Genesis 41:5-15

5 He fell asleep again and had another dream. Seven heads of grain, full and ripe, were growing on one stalk.
6 Then seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the desert wind,
7 and the thin heads of grain swallowed the full ones. The king woke up and realized that he had been dreaming.
8 In the morning he was worried, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. He told them his dreams, but no one could explain them to him. 1
9 Then the wine steward said to the king, "I must confess today that I have done wrong.
10 You were angry with the chief baker and me, and you put us in prison in the house of the captain of the guard.
11 One night each of us had a dream, and the dreams had different meanings.
12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us.
13 Things turned out just as he said: you restored me to my position, but you executed the baker."
14 The king sent for Joseph, and he was immediately brought from the prison. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came into the king's presence.
15 The king said to him, "I have had a dream, and no one can explain it. I have been told that you can interpret dreams."

Genesis 41:5-15 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.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 41.8Daniel 2.2.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.