Genesis 41:44

44 And Pharao said to Joseph, I am Pharao; without thee no one shall lift up his hand on all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:44 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:44

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I [am] Pharaoh
Or I am king, which the word Pharaoh signifies, as Josephus F26 says; and that this is not a proper name, but a title of office, seems plain from these words; and the sense either is, that though Pharaoh had raised Joseph to such high honour and dignity, yet he alone was king: or this he said to show his power and authority to do what he had done, and would stand by him, and support him in his office and grandeur: and without thee shall not a man lift up his hand or foot in all the
land of Egypt;
which is to be taken not in a strict literal sense, but proverbially, signifying, that nothing should be done in the nation of any moment or importance, relating to political affairs, but what was by his order and authority; the hands and feet being the principal instruments of action. The Targum of Jonathan is,

``without thy word (or order) a man shall not lift up his hand to gird on armour, or his foot to mount a horse;''
signifying thereby, that all things relating to war and peace should be altogether under his direction.
FOOTNOTES:

F26 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 6. sect. 2.

Genesis 41:44 In-Context

42 And Pharao took his ring off his hand, and put it on the hand of Joseph, and put on him a robe of fine linen, and put a necklace of gold about his neck.
43 And he mounted him on the second of his chariots, and a herald made proclamation before him; and he set him over all the land of Egypt.
44 And Pharao said to Joseph, I am Pharao; without thee no one shall lift up his hand on all the land of Egypt.
45 And Pharao called the name of Joseph, Psonthomphanech; and he gave him Aseneth, the daughter of Petephres, priest of Heliopolis, to wife.
46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharao, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharao, and went through all the land of Egypt.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.