty lasted. He was prudent and careful in giving out, when the famine came. Joseph was engaged in useful and important labours. Yet it was in the midst of this his activity that his father Jacob said, Joseph is not! What a large portion of our troubles would be done away if we knew the whole truth! Let these events lead us to Jesus. There is a famine of the bread of life throughout the whole earth. Go to Jesus, and what he bids you, do. Attend to His voice, apply to him; he will open his treasures, and satisfy with goodness the hungry soul of every age and nation, without money and without price. But those who slight this provision must starve, and his enemies will be destroyed.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gn 40:1-22
• [b]. Or "God will answer Pharaoh with peace [of mind]."
• [c]. Lit Look! Seven
• [d]. Or Spirit of God, or spirit of the gods
• [e]. Lit will kiss your mouth
• [f]. Perhaps an Egyptian word meaning Attention!; others see it as a Hb word meaning Kneel!
• [g]. Or Heliopolis
• [h]. Or Joseph gained authority over
• [i]. Or Heliopolis

Chapter Summary

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.