Genesis 41

Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams

1 Two years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing near the Nile.

2 In front of him, seven healthy-looking, fattened cows climbed up out of the Nile and grazed on the reeds.

3 Just then, seven other cows, terrible-looking and scrawny, climbed up out of the Nile after them and stood beside them on the bank of the Nile.

4 The terrible-looking, scrawny cows devoured the seven healthy-looking, fattened cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

5 He went back to sleep and had a second dream, in which seven ears of grain, full and healthy, grew on a single stalk.

6 Just then, seven ears of grain, scrawny and scorched by the east wind, sprouted after them,

7 and the scrawny ears swallowed up the full and well-formed ears. Then Pharaoh woke up and realized it was a dream.

8 In the morning, he was disturbed and summoned all of Egypt's religious experts and all of its advisors. Pharaoh described his dreams to them, but they couldn't interpret them for Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief wine steward spoke to Pharaoh: "Today I've just remembered my mistake.

10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker under arrest with the commander of the royal guard.

11 We both dreamed one night, he and I, and each of our dreams had its own interpretation.

12 A young Hebrew man, a servant of the commander of the royal guard, was with us. We described our dreams to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us, giving us an interpretation for each dream.

13 His interpretations came true exactly: Pharaoh restored me to my position but hanged him."

14 So Pharaoh summoned Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon. He shaved, changed clothes, and appeared before Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, but no one could interpret it. Then I heard that when you hear a dream, you can interpret it."

16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It's not me. God will give Pharaoh a favorable response."

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

18 In front of me, seven fattened, stout cows climbed up out of the Nile and grazed on the reeds.

19 Just then, seven other cows, weak and frail and thin, climbed up after them. I've never seen such awful cows in all the land of Egypt.

20 Then the thin, frail cows devoured the first seven, fattened cows.

21 But after they swallowed them whole, no one would have known it. They looked just as bad as they had before. Then I woke up.

22 I went to sleep again and saw in my dream seven full and healthy ears of grain growing on one stalk.

23 Just then, seven hard and thin ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, sprouted after them,

24 and the thin ears swallowed up the healthy ears. I told the religious experts, but they couldn't explain it to me."

25 Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh has actually had one dream. God has announced to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

26 The seven healthy cows are seven years, and the seven healthy ears of grain are seven years. It's actually one dream.

27 The seven thin and frail cows, climbing up after them, are seven years. The seven thin ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, are seven years of famine.

28 It's just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.

29 Seven years of great abundance are now coming throughout the entire land of Egypt.

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

31 No one will remember the abundance in the land because the famine that follows will be so very severe.

32 The dream occurred to Pharaoh twice because God has determined to do it, and God will make it happen soon.

Joseph’s rise to power

33 "Now Pharaoh should find an intelligent, wise man and give him authority over the land of Egypt.

34 Then Pharaoh should appoint administrators over the land and take one-fifth of all the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

35 During the good years that are coming, they should collect all such food and store the grain under Pharaoh's control, protecting the food in the cities.

36 This food will be reserved for the seven years of famine to follow in the land of Egypt so that the land won't be ravaged by the famine."

37 This advice seemed wise to Pharaoh and all his servants,

38 and Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man with more God-given gifts than this one?"

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

40 You will be in charge of my kingdom, and all my people will obey your command. Only as the enthroned king will I be greater than you."

41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Know this: I've given you authority over the entire land of Egypt."

42 Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, he dressed him in linen clothes, and he put a gold necklace around his neck.

43 He put Joseph on the chariot of his second-in-command, and everyone in front of him cried out, "Attention!" So Pharaoh installed him over the entire land of Egypt.

44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh; no one will do anything or go anywhere in all the land of Egypt without your permission."

45 Pharaoh renamed Joseph, Zaphenath-paneah, and married him to Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of Heliopolis. Then Joseph assumed control of the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh, Egypt's king, when he left Pharaoh's court and traveled through the entire land of Egypt.

47 During the seven years of abundance, the land produced plentifully.

48 He collected all of the food during the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt, and stored the food in cities. In each city, he stored the food from the fields surrounding it.

49 Joseph amassed grain like the sand of the sea. There was so much that he stopped trying to measure it because it was beyond measuring.

50 Before the years of famine arrived, Asenath the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis, gave birth to two sons for Joseph.

51 Joseph named the oldest son Manasseh,"because," he said, "God has helped me forget all of my troubles and everyone in my father's household."

52 He named the second Ephraim,"because," he said, "God has given me children in the land where I've been treated harshly."

53 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. The famine struck every country, but the entire land of Egypt had bread.

55 When the famine ravaged the entire land of Egypt and the people pleaded to Pharaoh for bread, Pharaoh said to all of the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. Do whatever he tells you."

56 The famine covered every part of the land, and Joseph opened all of the granaries and sold grain to the Egyptians. In the land of Egypt, the famine became more and more severe.

57 Every country came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because in every country the famine had also become more severe.

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]. Or magicians
• [b]. Sam; MT dream
• [c]. LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT lacks I went to sleep again.
• [d]. Or magicians
• [e]. Or like this one, in whom is the spirit of God
• [f]. Or house
• [g]. LXX; Heb uncertain, perhaps submit themselves to your command
• [h]. An Egyptian loanword similar to the Heb word kneel
• [i]. Heb On
• [j]. LXX; MT lacks of abundance.
• [k]. Heb On
• [l]. Or making forget
• [m]. Sounds like has given me children.
• [n]. LXX, Syr; MT what was in them

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.