Genesis 41:28-38

28 That is the thing which I spoke to Par`oh. What God is about to do he has shown to Par`oh.

29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Mitzrayim.

30 There will arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Mitzrayim. The famine will consume the land,

31 and the plenty will not be known in the land by reason of that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous.

32 The dream was doubled to Par`oh, because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

33 Now therefore let Par`oh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Mitzrayim.

34 Let Par`oh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Mitzrayim's produce in the seven plenteous years.

35 Let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Par`oh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.

36 The food will be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Mitzrayim; that the land not perish through the famine."

37 The thing was good in the eyes of Par`oh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

38 Par`oh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God?"

Genesis 41:28-38 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.