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Genesis 41:14-45
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Genesis 41:14-45
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was hurriedly brought out of the dungeon. When he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.(A) 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(B) 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”(C) 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile, 18 and seven cows, fat and sleek, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Then seven other cows came up after them, poor, very ugly, and thin. Never had I seen such ugly ones in all the land of Egypt. 20 The thin and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had done so, for they were still as ugly as before. Then I awoke. 22 I fell asleep a second time,[a] and I saw in my dream seven ears of grain, full and good, growing on one stalk, 23 and seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouting after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. But when I told it to the magicians, there was no one who could explain it to me.”(D)
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind. They are seven years of famine.(E) 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(F) 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.(G) 30 After them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land.(H) 31 The plenty will no longer be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very grievous. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.(I) 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a man who is discerning and wise and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plenteous years. 35 Let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.(J) 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to befall the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”
Joseph’s Rise to Power
37 The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone else like this, one in whom is the spirit of God?”(K) 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”(L) 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”(M) 42 Removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph’s hand; he arrayed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.(N) 43 He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command, and they cried out in front of him, “Bow the knee!”[b] Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.(O) 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”(P) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah, and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. Thus Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt.
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Genesis 41:14-45
New International Version
Genesis 41:14-45
New International Version
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.(A) When he had shaved(B) and changed his clothes,(C) he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.(D) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(E)
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”(F)
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,(G) 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.(H) 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.(I)”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.(J) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(K) 26 The seven good cows(L) are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.(M)
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.(N) 29 Seven years of great abundance(O) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine(P) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.(Q) 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided(R) by God, and God will do it soon.(S)
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man(T) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.(U) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners(V) over the land to take a fifth(W) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.(X) 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.(Y) 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt,(Z) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(AA) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[a]?”(AB)
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(AC) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(AD) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(AE) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(AF) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(AG)”
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(AH) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(AI) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(AJ) of fine linen(AK) and put a gold chain around his neck.(AL) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(AM) as his second-in-command,[b](AN) and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!”(AO) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(AP)
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”(AQ) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph(AR) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest(AS) of On,[d](AT) to be his wife.(AU) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
Footnotes
- Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
- Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot
- Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down
- Genesis 41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50
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