Genesis 41

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams

1 And it happened [that] after {two full years} Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he was standing by the Nile.

2 And behold, seven cows, {well built and fat}, were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds.

3 And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, {ugly and gaunt}, and they stood beside those cows on the bank of the Nile.

4 And the {ugly and gaunt} cows ate the seven {well built and fat} cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.

5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time, and behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were coming out of one stalk.

6 And behold, seven thin ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them.

7 And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven plump and full ears of grain. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, [it was] a dream.

8 And it happened [that] in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called all of the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men, and Pharaoh told his dream to them. But {they had no interpretation} for Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief of the cupbearers spoke with Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my sins today.

10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the house of the chief of the guard.

11 And we dreamed a dream one night, I and he, {each with a dream that had a meaning}.

12 And there with us [was] a young man, a Hebrew servant of the chief of the guard, and we told him [the dream], and he interpreted our dreams for us, each according to his dream he interpreted.

13 And it happened just as he interpreted to us, so it was. He restored me to my office, and him he hanged."

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called [for] Joseph, and they brought him quickly from the prison. And he shaved and changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.

15 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I dreamed a dream, but there is none to interpret it. Now, I have heard concerning you [that when] you hear a dream [you can] interpret it."

16 Then Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, "{It is not in my power}; God will answer [concerning] the well-being of Pharaoh."

17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "[Now] in my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

18 and behold, seven cows, {well built and fat}, were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds.

19 And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, very {ugly and gaunt}--never have I seen [any] as them in all the land of Egypt for ugliness.

20 And the thin and ugly cows ate the former seven healthy cows.

21 But [when] they went into their bellies it could not be known that they went into their bellies, for their appearance [was] as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke.

22 Then I saw in my dream and behold, seven ears of grain were coming out of one stalk, full and good.

23 And behold, seven withered ears of grain, thin [and] scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them.

24 And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven good ears of grain. And I told the magicians, but there was none to explain [it] to me."

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh [are] one. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

26 The seven good cows, they are seven years, and the seven good ears of grain, they [are] seven years. The dreams [are] one.

27 And the seven thin and ugly cows coming up after them, they [are] seven years, and the seven empty ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, they are [also] seven years of famine.

28 This [is] the word that I have spoken to Pharaoh; God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.

29 Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the whole land of Egypt.

30 Then seven years of famine will arise after them, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will consume the land.

31 Abundance in the land will not be known because of the famine {that follows}, for it will be very heavy.

32 Now concerning the repetition of the dream twice to Pharaoh, [it is] because the matter [is] established by God, and God will do [it] quickly.

33 Now then, let Pharaoh select a man [who is] discerning and wise, and let him set him over the land of Egypt.

34 Let Pharaoh do [this], and let him appoint supervisors over the land, and let him take one-fifth from the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance.

35 Then let them gather all the food of these coming good years and let them pile up grain under the hand of Pharaoh [for] food in the cities, and let them keep [it].

36 Then the food shall be as a deposit for the land for the seven years of the famine that will be in the land of Egypt, that the land will not perish on account of the famine."

Joseph Rises to Power

37 And the plan was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.

38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this in whom is the spirit of God?"

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

40 You shall be over my house, and to your word all my people shall submit. Only [with respect to] the throne will I be greater than you."

41 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."

42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and put it on the finger of Joseph. And he clothed him with garments of fine linen, and he put a chain of gold around his neck.

43 And he had him ride in his second chariot. And they cried out before him, "Kneel!" And Pharaoh set him over all the land of Egypt.

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I [am] Pharaoh, but without your consent no one will lift his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt."

45 And Pharaoh called the name of Joseph Zaphenath-paneah and gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as a wife. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

46 Now Joseph {was thirty years old} when he stood before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and traveled through the whole land of Egypt.

47 And the land produced a plenty in the seven years of abundance.

48 And he gathered all the food of the seven years which [occurred] in the land of Egypt. And he stored the food in the cities. The food of the field that surrounded [each] city he stored in its midst.

49 And Joseph piled up grain like the sand of the sea in great abundance until he stopped counting [it], for {it could not be counted}.

50 Before the years of famine came, Asenath, daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore two sons to him.

51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, for [he said], "God has caused me to forget all my hardship and all my father's house."

52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim, for [he said], "God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortune."

53 And the seven years of abundance which [were] in the land of Egypt came to an end.

54 And the seven years of famine began to come as Joseph had said. And there was famine in all of the countries, but in the land of Egypt there was food.

55 And when all the land of Egypt was hungry the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. And Pharaoh said to all the land of Egypt, "Go to Joseph; what he says to you, you must do."

56 And the famine was over the whole land, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold [food] to the Egyptians. And the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

57 And every land came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, for the famine was severe in every land.

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]. Literally "two years of days"
• [b]. Literally "beautiful of appearance and healthy of flesh"
• [c]. Literally "Poor of appearance and thin of flesh"
• [d]. Or "the"
• [e]. Literally "Poor of appearance and thin of flesh"
• [f]. Literally "beautiful of appearance and healthy of flesh"
• [g]. Or "soothsayer priests"
• [h]. Literally "there was no interpretation with them"
• [i]. Literally "each according to his dream we dreamed"
• [j]. That is, Pharaoh
• [k]. That is, the chief baker
• [l]. That is, Pharaoh
• [m]. Literally "besides me"
• [n]. Literally "beautiful of appearance and healthy of flesh"
• [o]. Literally "Poor of appearance and thin of flesh"
• [p]. Or "inner parts"
• [q]. Or "inner parts"
• [r]. Or "soothsayer priests"
• [s]. Literally "that thus afterwards"
• [t]. Or "word"
• [u]. Or "mouth"
• [v]. Literally "a son of thirty years"
• [w]. Literally "there was no number"
• [x]. Hebrew "that which 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.