Genesis 41:44

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh. But without your word, no one will do anything in the whole 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Genesis 41:44 In-Context

42 Then Pharaoh took his ring off his finger. It was the ring he used to stamp all of the official papers. He put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes that were made out of fine linen. He put a gold chain around his neck.

43 He also had him ride in a chariot. Joseph was now next in command after Pharaoh. People went in front of him and shouted, "Get down on your knees!" By doing all of those things, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh. But without your word, no one will do anything in the whole land of Egypt."

45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah. He gave him a wife. She was Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera. Potiphera was the priest of On. Joseph traveled all over the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He left Pharaoh's palace and traveled all over Egypt.