Genesis 41
41
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams
1At the end of two years Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,#Gn 41:17–23 2when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. 3After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile. 4The sickly, thin cows ate the healthy, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5He fell asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and good, came up on one stalk. 6After them, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up. 7The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, full ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream.
8When morning came, he was troubled,#Dn 2:1,3 so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men.#Ex 7:11,22; Dn 1:20; 2:2 Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
9Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I remember my faults. 10Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guards. 11He and I had dreams on the same night; each dream had its own meaning. 12Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, and each had its own interpretation. 13It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”#Gn 40:1–22
14Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon.#41:14 Or pit, or cistern#Ps 105:20 He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to Pharaoh.#Dn 2:25
15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.”#Dn 5:16
16“I am not able to,”#Dn 2:30 Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”#41:16 Or “God will answer Pharaoh with peace of mind.”#Gn 40:8; Dn 2:22,28,47
17So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18when seven well-fed, healthy-looking cows came up from the Nile and grazed among the reeds. 19After them, seven other cows — weak, very sickly, and thin — came up. I’ve never seen such sickly ones as these in all the land of Egypt. 20Then the thin, sickly cows ate the first seven well-fed cows. 21When they had devoured them, you could not tell that they had devoured them; their appearance was as bad as it had been before. Then I woke up. 22In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, coming up on one stalk. 23After them, seven heads of grain — withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind — sprouted up. 24The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good ones. I told this to the magicians, but no one can tell me what it means.”#Is 8:19; Dn 4:7
25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.#Dn 2:28–29,45; Rv 4:1 26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing. 27The seven thin, sickly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind are seven years of famine.#2Kg 8:1
28“It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. 30After them, seven years of famine will take place, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land.#Gn 41:54,56; 47:13; Ps 105:16 31The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe. 32Since the dream was given twice to Pharaoh, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and he will carry it out soon.
33“So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh do this: Let him appoint overseers over the land and take a fifth of the harvest of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35Let them gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. Under Pharaoh’s authority, store the grain in the cities, so they may preserve it as food. 36The food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine that will take place in the land of Egypt. Then the country will not be wiped out by the famine.”
Joseph Exalted
37The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants, 38and he said to them, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit#41:38 Or the spirit of the gods, or a god’s spirit in him?” #Jb 32:8; Dn 4:8,9,18; 5:11,14 39So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are. 40You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands.#41:40 Lit will kiss your mouth#Ps 105:21; Ac 7:10 Only I, as king,#41:40 Lit Only the throne I will be greater than you.” 41Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “See, I am placing you over all the land of Egypt.” 42Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck.#Est 3:10; 8:2; Dn 5:7,16,29 43He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, and servants called out before him, “Make way!” #41:43 Or “Kneel!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt. 44Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh and no one will be able to raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt without your permission.” 45Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On.#41:45 Or Heliopolis, also in v. 50 And Joseph went throughout#41:45 Or Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt.
Joseph’s Administration
46Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.
47During the seven years of abundance the land produced outstanding harvests. 48Joseph gathered all the excess food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and put it in the cities. He put the food in every city from the fields around it. 49So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance — like the sand of the sea — that he stopped measuring it because it was beyond measure.
50Two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine arrived.#Gn 46:20; 48:5 Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On, bore them to him. 51Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh#41:51 In Hb, the name Manasseh sounds like the verb “forget.” and said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and my whole family.” 52And the second son he named Ephraim#41:52 In Hb, the name Ephraim sounds like the word for “fruitful.” and said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
53Then the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every land, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55When the whole land of Egypt was stricken with famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh told all Egypt, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” 56Now the famine had spread across the whole region, so Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57Every land came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, for the famine was severe in every land.#Gn 12:10
Currently Selected:
Genesis 41: CSB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Genesis 41
41
1And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh (Great House) dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
2And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured cows and fatfleshed [plump]; and they fed in a meadow.
3And, behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed [emaciated]; and stood by the [other] cows upon the brink of the river.
4And the ill favoured and leanfleshed cows did eat up the seven well favoured and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.
5And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
6And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
7And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, [it was] a dream.
8And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Mitzrayim [Egypt], and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but [there was] none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
9Then spoke the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:
10Pharaoh was exceedingly angry with his servants, and put me in ward (in custody, with a guard; prison) in the captain of the guard’s house, [both] me and the chief baker:
11And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
12And [there was] there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.
13And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto my office, and him he hanged.
14Then Pharaoh (Great House) sent and called Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]), and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved [himself], and changed his clothing, and came in unto Pharaoh.
15And Pharaoh said unto Yosef, I have dreamed a dream, and [there is] none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of youi, [that] youi can understand a dream to interpret it.
16And Yosef answered Pharaoh, saying, [It is] not in me: God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
17And Pharaoh said unto Yosef, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:
18And, behold, there came up out of the river seven cows, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
19And, behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] for badness:
20And the lean and the ill favoured cows did eat up the first seven fat cows:
21And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they [were] still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
22And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:
23And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, [and] blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:
24And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told [this] unto the magicians; but [there was] none that could declare [it] to me.
25And Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]) said unto Pharaoh (Great House), The dream of Pharaoh [is] one: God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] has showed Pharaoh what he [is] about to do.
26The seven good cows [are] seven years; and the seven good ears [are] seven years: the dream [is] one.
27And the seven thin and ill favoured cows that came up after them [are] seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
28This [is] the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] [is] about to do he shows unto Pharaoh.
29Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] (Double Distress or Double Stronghold, Black Land):
30And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] (Double Distress or Double Stronghold, Black Land); and the famine shall consume the land;
31And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it [shall be] very grievous.
32And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; [it is] because the thing [is] established by God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered], and God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] will shortly bring it to pass.
33Now therefore let Pharaoh (Great House) look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] (Double Distress or Double Stronghold, Black Land).
34Let Pharaoh do [this], and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] in the seven plenteous years.
35And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt]; that the land perish not through the famine.
37And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh (Great House), and in the eyes of all his servants.
38And Pharaoh (Great House) said unto his servants, Can we find [such a one] as this [is], a man in whom the Spirit of God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] [is]?
39And Pharaoh (Great House) said unto Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]), Forasmuch as God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] has showed youi all this, [there is] none so discreet and wise as youi [are]:
40Youi shall be over my house, and according unto youri word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than youi.
41And Pharaoh (Great House) said unto Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]), See, I have set youi over all the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt].
42And Pharaoh (Great House) took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Yosef’s (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]) hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
43And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him [ruler] over all the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] (Double Distress or Double Stronghold, Black Land).
44And Pharaoh (Great House) said unto Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]), I am Pharaoh (Great House), and without youi shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] (Double Distress or Double Stronghold, Black Land).
45And Pharaoh called Yosef’s (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]) name Tzafnat-Pa’neach (Treasury of the Glorious Rest; Revealer of the Secrets of Life): and he gave him to wife Asenath (gift of the water) the daughter of Osnat the daughter of Poti-Fera priest of On (belonging to the sun-god; he whom Ra gave) [On = meaning sun-city; Heliopolis]. And Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]) went out over [all] the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] (Double Distress or Double Stronghold, Black Land).
46And Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]) [was] thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh (Great House) king of Mitzrayim [Egypt] (Double Distress or Double Stronghold, Black Land). And Yosef went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt].
47And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
48And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt], and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which [was] round about every city, laid he up in the same.
49And Yosef gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for [it was] without number.
50And unto Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]) were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Osnat (gift of the water) the daughter of Poti-Fera (belonging to the sun-god; he whom Ra gave) priest of On (meaning sun-city; Heliopolis) bore unto him.
51And Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]) called the name of the firstborn M’nasheh (causing to forget; from a debt): For God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered], [said he], has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
52And the name of the second he called Efrayim (Out of the Ashes I am Fruitful; fruitful in affliction): For God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
53And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] (Double Distress or Double Stronghold, Black Land), were ended.
54And the seven years of famine began to ome, according as Yosef had said: and the famine was in all lands; but in all the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] there was bread.
55And when all the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt] (Double Distress or Double Stronghold, Black Land) was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh (Great House) for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Mitzrayimot [Egyptians] (People of the Black Land), Go unto Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]); what he says to you, do.
56And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Yosef opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Mitzrayimot [Egyptians]Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt].
57And all countries came into Mitzrayim [Egypt] to Yosef for to buy [corn]; because that the famine was [so] sore in all lands.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Text copyright © 2000-2018 TOV Rose
For more information about the NMV, details about why the names of God are notated and translated as they are, or to learn about the special markings and translations used in this text, click below.
Follow the instructions and you will receive the free e-book by email.