Genesis 41:31-41

31 People won't remember that there once was plenty of food in the land, because the coming famine will be so severe.

32 The reason Pharaoh has had a recurring dream is because the matter has been definitely decided by God, and he will do it very soon.

33 "Pharaoh should look for a wise and intelligent man and put him in charge of Egypt.

34 Make arrangements to appoint supervisors over the land to take a fifth of Egypt's harvest during the seven good years.

35 Have them collect all the food during these good years and store up grain under Pharaoh's control, to be kept for food in the cities.

36 This food will be a reserve supply for our country during the seven years of famine that will happen in Egypt. Then the land will not be ruined by the famine."

37 Pharaoh and all his servants liked the idea.

38 So Pharaoh asked his servants, "Can we find anyone like this--a man who has God's Spirit in him?"

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has let you know all this, there is no one as wise and intelligent as you.

40 You will be in charge of my palace, and all my people will do what you say. I will be more important than you, only because I'm Pharaoh."

41 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I now put you in charge of Egypt."

Genesis 41:31-41 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.