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Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 And it happened that after two full years[a] Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. And behold, seven cows, well built and fat,[b] were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds. And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt,[c] and they stood beside those[d] cows on the bank of the Nile. And the ugly and gaunt[e] cows ate the seven well built and fat[f] cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time, and behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were coming out of one stalk. And behold, seven thin ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven plump and full ears of grain. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And it happened that in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called all of the magicians[g] of Egypt, and all its wise men, and Pharaoh told his dream to them. But they had no interpretation[h] for Pharaoh. Then the chief of the cupbearers spoke with Pharaoh, saying, “I remember my sins today. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the house of the chief of the guard. 11 And we dreamed a dream one night, I and he, each with a dream that had a meaning.[i] 12 And there with us was a young man, a Hebrew servant of the chief of the guard, and we told him the dream, and he interpreted our dreams for us, each according to his dream he interpreted. 13 And it happened just as he interpreted to us, so it was. He[j] restored me to my office, and him[k] he[l] hanged.” 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they brought him quickly from the prison. And he shaved and changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. 15 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I dreamed a dream, but there is none to interpret it. Now, I have heard concerning you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Then Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, “It is not in my power;[m] God will answer concerning the well-being of Pharaoh.” 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now in my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 and behold, seven cows, well built and fat,[n] were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds. 19 And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, very ugly and gaunt[o]—never have I seen any as them in all the land of Egypt for ugliness. 20 And the thin and ugly cows ate the former seven healthy cows. 21 But when they went into their bellies[p] it could not be known that they went into their bellies,[q] for their appearance was as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 Then I saw in my dream and behold, seven ears of grain were coming out of one stalk, full and good. 23 And behold, seven withered ears of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. 24 And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven good ears of grain. And I told the magicians,[r] but there was none to explain it to me.” 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows, they are seven years, and the seven good ears of grain, they are seven years. The dreams are one. 27 And the seven thin and ugly cows coming up after them, they are seven years, and the seven empty ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, they are also seven years of famine. 28 This is the word that I have spoken to Pharaoh; God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the whole land of Egypt. 30 Then seven years of famine will arise after them, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will consume the land. 31 Abundance in the land will not be known because of the famine that follows,[s] for it will be very heavy. 32 Now concerning the repetition of the dream twice to Pharaoh, it is because the matter is established by God, and God will do it quickly. 33 Now then, let Pharaoh select a man who is discerning and wise, and let him set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint supervisors over the land, and let him take one-fifth from the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. 35 Then let them gather all the food of these coming good years and let them pile up grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 Then the food shall be as a deposit for the land for the seven years of the famine that will be in the land of Egypt, that the land will not perish on account of the famine.”

Joseph Rises to Power

37 And the plan[t] was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this in whom is the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all of this known to you there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and to your word[u] all my people shall submit. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and put it on the finger of Joseph. And he clothed him with garments of fine linen, and he put a chain of gold around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in his second chariot. And they cried out before him, “Kneel!” And Pharaoh set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your consent no one will lift his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called the name of Joseph Zaphenath-paneah and gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as a wife. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. 46 Now Joseph was thirty years old[v] when he stood before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and traveled through the whole land of Egypt. 47 And the land produced a plenty in the seven years of abundance. 48 And he gathered all the food of the seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt. And he stored the food in the cities. The food of the field that surrounded each city he stored in its midst. 49 And Joseph piled up grain like the sand of the sea in great abundance until he stopped counting it, for it could not be counted.[w] 50 Before the years of famine came, Asenath, daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore two sons to him. 51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, for he said, “God has caused me to forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortune.” 53 And the seven years of abundance which were in the land of Egypt came to an end. 54 And the seven years of famine began to come as Joseph had said. And there was famine in all of the countries, but in the land of Egypt there was food. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was hungry the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. And Pharaoh said to all the land of Egypt, “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, you must do.” 56 And the famine was over the whole land, and Joseph opened all the storehouses[x] and sold food to the Egyptians. And the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 And every land came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, for the famine was severe in every land.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 41:1 Literally “two years of days”
  2. Genesis 41:2 Literally “beautiful of appearance and healthy of flesh”
  3. Genesis 41:3 Literally “Poor of appearance and thin of flesh”
  4. Genesis 41:3 Or “the”
  5. Genesis 41:4 Literally “Poor of appearance and thin of flesh”
  6. Genesis 41:4 Literally “beautiful of appearance and healthy of flesh”
  7. Genesis 41:8 Or “soothsayer priests”
  8. Genesis 41:8 Literally “there was no interpretation with them”
  9. Genesis 41:11 Literally “each according to his dream we dreamed”
  10. Genesis 41:13 That is, Pharaoh
  11. Genesis 41:13 That is, the chief baker
  12. Genesis 41:13 That is, Pharaoh
  13. Genesis 41:16 Literally “besides me”
  14. Genesis 41:18 Literally “beautiful of appearance and healthy of flesh”
  15. Genesis 41:19 Literally “Poor of appearance and thin of flesh”
  16. Genesis 41:21 Or “inner parts”
  17. Genesis 41:21 Or “inner parts”
  18. Genesis 41:24 Or “soothsayer priests”
  19. Genesis 41:31 Literally “that thus afterwards”
  20. Genesis 41:37 Or “word”
  21. Genesis 41:40 Or “mouth”
  22. Genesis 41:46 Literally “a son of thirty years”
  23. Genesis 41:49 Literally “there was no number”
  24. Genesis 41:56 Hebrew “that which was in them”

Visele lui Faraon

41 După doi ani, Faraon a visat că stătea pe malul Nilului şi că din Nil au ieşit şapte vaci frumoase şi grase, care păşteau între trestii. După ele au ieşit din Nil alte şapte vaci urâte şi sfrijite, care s-au aşezat lângă celelalte vaci, pe malul Nilului. Vacile urâte şi sfrijite le-au mâncat pe cele şapte vaci frumoase şi grase. Atunci Faraon s-a trezit din somn. Apoi a adormit din nou şi a avut un alt vis: şapte spice de grâne, grase şi bune, creşteau pe acelaşi pai. După ele au răsărit şapte spice slabe şi arse de vântul de răsărit. Spicele slabe le-au înghiţit pe cele şapte spice grase şi pline. Atunci Faraon s-a trezit din somn; acestea au fost visele sale.

Dimineaţa duhul său era tulburat; el a trimis să-i cheme pe toţi magicienii şi pe toţi înţelepţii Egiptului, cărora le-a istorisit visele, dar nimeni n-a putut să i le interpreteze. Atunci căpetenia paharnicilor i-a zis lui Faraon: „Mi-aduc astăzi aminte de greşeala mea[a]; 10 Faraon s-a mâniat odată pe slujitorii săi şi ne-a pus sub pază, în casa conducătorului gărzii[b], pe mine şi pe căpetenia brutarilor. 11 El şi cu mine am avut în aceeaşi noapte câte un vis, fiecare vis având o interpretare proprie. 12 Împreună cu noi, se afla acolo şi un tânăr evreu, sclav al conducătorului gărzii. I-am istorisit acestuia visele noastre, iar el ni le-a interpretat, dând fiecărui vis o interpretare proprie. 13 Şi s-a întâmplat exact aşa cum ni le-a interpretat el: pe mine Faraon m-a repus în slujbă, iar pe brutar l-a spânzurat.“ 14 Atunci Faraon a trimis după Iosif, iar el a fost scos repede din temniţă. Iosif s-a ras, şi-a schimbat hainele şi s-a prezentat înaintea lui Faraon. 15 Acesta i-a zis:

– Am avut un vis, dar nu este nimeni care să-l poată interpreta. Am auzit că tu poţi interpreta un vis imediat ce-l auzi.

16 – Nu eu, ci Dumnezeu îi va da lui Faraon un răspuns prielnic, i-a răspuns Iosif.

17 Atunci Faraon i-a zis lui Iosif:

– Am visat că stăteam pe malul Nilului 18 şi că din Nil au ieşit şapte vaci frumoase şi grase, care păşteau între trestii. 19 După ele au ieşit alte şapte vaci mici, foarte urâte şi sfrijite. Niciodată n-am văzut vaci atât de urâte în toată ţara Egiptului. 20 Vacile sfrijite şi urâte le-au mâncat pe primele şapte vaci grase; 21 dar după ce le-au mâncat, nimeni nu şi-ar fi dat seama că au făcut acest lucru, pentru că erau la fel de sfrijite ca şi înainte. Apoi m-am trezit. 22 Am adormit din nou şi am avut un alt vis: şapte spice de grâne, pline şi bune, creşteau pe acelaşi pai. 23 După ele au răsărit şapte spice uscate, slabe şi arse de vântul de răsărit. 24 Spicele slabe le-au înghiţit pe cele şapte spice bune. Le-am spus magicienilor aceste vise, dar nici unul nu mi le-a putut explica.

25 Atunci Iosif i-a zis lui Faraon:

– Visele lui Faraon reprezintă acelaşi lucru; Dumnezeu i-a descoperit ce urmează să facă. 26 Cele şapte vaci bune reprezintă şapte ani, iar cele şapte spice bune reprezintă tot şapte ani; este un singur vis. 27 Cele şapte vaci slabe şi urâte, care au ieşit după primele, reprezintă şapte ani, ca şi cele şapte spice goale, arse de vântul de răsărit. Ele reprezintă şapte ani de foamete. 28 Se va întâmpla exact aşa cum i-am spus lui Faraon; Dumnezeu i-a arătat lui Faraon ce urmează să facă. 29 Vor veni şapte ani de mare belşug în toată ţara Egiptului. 30 După ei vor veni şapte ani de foamete, astfel încât tot belşugul din ţara Egiptului va fi uitat. Foametea va pustii ţara; 31 belşugul nu va mai fi cunoscut în ţară din cauza foametei care va urma, pentru că ea va fi foarte grea. 32 Visul i-a fost arătat lui Faraon în două feluri, pentru că acest lucru este hotărât de Dumnezeu, iar Dumnezeu îl va împlini în curând. 33 De aceea Faraon să aleagă acum un om priceput şi înţelept şi să-l pună conducător peste ţara Egiptului. 34 Faraon să rânduiască supraveghetori peste ţara Egiptului şi să ia o cincime din rodul ţării în timpul celor şapte ani de belşug. 35 Ei să strângă toată hrana din aceşti ani buni care vin, să pună grânele pentru hrana celor din cetăţi sub stăpânirea lui Faraon şi să le păzească. 36 Hrana aceea va fi o rezervă pentru ţară în cei şapte ani de foamete care vor veni peste ţara Egiptului, astfel încât ţara să nu piară în timpul foametei.

Înălţarea lui Iosif

37 Lui Faraon şi tuturor slujitorilor săi li s-a părut potrivit planul. 38 Aşa că el le-a zis slujitorilor săi: „Vom putea noi găsi pe cineva ca acesta, în care să fie Duhul lui Dumnezeu[c]?“ 39 Apoi Faraon i-a zis lui Iosif:

– Pentru că Dumnezeu ţi-a descoperit toate acestea, nu este nimeni la fel de priceput şi de înţelept ca tine. 40 De aceea tu vei fi conducător peste curtea mea şi tot poporul meu va asculta de cuvântul tău; doar în ce priveşte tronul, eu voi fi mai mare decât tine. 41 Aşadar, te-am pus conducător peste toată ţara Egiptului.

42 Faraon şi-a scos inelul cu sigiliu din deget şi l-a pus pe degetul lui Iosif. L-a îmbrăcat în haine de in subţire, iar în jurul gâtului i-a pus un lanţ de aur. 43 Apoi l-a pus în carul care venea după al său[d] şi înaintea lui se striga: „Plecaţi genunchiul!“[e] Astfel, Faraon l-a pus pe Iosif conducător peste tot Egiptul. 44 De asemenea, el i-a mai spus lui Iosif:

– Eu sunt Faraon, dar fără consimţământul tău nimeni nu va face nimic în toată ţara Egiptului.“

45 Faraon i-a pus lui Iosif numele Ţafnat-Paneah[f] şi i-a dat-o de soţie pe Asnat, fiica lui Poti-Fera, preotul din On[g]. Iosif a plecat prin ţara Egiptului. 46 El avea treizeci de ani când a intrat în slujba monarhului Egiptului. Iosif a ieşit de la Faraon şi a călătorit prin tot Egiptul. 47 În timpul celor şapte ani de belşug, pământul a rodit foarte mult. 48 În timpul acestor şapte ani de belşug din ţara Egiptului, Iosif a adunat toată hrana şi a depozitat-o în cetăţi; în fiecare cetate el a depozitat hrana care provenea de pe câmpurile din jur. 49 Astfel, Iosif a strâns foarte multe grâne, ca nisipul mării, încât a încetat să le mai cântărească, deoarece erau foarte multe.

50 Înainte să vină anii de foamete, Asnat, fiica lui Poti-Fera, preotul din On, i-a născut lui Iosif doi fii. 51 Iosif i-a pus întâiului său născut numele Manase[h], zicând: „Aceasta pentru că Dumnezeu m-a făcut să uit toate necazurile mele şi toată familia tatălui meu.“ 52 Celui de-al doilea fiu i-a pus numele Efraim[i], zicând: „Aceasta pentru că Dumnezeu m-a făcut roditor în ţara durerii mele.“

53 Cei şapte ani de belşug din ţara Egiptului s-au sfârşit 54 şi au început şapte ani de foamete, aşa cum a spus Iosif. În toate ţările era foamete, dar în toată ţara Egiptului era pâine. 55 Când toată ţara Egiptului a flămânzit, poporul a strigat către Faraon după pâine. Faraon le-a zis tuturor egiptenilor: „Mergeţi la Iosif, şi el vă va spune ce să faceţi!“ 56 Foametea a cuprins întreaga ţară, iar Iosif a deschis toate locurile cu provizii şi le-a vândut grâne egiptenilor, deoarece foametea era grea în Egipt. 57 Şi, pentru că în întreaga lume foametea era grea, oameni din toate ţările veneau în Egipt ca să cumpere grâne de la Iosif.

Footnotes

  1. Geneza 41:9 LXX (probabil cu referire la uitarea promisiunii); TM: păcatele mele (probabil cu referire la motivul pentru care fusese închis)
  2. Geneza 41:10 Vezi nota de la 37:36; şi în v. 12
  3. Geneza 41:38 LXX; TM lasă de înţeles şi duhul zeilor, fiind foarte puţin probabil ca Faraon să fi avut o convingere religioasă monoteistă
  4. Geneza 41:43 Sau: în cel de-al doilea car al său; ori: în carul celui de-al doilea în rang după el
  5. Geneza 41:43 Sau: Atenţiune!. Sensul şi originea termenului original este nesigură
  6. Geneza 41:45 Sensul numelui este nesigur
  7. Geneza 41:45 Gr. Heliopolis („Cetatea Soarelui“), un important centru al cultului lui Ra; şi în v. 50
  8. Geneza 41:51 Manase sună asemănător cu termenul ebraic pentru a face să uite
  9. Geneza 41:52 Efraim sună asemănător cu termenul ebraic pentru de două ori roditor

Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up.

But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. This time he saw seven heads of grain, plump and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were shriveled and withered by the east wind. And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads! Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream.

The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant.

Finally, the king’s chief cup-bearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh. 10 “Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. 11 One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. 12 There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant. 13 And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cup-bearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole.”

14 Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. 15 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”

16 “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”

17 So Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. “In my dream,” he said, “I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, 18 and I saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. 19 But then I saw seven sick-looking cows, scrawny and thin, come up after them. I’ve never seen such sorry-looking animals in all the land of Egypt. 20 These thin, scrawny cows ate the seven fat cows. 21 But afterward you wouldn’t have known it, for they were still as thin and scrawny as before! Then I woke up.

22 “In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, full and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. 23 Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were blighted, shriveled, and withered by the east wind. 24 And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads. I told these dreams to the magicians, but no one could tell me what they mean.”

25 Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. 26 The seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain both represent seven years of prosperity. 27 The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine.

28 “This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. 29 The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. 30 But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land. 31 This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. 32 As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.

33 “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. 34 Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. 35 Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. 36 That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”

Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt

37 Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”

41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. 43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”

45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah.[a] He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.[b] So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. 46 He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt.

47 As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops. 48 During those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the grain from the surrounding fields in the cities. 49 He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure.

50 During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. 51 Joseph named his older son Manasseh,[c] for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” 52 Joseph named his second son Ephraim,[d] for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”

53 At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end. 54 Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food. 55 Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.” 56 So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. 57 And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.

Footnotes

  1. 41:45a Zaphenath-paneah probably means “God speaks and lives.”
  2. 41:45b Greek version reads of Heliopolis; also in 41:50.
  3. 41:51 Manasseh sounds like a Hebrew term that means “causing to forget.”
  4. 41:52 Ephraim sounds like a Hebrew term that means “fruitful.”