Genesis41

Pharaoh experiences two disturbing dreams that none of his wise men can interpret. The chief butler remembers Joseph, who is brought from prison and, attributing his ability to God, interprets the dreams as seven years of abundant harvest followed by seven years of severe famine. Pharaoh, recognizing God's Spirit in Joseph, elevates him to second in command over all Egypt to prepare for the coming scarcity. Joseph diligently gathers vast stores of grain, ensuring Egypt's survival and becoming a source of sustenance for surrounding nations during the widespread famine.
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Pharaoh's Disturbing Dreams

1
And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. ​
2
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. ​
3
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
4
And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. ​
5
And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. ​
6
And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
7
And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
8
And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. ​

The Butler Remembers Joseph

9
Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: ​
10
Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:
11
And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
12
And 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.
13
And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.

Joseph Is Brought Before Pharaoh

14
Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. ​
15
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
16
And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. ​
17
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:
18
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
19
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
20
And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
21
And 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.
22
And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:
23
And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:
24
And 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.

Joseph Interprets the Dreams

25
And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. ​
26
The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
27
And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
28
This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
29
Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
30
And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
31
And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
32
And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. ​
33
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. ​
34
Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. ​
35
And 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.
36
And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

Joseph Elevated to Second Ruler

37
And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
38
And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? ​
39
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
40
Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. ​
41
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
42
And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; ​
43
And 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 Egypt.
44
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
45
And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. ​

Joseph Administers Egypt

46
And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. ​
47
And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
48
And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of 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.
49
And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
50
And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
51
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. ​
52
And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. ​
53
And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
54
And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. ​
55
And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
56
And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. ​
57
And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. ​

Study Notes for Genesis 41

Verse 1

The phrase 'at the end of two full years' highlights the divine timing of Joseph’s release, emphasizing that even long delays serve God’s ultimate purpose. The river mentioned is the Nile, the source of life and fertility in Egypt.

Verse 2

The 'kine' (cattle) were central to Egyptian religious symbolism and economy, making them highly evocative symbols of prosperity. The setting by the riverbank reinforces the theme of Egyptian reliance on the Nile.

Verse 4

The consumption of the strong by the weak is unnatural and signals the severity of the coming crisis. This dream symbolizes a complete reversal of fortune and the utter destruction of past wealth.

Verse 5

The second dream, involving grain, confirms the message of the first, dealing specifically with agricultural output, the primary source of food.

Verse 8

Pharaoh consults the traditional sources of Egyptian wisdom—magicians and wise men—but they are unable to interpret the divine revelation, demonstrating the limits of human knowledge against God's plan.

Verse 9

The chief butler finally remembers Joseph, driven not by altruism but by the crisis in Pharaoh’s court. He uses the phrase 'I do remember my faults this day,' acknowledging his failure to keep his promise (Gen. 40:23).

Verse 14

Joseph was hastily prepared for court, requiring him to shave and change clothes, adhering to Egyptian purification protocols before meeting the Pharaoh, who was considered divine.

Verse 16

Joseph immediately refuses to take credit for the interpretive gift, redirecting all glory to God (Yahweh). This confession stands in stark contrast to the self-proclaimed power of the Egyptian wise men.

Verse 25

Joseph states that the dreams are 'one,' meaning they convey the same message, confirming that the coming event is certain and divinely determined ('God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do').

Verse 32

The doubling of the dream serves as a sign of certainty and urgency; the event has been 'established by God' and will happen imminently. This principle is often used in Scripture to validate prophecy.

Verse 33

Joseph transitions from interpreter to policy advisor, demonstrating practical wisdom and administrative skill. He suggests a proactive strategy to mitigate the coming disaster.

Verse 34

Joseph’s proposed tax rate of one-fifth (20%) was high but necessary for survival. This strategy ensures the government accumulates the massive surplus needed to feed the nation during the famine.

Verse 38

Pharaoh recognizes that Joseph possesses a wisdom far superior to his own advisors, concluding that he must be filled with the 'Spirit of God' (Hebrew: *ruach elohim*), a remarkable affirmation from a pagan king.

Verse 40

Joseph is appointed Vizier, the highest non-royal office in Egypt. This elevation fulfills the prophetic dreams from his youth (Gen. 37) and demonstrates God's sovereignty over human affairs.

Verse 42

The signet ring symbolized Pharaoh’s authority, making Joseph his legal representative. The fine linen and gold chain were insignia of high governmental rank, confirming his absolute power.

Verse 45

Joseph is given an Egyptian name (Zaphnathpaaneah) and married into the highest religious family, the daughter of the priest of On (Heliopolis). This fully integrates him into the Egyptian establishment, preparing him for his national role.

Verse 46

Joseph was thirty years old, the age of maturity often associated with the beginning of a major service or ministry (cf. Luke 3:23). He spent 13 years in slavery and prison before this dramatic elevation.

Verse 51

Manasseh means 'making forget.' Joseph acknowledges that God has allowed him to forget (or overcome) the immense pain of his past suffering and his separation from his family.

Verse 52

Ephraim means 'fruitful.' Joseph recognizes that God has granted him prosperity and blessing even in the land of his affliction, highlighting God’s ability to bring good out of hardship.

Verse 54

The famine was not localized to Egypt but affected 'all lands,' setting the stage for the narrative reunion of Joseph with his family, who will be forced to travel from Canaan to buy grain.

Verse 56

Joseph’s administrative foresight saved Egypt. He opened the storehouses and sold the grain, establishing Egypt as the global center for relief during the crisis.

Verse 57

The global scope of the famine and the necessity of coming to Joseph for food emphasize his role as a type of savior figure, providing physical sustenance and foreshadowing Christ’s role in providing spiritual sustenance.

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