Genesis 41:16

16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Genesis 41:16 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”
The Message Bible (MSG)
16 Joseph answered, "Not I, but God. God will set Pharaoh's mind at ease."
American Standard Version (ASV)
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, "I can't, but God can give Pharaoh the answer that he needs."
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
16 "I am not able to," Joseph answered Pharaoh. "It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
16 "I can't do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh. "But God will give Pharaoh the answer he wants."

Genesis 41:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:16

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [it is] not in me
Which expresses his great modesty, that he did not arrogate such skill and wisdom to himself; declaring that he had no such power and abilities in and of himself, to interpret dreams; what he had was a gift of God, and wholly depended upon his influence, and the revelation he was pleased to make to him of such things: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace;
such an answer to his request in the interpretation of his dream, as shall give him full content, and make his mind quiet and easy, and which shall tend to the welfare of him and his kingdom. Some render the words as a prayer or wish, "may God give Pharaoh" F9; so as it were addressing his God, that he would be pleased to make known to him his interpretation of the dream to the satisfaction of Pharaoh: but the other sense seems best, which expresses his faith in God, that he would do it, and to whom it should be ascribed, and not unto himself.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (hney) "respondeat", Vatablus.

Genesis 41:16 In-Context

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,
18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Genesis 40:8; Daniel 2:30; Acts 3:12; 2 Corinthians 3:5
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