Genesis 41:7-17

7 The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full, healthy heads. Then Pharaoh woke up. It was only a dream.

8 In the morning he was so upset that he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could tell him what they meant.

9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, "I remember a promise I failed to keep.

10 Some time ago when Pharaoh was angry with his servants, he confined me and the chief baker to the captain of the guard's prison.

11 We both had dreams the same night. Each dream had its own meaning.

12 A young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guard, was with us. We told him our dreams, and he told each of us what they meant.

13 What he told us happened: Pharaoh restored me to my position, but he hung the baker on a pole."

14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and immediately he was brought from the prison. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came in front of Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can tell me what it means. I heard that when you are told a dream, you can say what it means."

16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, "I can't, but God can give Pharaoh the answer that he needs."

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile.

Genesis 41:7-17 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.