Genesis 41:38

38 And Pharaoh said to his bondmen, Shall we find [one] as this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

Genesis 41:38 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:38

And Pharaoh said unto his servants
That were about him, and with whom he was consulting about a proper person to be over this affair of gathering in the fruits of the earth in the time of plenty, and laying them up against a time of famine: can we find [such an one] as this [is], in whom the Spirit of God
[is]?
if we search among all the ranks and degrees of men throughout the kingdom, let them be of what character they will, we shall never find a man like this, who appears to have the Spirit of God, or "of the gods", as he in his Heathenish way spoke, and which he concluded from his vast knowledge of things; and especially of things future: hence the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan interpret it, the spirit of prophecy from the Lord.

Genesis 41:38 In-Context

36 And let the food be as store for the land for the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Egypt, that the land perish not through the famine.

37 And the word was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his bondmen.

38 And Pharaoh said to his bondmen, Shall we find [one] as this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

39 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Since God has made all this known to thee, there is none [so] discreet and wise as thou.

40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy commandment shall all my people regulate themselves; only concerning the throne will I be greater than thou.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'the spirit of the gods.'