Genesis 41:33-57

Common English Bible

Joseph’s rise to power

³³ “Now Pharaoh should find an intelligent, wise man and give him authority over the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Then Pharaoh should appoint administrators over the land and take one-fifth of all the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. ³⁵ During the good years that are coming, they should collect all such food and store the grain under Pharaoh’s control, protecting the food in the cities. ³⁶ This food will be reserved for the seven years of famine to follow in the land of Egypt so that the land won’t be ravaged by the famine.”

³⁷ This advice seemed wise to Pharaoh and all his servants, ³⁸ and Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man with more God-given gifts^[a] than this one?” ³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, no one is as intelligent and wise as you are. ⁴⁰ You will be in charge of my kingdom,^[b] and all my people will obey^[c] your command. Only as the enthroned king will I be greater than you.” ⁴¹ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Know this: I’ve given you authority over the entire land of Egypt.” ⁴² Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, he dressed him in linen clothes, and he put a gold necklace around his neck. ⁴³ He put Joseph on the chariot of his second-in-command, and everyone in front of him cried out, “Attention!”^[d] So Pharaoh installed him over the entire land of Egypt. ⁴⁴ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh; no one will do anything or go anywhere in all the land of Egypt without your permission.” ⁴⁵ Pharaoh renamed Joseph, Zaphenath-paneah, and married him to Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of Heliopolis.^[e]

Then Joseph assumed control of the land of Egypt. ⁴⁶ Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh, Egypt’s king, when he left Pharaoh’s court and traveled through the entire land of Egypt. ⁴⁷ During the seven years of abundance, the land produced plentifully. ⁴⁸ He collected all of the food during the seven years of abundance^[f] in the land of Egypt, and stored the food in cities. In each city, he stored the food from the fields surrounding it. ⁴⁹ Joseph amassed grain like the sand of the sea. There was so much that he stopped trying to measure it because it was beyond measuring. ⁵⁰ Before the years of famine arrived, Asenath the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis,^[g] gave birth to two sons for Joseph. ⁵¹ Joseph named the oldest son Manasseh,^[h] “because,” he said, “God has helped me forget all of my troubles and everyone in my father’s household.” ⁵² He named the second Ephraim,^[i] “because,” he said, “God has given me children in the land where I’ve been treated harshly.”

⁵³ 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. The famine struck every country, but the entire land of Egypt had bread. ⁵⁵ When the famine ravaged the entire land of Egypt and the people pleaded to Pharaoh for bread, Pharaoh said to all of the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. Do whatever he tells you.” ⁵⁶ The famine covered every part of the land, and Joseph opened all of the granaries^[j] and sold grain to the Egyptians. In the land of Egypt, the famine became more and more severe. ⁵⁷ Every country came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because in every country the famine had also become more severe.