God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it.
For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul [it]? and his hand [is] stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
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Commentary for Genesis 41:32
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Origin of Dreams:** The verse emphasizes that Pharaoh's dreams are from God, underscoring the theme of divine communication through dreams in the Bible.
2. **Certainty of Fulfillment:** The doubling of Pharaoh's dream signifies the certainty that the events foretold will come to pass, highlighting the theme of God's sovereignty and the inevitability of His plans.
3. **God's Sovereignty and Control:** The verse reflects the theme that God is in control of all aspects of creation, including natural cycles like famines and plenty, and He reveals His intentions to humanity.
4. **Wisdom and Interpretation:** The context of the verse involves Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, showcasing the theme of wisdom and the ability to understand divine messages, which is a gift from God.
**Historical Context:**
Genesis 41:32 is part of the narrative of Joseph, one of the patriarchs of Israel, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and eventually rose to a position of power in Egypt. At this point in the story, Joseph has been summoned from prison to interpret Pharaoh's troubling dreams, which no Egyptian wise man or magician could explain.
The historical setting is during the second millennium BCE, likely during the Hyksos period or the early 18th Dynasty of Egypt, when Semitic peoples like Joseph had a presence in Egypt. The narrative reflects the cultural practice of dream interpretation as a means of discerning the future, a practice common in the ancient Near East.
Pharaoh's dreams, which involved seven lean cows consuming seven fat cows and seven withered ears of grain consuming seven healthy ears, symbolized seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph's correct interpretation and proposed strategy for managing the crisis led to his elevation to a high administrative position in Egypt.
This verse is significant as it marks the turning point in Joseph's fortunes and sets the stage for the fulfillment of the dreams, which will eventually lead to the reunification of Joseph with his family and their settlement in Egypt, a pivotal event in the history of the Israelites.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H2472 There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: חֲלוֹם Transliteration: chălôwm Pronunciation: khal-ome' Description: or (shortened) חֲלֹם; from חָלַם; a dream; dream(-er).
Strong's Number: H8138 There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׁנָה Transliteration: shânâh Pronunciation: shaw-naw' Description: a primitive root; to fold, i.e. duplicate (literally or figuratively); by implication, to transmute (transitive or intransitive); do (speak, strike) again, alter, double, (be given to) change, disguise, (be) diverse, pervert, prefer, repeat, return, do the second time.
Strong's Number: H6547 There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: פַּרְעֹה Transliteration: Parʻôh Pronunciation: par-o' Description: of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings; Pharaoh.
Strong's Number: H6471 There are 108 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: פַּעַם Transliteration: paʻam Pronunciation: pah'-am Description: or (feminine) פַּעֲמָה; from פָּעַם; a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow); anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-) fold, [idiom] now, (this) [phrase] once, order, rank, step, [phrase] thrice, (often-), second, this, two) time(-s), twice, wheel.
Strong's Number: H1697 There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: דָּבָר Transliteration: dâbâr Pronunciation: daw-baw' Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
Strong's Number: H3559 There are 210 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: כּוּן Transliteration: kûwn Pronunciation: koon Description: a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous); certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-) stablish, stand, tarry, [idiom] very deed.
Strong's Number: H5973 There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עִם Transliteration: ʻim Pronunciation: eem Description: from עָמַם; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English); accompanying, against, and, as ([idiom] long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al).
Strong's Number: H430 There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֱלֹהִים Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym Pronunciation: el-o-heem' Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
Strong's Number: H4116 There are 60 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: מָהַר Transliteration: mâhar Pronunciation: maw-har' Description: a primitive root; properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e. (by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often used (with another verb) adverbially, promptly; be carried headlong, fearful, (cause to make, in, make) haste(-n, -ily), (be) hasty, (fetch, make ready) [idiom] quickly, rash, [idiom] shortly, (be so) [idiom] soon, make speed, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] straightway, [idiom] suddenly, swift.
Strong's Number: H6213 There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עָשָׂה Transliteration: ʻâsâh Pronunciation: aw-saw' Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.