Joseph a Slave in Egypt

39 Now Joseph had been taken (A)down to Egypt. And (B)Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, (C)bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. (D)The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord (E)made all he did [a]to prosper in his hand. So Joseph (F)found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him (G)overseer of his house, and all that he had he put [b]under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that (H)the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s [c]hand, and he did not know what he had except for the [d]bread which he ate.

Now Joseph (I)was handsome in form and appearance.

And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife [e]cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, (J)“Lie with me.”

But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. (K)How then can I do this great wickedness, and (L)sin against God?”

10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he (M)did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she (N)caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. 13 And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, 14 that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a (O)Hebrew to [f]mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”

16 So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. 17 Then she (P)spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; 18 so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

19 So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his (Q)anger was aroused. 20 Then Joseph’s master took him and (R)put him into the (S)prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He (T)gave[g] him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison (U)committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under [h]Joseph’s authority, because (V)the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

The Prisoners’ Dreams

40 It came to pass after these things that the (W)butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was (X)angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. (Y)So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, (Z)had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were [i]sad. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, (AA)“Why do you look so sad today?”

And they said to him, (AB)“We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”

So Joseph said to them, (AC)“Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, 10 and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. 11 Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

12 And Joseph said to him, (AD)“This is the interpretation of it: The three branches (AE)are three days. 13 Now within three days Pharaoh will (AF)lift up your head and restore you to your [j]place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. 14 But (AG)remember me when it is well with you, and (AH)please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. 15 For indeed I was (AI)stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; (AJ)and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and there were three [k]white baskets on my head. 17 In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”

18 So Joseph answered and said, (AK)“This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. 19 (AL)Within three days Pharaoh will lift [l]off your head from you and (AM)hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”

20 Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s (AN)birthday, that he (AO)made a feast for all his servants; and he (AP)lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 Then he (AQ)restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and (AR)he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he (AS)hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but (AT)forgot him.

Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that (AU)Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river. Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke. He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good. Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the (AV)east wind, sprang up after them. And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream. Now it came to pass in the morning (AW)that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all (AX)the magicians of Egypt and all its (AY)wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.

Then the (AZ)chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day. 10 When Pharaoh was (BA)angry with his servants, (BB)and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, 11 (BC)we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. 12 Now there was a young (BD)Hebrew man with us there, a (BE)servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he (BF)interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream. 13 And it came to pass, just (BG)as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”

14 (BH)Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they (BI)brought him quickly (BJ)out of the dungeon; and he shaved, (BK)changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. (BL)But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”

16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, (BM)It is not in me; (BN)God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, (BO)in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. 18 Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. 19 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. 21 When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven [m]heads came up on one stalk, full and good. 23 Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. 24 And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So (BP)I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; (BQ)God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good [n]heads are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are (BR)seven years of famine. 28 (BS)This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29 Indeed (BT)seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; 30 but after them seven years of famine will (BU)arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine (BV)will deplete the land. 31 So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. 32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the (BW)thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

33 “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint [o]officers over the land, (BX)to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. 35 And (BY)let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the [p]authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 Then that food shall be as a [q]reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land (BZ)may not [r]perish during the famine.”

Joseph’s Rise to Power

37 So (CA)the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man (CB)in whom is the Spirit of God?”

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 (CC)You shall be [s]over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have (CD)set you over all the land of Egypt.”

42 Then Pharaoh (CE)took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he (CF)clothed him in garments of fine linen (CG)and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in the second (CH)chariot which he had; (CI)and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him (CJ)over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name [t]Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife (CK)Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he (CL)stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth [u]abundantly. 48 So 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; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them. 49 Joseph gathered very much grain, (CM)as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.

50 (CN)And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn [v]Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my (CO)father’s house.” 52 And the name of the second he called [w]Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be (CP)fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

53 Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, 54 (CQ)and the seven years of famine began to come, (CR)as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; (CS)whatever he says to you, do.” 56 The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened [x]all the storehouses and (CT)sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. 57 (CU)So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to (CV)buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 39:3 to be a success
  2. Genesis 39:4 Lit. in his hand
  3. Genesis 39:6 Care
  4. Genesis 39:6 Food
  5. Genesis 39:7 Lit. lifted up her eyes toward
  6. Genesis 39:14 laugh at
  7. Genesis 39:21 Caused him to be viewed with favor by
  8. Genesis 39:23 Lit. his hand
  9. Genesis 40:6 dejected
  10. Genesis 40:13 position
  11. Genesis 40:16 Or baskets of white bread
  12. Genesis 40:19 Lit. up
  13. Genesis 41:22 Heads of grain
  14. Genesis 41:26 Heads of grain
  15. Genesis 41:34 overseers
  16. Genesis 41:35 Lit. hand
  17. Genesis 41:36 Lit. supply
  18. Genesis 41:36 be cut off
  19. Genesis 41:40 In charge of
  20. Genesis 41:45 Probably Egyptian for God Speaks and He Lives
  21. Genesis 41:47 Lit. by handfuls
  22. Genesis 41:51 Lit. Making Forgetful
  23. Genesis 41:52 Lit. Fruitfulness
  24. Genesis 41:56 Lit. all that was in them

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

39 Now Joseph(A) had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard,(B) bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.(C)

The Lord was with Joseph(D) so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him(E) and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did,(F) Joseph found favor in his eyes(G) and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household,(H) and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.(I) From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household(J) of the Egyptian because of Joseph.(K) The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.(L) So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care;(M) with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,(N) and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”(O)

But he refused.(P) “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.(Q) No one is greater in this house than I am.(R) My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”(S) 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused(T) to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties,(U) and none of the household servants(V) was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak(W) and said, “Come to bed with me!”(X) But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.(Y)

13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants.(Z) “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew(AA) has been brought to us to make sport of us!(AB) He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.(AC) 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”(AD)

16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story:(AE) “That Hebrew(AF) slave(AG) you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger.(AH) 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison,(AI) the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him;(AJ) he showed him kindness(AK) and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.(AL) 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.(AM) 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s(AN) care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.(AO)

The Cupbearer and the Baker

40 Some time later, the cupbearer(AP) and the baker(AQ) of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry(AR) with his two officials,(AS) the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard,(AT) in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard(AU) assigned them to Joseph,(AV) and he attended them.

After they had been in custody(AW) for some time, each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream(AX) the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(AY)

When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody(AZ) with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”(BA)

“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”(BB)

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God?(BC) Tell me your dreams.”

So the chief cupbearer(BD) told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed,(BE) and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”

12 “This is what it means,(BF)” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.(BG) 13 Within three days(BH) Pharaoh will lift up your head(BI) and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.(BJ) 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me(BK) and show me kindness;(BL) mention me to Pharaoh(BM) and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews,(BN) and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”(BO)

16 When the chief baker(BP) saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation,(BQ) he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets(BR) of bread.[a] 17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

18 “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days.(BS) 19 Within three days(BT) Pharaoh will lift off your head(BU) and impale your body on a pole.(BV) And the birds will eat away your flesh.”(BW)

20 Now the third day(BX) was Pharaoh’s birthday,(BY) and he gave a feast for all his officials.(BZ) He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker(CA) in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer(CB) to his position,(CC) so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand(CD) 22 but he impaled the chief baker,(CE) just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.(CF)

23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.(CG)

Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:(CH) He was standing by the Nile,(CI) when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat,(CJ) and they grazed among the reeds.(CK) After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.(CL)

He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain,(CM) healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.(CN) The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up;(CO) it had been a dream.

In the morning his mind was troubled,(CP) so he sent for all the magicians(CQ) and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.(CR)

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.(CS) 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,(CT) and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.(CU) 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(CV) 12 Now a young Hebrew(CW) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.(CX) We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.(CY) 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.(CZ)

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.(DA) When he had shaved(DB) and changed his clothes,(DC) he came before Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.(DD) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(DE)

16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”(DF)

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,(DG) 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.(DH) 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.(DI)

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.(DJ) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(DK) 26 The seven good cows(DL) 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.(DM)

28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.(DN) 29 Seven years of great abundance(DO) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine(DP) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.(DQ) 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(DR) by God, and God will do it soon.(DS)

33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man(DT) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.(DU) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners(DV) over the land to take a fifth(DW) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.(DX) 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.(DY) 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,(DZ) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(EA) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[b]?”(EB)

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(EC) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(ED) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(EE) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(EF) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(EG)

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(EH) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(EI) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(EJ) of fine linen(EK) and put a gold chain around his neck.(EL) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(EM) as his second-in-command,[c](EN) and people shouted before him, “Make way[d]!”(EO) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(EP)

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”(EQ) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph(ER) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest(ES) of On,[e](ET) to be his wife.(EU) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old(EV) when he entered the service(EW) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance(EX) the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities.(EY) In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea;(EZ) it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.(FA) 51 Joseph named his firstborn(FB) Manasseh[f](FC) and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim[g](FD) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful(FE) in the land of my suffering.”

53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine(FF) began,(FG) just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine,(FH) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”(FI)

56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,(FJ) for the famine(FK) was severe throughout Egypt.(FL) 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,(FM) because the famine was severe everywhere.(FN)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 40:16 Or three wicker baskets
  2. Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
  3. Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot
  4. Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down
  5. Genesis 41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50
  6. Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget.
  7. Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful.

39 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

40 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.

And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:

11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:

17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:

22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

41 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

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.

And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.

And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.

And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.