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Genesis 41

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Pharaoh's Dream

1 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile.
2 And lo, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the 1marsh grass.
3 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt *, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.
4 The ugly and gaunt * cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.
5 He fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good.
6 Then behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them.
7 The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
8 Now in the morning 2his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the 3magicians of Egypt, and all its 4wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but 5there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I would make mention today of 6my own offenses.
10 "Pharaoh was 7furious with his servants, and 8he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker.
11 "9We had a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream.
12 "Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a 10servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and 11he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream.
13 "And just 12as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my office, but he hanged him."

Joseph Interprets

14 Then Pharaoh sent and 13called for Joseph, and they 14hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, 15but no one can interpret it; and 16I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, "17It is not in me; 18God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."
17 So Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile;
18 and behold, seven cows, fat and sleek came up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the marsh grass.
19 "Lo, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt *, such as I had never seen for ugliness in all the land of Egypt;
20 and the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows.
21 "Yet when they had devoured * them, it could not be detected that they had devoured * them, for they were just as ugly as before. Then I awoke.
22 "I saw also in my dream, and behold, seven ears, full and good, came up on a single stalk;
23 and lo, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them;
24 and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Then 19I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me."
25 Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dreams are one and the same; 20God has told to Pharaoh what * He is about to do.
26 "The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one and the same.
27 "The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind 21will be seven years of famine.
28 "It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: 22God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do.
29 "Behold, 23seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt;
30 and after them 24seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will ravage the land.
31 "So the abundance will be unknown * in the land because * of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe.
32 "Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that 25the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about.
33 "Now let Pharaoh look for a man 26discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 "Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance.
35 "Then let them 27gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh's authority, and let them guard it.
36 "Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine."
37 Now the proposal seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his servants.

Joseph Is Made a Ruler of Egypt

38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, 28in whom is a divine spirit?"
39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so 29discerning and wise as you are.
40 "30You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you."
41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you 31over all the land of Egypt."
42 Then Pharaoh 32took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and 33put the gold necklace around his neck.
43 He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, "Bow the knee!" And he set him over all the land of Egypt.
44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Though I am Pharaoh, yet 34without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
45 Then Pharaoh named * Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of 35On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt.
46 Now Joseph was 36thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.
47 During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth abundantly.
48 So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields.
49 Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until * he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.

The Sons of Joseph

50 Now before the year of famine came, 37two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.
51 Joseph named * the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household."
52 He named * the second Ephraim, "For," he said, "38God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."
53 When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end,
54 and 39the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55 So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; 40whatever he says to you, you shall do."
56 When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.
57 The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because 41the famine was severe in all the earth.
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What Does the Life of Joseph Teach Us about Trusting God?

What Does the Life of Joseph Teach Us about Trusting God?

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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 41

  • 1. Job 8:11; Isaiah 19:6, 7
  • 2. Daniel 2:1, 3
  • 3. Exodus 7:11, 22; Daniel 1:20; Daniel 2:2
  • 4. Matthew 2:1
  • 5. Daniel 2:27; Daniel 4:7
  • 6. Genesis 40:14, 23
  • 7. Genesis 40:2, 3
  • 8. Genesis 39:20
  • 9. Genesis 40:5
  • 10. Genesis 37:36
  • 11. Genesis 40:12
  • 12. Genesis 40:21, 22
  • 13. Psalms 105:20
  • 14. Daniel 2:25
  • 15. Genesis 41:8
  • 16. Daniel 5:16
  • 17. Daniel 2:30; Zechariah 4:6; Acts 3:12; 2 Corinthians 3:5
  • 18. Genesis 40:8; Genesis 41:25, 28, 32; Deuteronomy 29:29; Daniel 2:22, 28, 47
  • 19. Isaiah 8:19; Daniel 4:7
  • 20. Genesis 41:28, 32; Dan 2:28, 29, 45
  • 21. 2 Kings 8:1
  • 22. Genesis 41:25, 32
  • 23. Genesis 41:47
  • 24. Genesis 41:54, 56; Genesis 47:13; Psalms 105:16
  • 25. Genesis 41:25, 28
  • 26. Genesis 41:39
  • 27. Genesis 41:48
  • 28. Job 32:8; Dan 4:8, 9, 18; Daniel 5:11, 14
  • 29. Genesis 41:33
  • 30. Psalms 105:21; Acts 7:10
  • 31. Genesis 42:6; Psalms 105:21; Daniel 6:3; Acts 7:10
  • 32. Esther 3:10; Esther 8:2
  • 33. Dan 5:7, 16, 29
  • 34. Psalms 105:22
  • 35. Jeremiah 43:13; Ezekiel 30:17
  • 36. Genesis 37:2
  • 37. Genesis 48:5
  • 38. Genesis 17:6; Genesis 28:3; Genesis 49:22
  • 39. Genesis 41:30; Psalms 105:16; Acts 7:11
  • 40. John 2:5
  • 41. Genesis 12:10

Footnotes 48

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Genesis 41 Commentaries

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