Genesis 41:1-8

1 Und nach zwei Jahren hatte Pharao einen Traum, wie er stünde am Nil

2 und sähe aus dem Wasser steigen sieben schöne, fette Kühe; die gingen auf der Weide im Grase.

3 Nach diesen sah er andere sieben Kühe aus dem Wasser aufsteigen; die waren häßlich und mager und traten neben die Kühe an das Ufer am Wasser.

4 Und die häßlichen und mageren fraßen die sieben schönen, fetten Kühe. Da erwachte Pharao.

5 Und er schlief wieder ein, und ihn träumte abermals, und er sah, daß sieben Ähren wuchsen an einem Halm, voll und dick.

6 Darnach sah er sieben dünnen Ähren aufgehen, die waren vom Ostwind versengt.

7 Und die sieben mageren Ähren verschlangen die sieben dicken und vollen Ähren. Da erwachte Pharao und merkte, daß es ein Traum war.

8 Und da es Morgen ward, war sein Geist bekümmert; und er schickte aus und ließ rufen alle Wahrsager in Ägypten und alle Weisen und erzählte ihnen seine Träume. Aber da war keiner, der sie dem Pharao deuten konnte.

Genesis 41:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

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.