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Genesis 41:37-57
Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 41:37-57
Christian Standard Bible
Joseph Exalted
37 The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants, 38 and he said to them, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit[a] in him?” (A) 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are. 40 You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands.[b](B) Only I, as king,[c] will be greater than you.” 41 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “See, I am placing you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck.(C) 43 He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, and servants called out before him, “Make way!” [d] So he placed him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh and no one will be able to raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt without your permission.” 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On.[e] And Joseph went throughout[f] the land of Egypt.
Joseph’s Administration
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.
47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced outstanding harvests. 48 Joseph gathered all the excess food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and put it in the cities. He put the food in every city from the fields around it. 49 So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance—like the sand of the sea—that he stopped measuring it because it was beyond measure.
50 Two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine arrived.(D) Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh[g] and said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and my whole family.” 52 And the second son he named Ephraim[h] and said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
53 Then the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every land, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When the whole land of Egypt was stricken with famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh told all Egypt, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” 56 Now the famine had spread across the whole region, so Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Every land came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, for the famine was severe in every land.(E)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 41:38 Or the spirit of the gods, or a god’s spirit
- 41:40 Lit will kiss your mouth
- 41:40 Lit Only the throne I
- 41:43 Or “Kneel!”
- 41:45 Or Heliopolis, also in v. 50
- 41:45 Or Joseph gained authority over
- 41:51 In Hb, the name Manasseh sounds like the verb “forget.”
- 41:52 In Hb, the name Ephraim sounds like the word for “fruitful.”
Genesis 41:37-57
New International Version
Genesis 41:37-57
New International Version
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(A) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[a]?”(B)
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(C) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(D) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(E) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(F) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(G)”
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(H) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(I) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(J) of fine linen(K) and put a gold chain around his neck.(L) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(M) as his second-in-command,[b](N) and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!”(O) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(P)
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”(Q) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph(R) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest(S) of On,[d](T) to be his wife.(U) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old(V) when he entered the service(W) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance(X) 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.(Y) 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;(Z) 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.(AA) 51 Joseph named his firstborn(AB) Manasseh[e](AC) 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[f](AD) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful(AE) 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(AF) began,(AG) 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,(AH) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”(AI)
56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,(AJ) for the famine(AK) was severe throughout Egypt.(AL) 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,(AM) because the famine was severe everywhere.(AN)
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
- Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget.
- Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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