Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams

41 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and (A)blighted by the east wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. So in the morning (B)his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the (C)magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was (D)angry with his servants (E)and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 (F)we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, (G)he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And (H)as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”

14 (I)Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they (J)quickly brought him (K)out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. (L)I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, (M)“It is not in me; (N)God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 41:16 Or (compare Samaritan, Septuagint) Without God it is not possible to give Pharaoh an answer about his welfare

38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, (A)in whom is the Spirit of God?”[a] 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 (B)You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command.[b] Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, (C)I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh (D)took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and (E)clothed him in garments of fine linen (F)and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. (G)And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!”[c] Thus he set him (H)over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and (I)without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
  2. Genesis 41:40 Hebrew and according to your command all my people shall kiss the ground
  3. Genesis 41:43 Abrek, probably an Egyptian word, similar in sound to the Hebrew word meaning to kneel

50 Before the year of famine came, (A)two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.”[a] 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has (B)made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like the Hebrew for making to forget
  2. Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for making fruitful

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