Genesis 41
41
The King’s Dreams
1Two years later the king had a dream. He dreamed he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. 2He saw seven fat and beautiful cows come up out of the river. They stood there, eating the grass. 3Then seven more cows came up out of the river. But they were thin and ugly. They stood beside the seven beautiful cows on the bank of the Nile. 4The seven thin and ugly cows ate the seven beautiful fat cows. Then the king woke up. 5The king slept again and dreamed a second time. In his dream he saw seven full and good heads of grain growing on one stalk. 6After that, seven more heads of grain sprang up. But they were thin and burned by the hot east wind. 7The thin heads of grain ate the seven full and good heads. Then the king woke up again. And he realized it was only a dream. 8The next morning the king was troubled about these dreams. So he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. The king told them his dreams. But no one could explain their meaning to him.
9Then the chief officer who served wine to the king said to him, “I remember something I promised to do. But I had forgotten about it. 10There was a time when you were angry with me and the baker. You put us in prison in the house of the captain of the guard. 11In prison we each had a dream on the same night. Each dream had a different meaning. 12A young Hebrew man was in the prison with us. He was a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he explained their meanings to us. He told each man the meaning of his dream. 13Things happened exactly as he said they would: I was given back my old position, and the baker was hanged.”
14So the king called for Joseph. The guards quickly brought him out of the prison. He shaved, put on clean clothes and went before the king.
15The king said to Joseph, “I have had a dream. But no one can explain its meaning to me. I have heard that you can explain a dream when someone tells it to you.”
16Joseph answered the king, “I am not able to explain the meaning of dreams. God will do this for the king.”
17Then the king said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile River. 18I saw seven fat and beautiful cows. They came up out of the river and ate the grass. 19Then I saw seven more cows come out of the river. They were thin and lean and ugly. They were the worst looking cows I have seen in all the land of Egypt. 20And these thin and ugly cows ate the first seven fat cows. 21But after they had eaten the seven cows, no one could tell they had eaten them. They just looked as thin and ugly as they did in the beginning. Then I woke up.
22“I had another dream. I saw seven full and good heads of grain growing on one stalk. 23Then seven more heads of grain sprang up after them. But these heads were thin and ugly. They were burned by the hot east wind. 24Then the thin heads ate the seven good heads. I told this dream to the magicians. But no one could explain its meaning to me.”
Joseph Tells the Dreams’ Meaning
25Then Joseph said to the king, “Both of these dreams mean the same thing. God is telling you what he is about to do. 26The seven good cows stand for seven years. And the seven good heads of grain stand for seven years. Both dreams mean the same thing. 27The seven thin and ugly cows stand for seven years. And the seven thin heads of grain burned by the hot east wind stand for seven years of hunger. 28This will happen as I told you. God is showing the king what he is about to do. 29You will have seven years of good crops and plenty to eat in all the land of Egypt. 30But after those seven years, there will come seven years of hunger. All the food that grew in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The time of hunger will eat up the land. 31People will forget what it was like to have plenty of food. This is because the hunger that follows will be so great. 32You had two dreams which mean the same thing. This shows that God has firmly decided that this will happen. And he will make it happen soon.
33“So let the king choose a man who is very wise and understanding. Let the king set him over the land of Egypt. 34And let the king also appoint officers over the land. They should take one-fifth of all the food that is grown during the seven good years. 35They should gather all the food that is produced during the good years that are coming. Under the king’s authority they should store the grain in the cities and guard it. 36That food should be saved for later. It will be used during the seven years of hunger that will come on the land of Egypt. Then the people in Egypt will not die during the seven years of hunger.”
Joseph Is Made Ruler over Egypt
37This seemed like a very good idea to the king. All his officers agreed. 38And the king asked them, “Can we find a better man than Joseph to take this job? God’s spirit is truly in him!”
39So the king said to Joseph, “God has shown you all this. There is no one as wise and understanding as you are. 40I will put you in charge of my palace. All the people will obey your orders. Only I will be greater than you.”
41Then the king said to Joseph, “Look! I have put you in charge of all the land of Egypt.” 42Then the king took off from his own finger his ring with the royal seal on it. And he put it on Joseph’s finger. He gave Joseph fine linen clothes to wear. And he put a gold chain around Joseph’s neck. 43The king had Joseph ride in the second royal chariot. Men walked ahead of his chariot calling, “Bow down!” By doing these things, the king put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt.
44The king said to him, “I am the king. And I say that no one in all the land of Egypt may lift a hand or a foot unless you say he may.” 45The king gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah. He also gave Joseph a wife named Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. So Joseph traveled through all the land of Egypt.
46Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving the king of Egypt. And he left the king’s court and traveled through all the land of Egypt. 47During the seven good years, the crops in the land grew well. 48And Joseph gathered all the food produced in Egypt during those seven years of good crops. He stored the food in the cities. In every city he stored grain that had been grown in the fields around that city. 49Joseph stored much grain, as much as the sand of the seashore. He stored so much grain that he could not measure it.
50Joseph’s wife was Asenath daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. Before the years of hunger came, Joseph and Asenath had two sons. 51Joseph named the first son Manasseh.# This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “made me forget.” Joseph said, “God has made me forget all the troubles I have had and all my father’s family.” 52Joseph named the second son Ephraim.# This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “given me children.” Joseph said, “God has given me children in the land of my troubles.”
53The seven years of good crops came to an end in the land of Egypt. 54Then the seven years of hunger began, just as Joseph had said. In all the lands people had nothing to eat. But in Egypt there was food. 55The time of hunger became terrible in all of Egypt. The people cried to the king for food. He said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. Do whatever he tells you to do.”
56The hunger was everywhere in that part of the world. And Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the people of Egypt. This was because the time of hunger became terrible in Egypt. 57And all the people in that part of the world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain. This was because the hunger was terrible everywhere in that part of the world.
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Genesis 41: ICB
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Genesis 41
41
From the Pit to the Palace
1After two full years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2and up from the river emerged seven healthy, fat cows, and they began grazing in the marshland. 3Then he saw seven other cows come up out of the Nile right behind them. They were ugly and thin, and they stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. 4The seven ugly, thin cows ate up the seven healthy, fat cows.
After Pharaoh’s dream he awoke 5and fell back to sleep. He dreamed a second time. In his dream, he saw seven ears of grain, plump, ripe, and growing on a single stalk. 6Close behind them sprouted seven ears of grain, thin and shriveled by the east wind. 7And the seven thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke from his vivid and disturbing dream!
8The next morning, his spirit was agitated, so he called for all the magicians # 41:8 The Hebrew word for “magicians” is hartumim and is used exclusively in connection with Egypt and Babylon. and wise men in Egypt. Pharaoh recounted his dreams to them, but no one could give him the interpretation.
9When the chief steward heard about the dreams he remembered Joseph and said to Pharaoh, “Please, your dream reminds me today of my failures. 10Once, when Pharaoh was angry with his servants, he incarcerated me and the chief baker in the prison of Potiphar, the captain of the guard. 11We both had dreams on the same night but with different meanings. 12There was a young Hebrew man imprisoned with us who had been the personal servant to the captain of the guard. And when we told him our dreams, he interpreted them and told each of us their meaning. 13And it happened just as he said. Pharaoh restored me to my post, but he had the baker impaled.”
14After hearing this, Pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph. They rushed him out of the dungeon to prepare him to meet with the king. # 41:14 Joseph’s dreams landed him in a pit and later in a prison. It was Joseph’s gift for interpreting dreams that brought him out from the prison to stand before Pharaoh (see Prov. 22:29). When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came and stood before Pharaoh. # 41:14 Joseph did not immediately beg to be released from prison. He approached the mighty Pharaoh with dignity and respect. Joseph quickly acknowledged that only God has the power to interpret dreams, for he is the One who gives them. Like the Lord Jesus, Joseph did only what the Father revealed to him (see John 5:19, 30).
15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had two dreams that no one can explain. I have heard that you are able to interpret a dream the moment you hear it.”
16“I cannot do it alone,” Joseph replied, “but God will help me to give Pharaoh the proper interpretation for Pharaoh’s welfare.”
17Then Pharaoh told Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18and up from the river emerged seven healthy, fat cows, and they began to graze in the marshland. 19Right behind them followed seven other scrawny and emaciated cows. Never have I seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt! 20The seven ugly, scrawny cows ate up the healthy, fat cows, 21but after consuming them, no one could tell that they had eaten them, for they looked just as bad as before. I awoke with a start, 22but immediately went back to sleep and had another dream. I saw seven ears of grain, full and ripe, growing on a single stalk. 23Right behind them sprouted seven thin, shriveled ears, scorched by the east wind. 24The seven shriveled ears swallowed up the seven healthy ears. I have shared my dreams with my magicians, but no one can give me an interpretation.”
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams
25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Both your dreams tell the same story, for God has prophetically told Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26Both the seven healthy cows and the seven healthy ears represent seven good years; it’s the same dream. 27The seven ugly and scrawny cows that followed and the seven shriveled ears scorched by the east wind are seven years also. They represent seven years of famine. 28It is just as I have told Pharaoh; God has divinely revealed what he is about to do. 29There will come seven years of great abundance throughout all the land of Egypt, 30-31followed by seven years of intense famine. All of Egypt will forget the former abundance, for all the land will be ravaged by a famine, a very severe famine. They will not even remember their former abundance. 32The reason that Pharaoh’s dream was repeated is that God has determined that it will surely happen, # 41:32 See Deut. 13:1–5. and that he will soon carry it out.”
33Joseph continued, “Let Pharaoh select a very wise and discerning man and set him over the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh appoint other officials throughout the land to collect one-fifth of all the crops each year during the seven plentiful years. 35Have them gather all the food of these abundant years that are coming, and under Pharaoh’s authority, have the grain stored in the cities for food. 36Store it all as food reserve for the people during the seven years of famine coming upon Egypt, so that the land will survive the famine.”
Joseph Promoted to Power
37Joseph’s proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his advisers. 38He said to them, “Where can we find anyone else like this one, for he has the Spirit of God in him!” # 41:38 How true this is of Jesus as well. There is simply no one like our Lord Jesus Christ. He walked in the fullness of the Spirit without limitation (see John 3:34). Joseph was a forerunner of our Lord Jesus. His wisdom and understanding for interpreting dreams flowed out of a relationship with God’s Spirit. True wisdom comes from the Spirit of Christ (see Col. 2:3). This is the first time that Scripture mentions that someone has the Spirit of God in them. Later in the Old Testament, Bezalel, the craftsman of the tabernacle, is similarly described (see Ex. 31:3; 35:31), as well as Daniel (see Dan. 5:14). 39So Pharaoh turned to Joseph and said, “Since God has divinely revealed this to you, there is no one as wise and full of insight as you. 40I hereby place you in charge of all my affairs, and all my people will obey your commands. # 41:40 The Hebrew text is literally “on your mouth all my people will kiss.” See also Ps. 2:11–12, where a kiss demonstrates serving and worshiping God. Only I, the king, # 41:40 Or “Only the throne,” a metonymy for the king and his authority. will be greater than you!
41“Listen to me, Joseph,” Pharaoh continued. “I am placing you in charge of all of Egypt.” 42Then he removed his signet ring, # 41:42 Pharaoh validated Joseph’s authority by giving him his signet ring, which had the royal seal of Egypt engraved upon it. placed it on Joseph’s finger, and had him clothed with fine linen robes! # 41:42 Instead of prison garments, Joseph was given the finest of clothing (the linen garments of a priest). Joseph had lost a robe twice; now he received a new one! He who had been dragging fetters of iron was now adorned with a chain of gold. Pharaoh gave Joseph an usekh, a broad collar made of gold. The Egyptians placed these collars on their deities or officials. Pharaoh recognized that God was with Joseph, and the Egyptians would recognize Joseph’s authority. See Dan. 5:7; Est. 8:2. Instead of sitting in a dingy dungeon, Joseph was free. He was even given the keys to his own chariot! Joseph was now thirty years old (see Gen. 41:46). This is the age at which Jewish men could enter priestly service at the temple and the age at which Jesus began his earthly ministry. Nevertheless, it is a very young age to be awarded the highest governmental position in a powerful nation with the responsibility of running the affairs of the country. This testifies to Joseph’s God-given wisdom and grace. He adorned him with a golden collar around his neck. 43Pharaoh had him ride in the chariot reserved for the second-in-command and sent runners going before him, crying out, “Kneel!” # 41:43 Joseph, once accused of rape, was now made prime minister, head of all the people, chief justice, and general of the armed forces in all of Egypt—all as a foreigner! He went from a prison to the highest office in the land in one day! Joseph had the strange experience of having what others dream about, but not what he dreamed about. His gifts were finally recognized, but not by his brothers. A million people shouting “Kneel!” would not do for Joseph as much as eleven brothers doing the same. This exaltation, as glorious as it was, still fell short of what God had promised Joseph in his dreams. In this way, Pharaoh placed Joseph over all the land of Egypt.
44Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh. No one in all of Egypt will lift a finger # 41:44 Or “no one will lift a hand or foot.” without your permission!”
A New Identity and a Bride
45Pharaoh gave Joseph a new name: Revealer of Secrets. # 41:45 Or “Zaphenath-Paneah.” The root word for “Zaphenath” means “to hide,” and the root word for “Paneah” means “to disclose [explain].” The Greek of the Septuagint can be translated “savior of the world [sustainer of life].” Other scholars believe it could be translated “God has said, ‘he will live.’ ” Each of these possible translations can point us to Jesus Christ, the true Revealer of Mysteries, the Savior of the world, and the One God raised from the dead. He also arranged for him to marry the daughter of Potiphera, # 41:45 Potiphera is the longer form of the name Potiphar. Some of oldest traditions of Rabbinical Judaism state that Potiphera was the same Potiphar that had Joseph imprisoned (see Rashi, Rashbam, Alshich). This would have been Joseph’s final vindication of innocence, to marry the daughter of the one who accused him. However, more contemporary scholars believe Potiphera was a different individual than the captain of the guard. the priest of Heliopolis. # 41:45 Or “On [strength, vigor],” which is also recognized as Heliopolis, a modern suburb of Cairo. It is one of the most ancient Egyptian cities and was the seat of worship of the sun god Ra. Heliopolis is the home of the oldest obelisk on earth, the Obelisk of Sesostris I. Joseph was marrying the daughter of one of the most respected men in Egypt. Her name was Asenath. # 41:45 Asenath, the daughter of the Egyptian priest of On, means “belonging to (the goddess) Neith.” Joseph was given a bride while rejected by his brothers. Joseph is a type of Christ who finds a bride during this church age. See 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25–26. And Joseph took charge over all the land of Egypt. # 41:45 Or “Joseph went out throughout the land of Egypt.” 46Joseph was thirty years old # 41:46 Jesus, too, was thirty when he began his public ministry. Ezekiel was thirty when he was visited by God. Thirty is the number of maturity and the priesthood, for a priest had to be thirty before he could serve in temple worship. when he entered the service of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. # 41:46 Joseph had lived thirteen years in captivity. Leaving Pharaoh’s presence, Joseph traveled throughout the entire land of Egypt. # 41:46 Think of this as Joseph’s royal tour, inspecting the kingdom he was to rule over.
Seven Years of Abundance
47During the seven years of abundance, the land produced bumper crops. 48Joseph supervised the gathering up of all the great stores of food of the seven years of abundance and strategically placed them in various walled cities near where the harvest was gathered. # 41:48 One can see the wisdom of Joseph in storing the grain near where it would be needed, versus keeping it all in one central storage place. 49He gathered such massive quantities of produce that he gave up trying to measure it all, for it was like counting the sand on the seashore.
Joseph’s Two Sons
50Prior to the famine, Joseph and Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis, had two sons. 51Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, # 41:51 Manasseh sounds like the Hebrew words for “he causes to forget.” saying, “God has made me forget all my troubles and my parental home.” 52The second he named Ephraim, # 41:52 Ephraim comes from the Hebrew word for “being fruitful,” with an implication of “double fruitfulness.” This is God’s order: Manasseh then Ephraim. God must cause us to forget our prisons of the past before we can become fruitful. The “King’s prison” is the place where we forget our pain so we can move on into the fruitfulness of becoming like Christ, one who forgives others. Instead of seeking revenge toward our brothers who have harmed us, we must give birth to a “Manasseh.” To call your afflictions “blessings” is to become fruitful and give birth to an “Ephraim.” In all of these things, we acknowledge that they are the glorious work of God (see Phil. 4:8)! saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
53Eventually, Egypt’s seven years of abundance came to an end. 54Then began the seven years of famine, just as Joseph prophesied. Although there was a severe famine everywhere else, food was available throughout the land of Egypt. 55When the Egyptians grew hungry, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh said to all his people, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” # 41:55 Joseph, in effect, became the Minister of Agriculture over the land. His first dream of bundles of wheat bowing before him was a prophetic hint of his future responsibilities.
56As the famine worsened over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses # 41:56 As translated from the Septuagint, Vulgate, and Syriac. The Hebrew is “he opened all that was among them.” Joseph opened the door for others to be fed. He was an exceptional administrator and a wise manager of Egypt’s resources. Because he had passed each previous test and grown in character, he was ready when the Lord promoted him to a place of such power. He handled all this prestige without pride or arrogance. Joseph was a man prepared to rule in wisdom and to use his position of authority to provide for others. God now had a man he could use as a deliverer. and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe everywhere. 57So because of the severity of the worldwide famine, people from all over the world had to come and buy grain from Joseph.
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