Font Size
Genesis 41
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Genesis 41
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dream
41 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and there came up out of the Nile seven sleek and fat cows, and they grazed in the reed grass. 3 Then 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. 4 The ugly and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 Then he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 Then seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them. 7 The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream. 8 In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.(A)
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my faults today. 10 Once Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard.(B) 11 We dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own meaning.(C) 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each according to his dream.(D) 13 As he interpreted to us, so it turned out; I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”(E)
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.(F) 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.”(G) 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”(H) 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.”(I)
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.(J) 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(K) 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.(L) 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.(M) 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.(N) 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.(O) 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?”(P) 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.”(Q) 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”(R) 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.(S) 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.(T) 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.”(U) 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.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.(V) 47 During the seven plenteous years the earth produced abundantly. 48 He gathered up all the food of the seven years when there was plenty[c] in the land of Egypt and stored up food in the cities; he stored up in every city the food 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; it was beyond measure.
50 Before the years of famine came, Joseph had two sons, whom Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him.(W) 51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh,[d] “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The second he named Ephraim,[e] “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortunes.”(X)
53 The seven years of plenty that prevailed in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every country, but throughout the land of Egypt there was bread.(Y) 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.” 56 And since the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses[f] and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.(Z) 57 Moreover, all the world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine became severe throughout the world.
Génesis 41
Reina-Valera Antigua
Génesis 41
Reina-Valera Antigua
41 Y ACONTECIO que pasados dos años tuvo Faraón un sueño: Parecíale que estaba junto al río;
2 Y que del río subían siete vacas, hermosas á la vista, y muy gordas, y pacían en el prado:
3 Y que otras siete vacas subían tras ellas del río, de fea vista, y enjutas de carne, y se pararon cerca de las vacas hermosas á la orilla del río:
4 Y que las vacas de fea vista y enjutas de carne devoraban á las siete vacas hermosas y muy gordas. Y despertó Faraón.
5 Durmióse de nuevo, y soñó la segunda vez: Que siete espigas llenas y hermosas subían de una sola caña:
6 Y que otras siete espigas menudas y abatidas del Solano, salían después de ellas:
7 Y las siete espigas menudas devoraban á las siete espigas gruesas y llenas. Y despertó Faraón, y he aquí que era sueño.
8 Y acaeció que á la mañana estaba agitado su espíritu; y envió é hizo llamar á todos los magos de Egipto, y á todos sus sabios: y contóles Faraón sus sueños, mas no había quien á Faraón los declarase.
9 Entonces el principal de los coperos habló á Faraón, diciendo: Acuérdome hoy de mis faltas:
10 Faraón se enojó contra sus siervos, y á mí me echó á la prisión de la casa del capitán de los de la guardia, á mí y al principal de los panaderos:
11 Y yo y él vimos un sueño una misma noche: cada uno soñó conforme á la declaración de su sueño.
12 Y estaba allí con nosotros un mozo Hebreo, sirviente del capitán de los de la guardia; y se lo contamos, y él nos declaró nuestros sueños, y declaró á cada uno conforme á su sueño.
13 Y aconteció que como él nos declaró, así fué: á mí me hizo volver á mi puesto, é hizo colgar al otro.
14 Entonces Faraón envió y llamó á José; é hiciéronle salir corriendo de la cárcel, y le cortaron el pelo, y mudaron sus vestidos, y vino á Faraón.
15 Y dijo Faraón á José: Yo he tenido un sueño, y no hay quien lo declare; mas he oído decir de ti, que oyes sueños para declararlos.
16 Y respondió José á Faraón, diciendo: No está en mí; Dios será el que responda paz á Faraón.
17 Entonces Faraón dijo á José: En mi sueño parecíame que estaba á la orilla del río:
18 Y que del río subían siete vacas de gruesas carnes y hermosa apariencia, que pacían en el prado:
19 Y que otras siete vacas subían después de ellas, flacas y de muy fea traza; tan extenuadas, que no he visto otras semejantes en toda la tierra de Egipto en fealdad:
20 Y las vacas flacas y feas devoraban á las siete primeras vacas gruesas:
21 Y entraban en sus entrañas, mas no se conocía que hubiese entrado en ellas, porque su parecer era aún malo, como de primero. Y yo desperté.
22 Vi también soñando, que siete espigas subían en una misma caña llenas y hermosas;
23 Y que otras siete espigas menudas, marchitas, abatidas del Solano, subían después de ellas:
24 Y las espigas menudas devoraban á las siete espigas hermosas: y helo dicho á los magos, mas no hay quien me lo declare.
25 Entonces respondió José á Faraón: El sueño de Faraón es uno mismo: Dios ha mostrado á Faraón lo que va á hacer.
26 Las siete vacas hermosas siete años son; y las espigas hermosas son siete años: el sueño es uno mismo.
27 También las siete vacas flacas y feas que subían tras ellas, son siete años; y las siete espigas menudas y marchitas del Solano, siete años serán de hambre.
28 Esto es lo que respondo á Faraón. Lo que Dios va á hacer, halo mostrado á Faraón.
29 He aquí vienen siete años de grande hartura en toda la tierra de Egipto:
30 Y levantarse han tras ellos siete años de hambre; y toda la hartura será olvidada en la tierra de Egipto; y el hambre consumirá la tierra;
31 Y aquella abundancia no se echará de ver á causa del hambre siguiente, la cual será gravísima.
32 Y el suceder el sueño á Faraón dos veces, significa que la cosa es firme de parte de Dios, y que Dios se apresura á hacerla.
33 Por tanto, provéase ahora Faraón de un varón prudente y sabio, y póngalo sobre la tierra de Egipto.
34 Haga esto Faraón, y ponga gobernadores sobre el país, y quinte la tierra de Egipto en los siete años de la hartura;
35 Y junten toda la provisión de estos buenos años que vienen, y alleguen el trigo bajo la mano de Faraón para mantenimiento de las ciudades; y guárdenlo.
36 Y esté aquella provisión en depósito para el país, para los siete años del hambre que serán en la tierra de Egipto; y el país no perecerá de hambre.
37 Y el negocio pareció bien á Faraón, y á sus siervos.
38 Y dijo Faraón á sus siervos: ¿Hemos de hallar otro hombre como éste, en quien haya espíritu de Dios?
39 Y dijo Faraón á José: Pues que Dios te ha hecho saber todo esto, no hay entendido ni sabio como tú:
40 Tú serás sobre mi casa, y por tu dicho se gobernará todo mi pueblo: solamente en el trono seré yo mayor que tú.
41 Dijo más Faraón á José: He aquí yo te he puesto sobre toda la tierra de Egipto.
42 Entonces Faraón quitó su anillo de su mano, y púsolo en la mano de José, é hízole vestir de ropas de lino finísimo, y puso un collar de oro en su cuello;
43 E hízolo subir en su segundo carro, y pregonaron delante de él: Doblad la rodilla: y púsole sobre toda la tierra de Egipto.
44 Y dijo Faraón á José: Yo Faraón; y sin ti ninguno alzará su mano ni su pie en toda la tierra de Egipto.
45 Y llamó Faraón el nombre de José, Zaphnath-paaneah; y dióle por mujer á Asenath, hija de Potipherah, sacerdote de On. Y salió José por toda la tierra de Egipto.
46 Y era José de edad de treinta años cuando fué presentado delante de Faraón, rey de Egipto: y salió José de delante de Faraón, y transitó por toda la tierra de Egipto.
47 E hizo la tierra en aquellos siete años de hartura á montones.
48 Y él juntó todo el mantenimiento de los siete años que fueron en la tierra de Egipto, y guardó mantenimiento en las ciudades, poniendo en cada ciudad el mantenimiento del campo de sus alrededores.
49 Y acopió José trigo como arena de la mar, mucho en extremo, hasta no poderse contar, porque no tenía número.
50 Y nacieron á José dos hijos antes que viniese el primer año del hambre, los cuales le parió Asenath, hija de Potipherah, sacerdote de On.
51 Y llamó José el nombre del primogénito Manasés; porque Dios (dijo) me hizo olvidar todo mi trabajo, y toda la casa de mi padre.
52 Y el nombre del segundo llamólo Ephraim; porque Dios (dijo) me hizo fértil en la tierra de mi aflicción.
53 Y cumpliéronse los siete años de la hartura, que hubo en la tierra de Egipto.
54 Y comenzaron á venir los siete años del hambre, como José había dicho: y hubo hambre en todos los países, mas en toda la tierra de Egipto había pan.
55 Y cuando se sintió el hambre en toda la tierra de Egipto, el pueblo clamó á Faraón por pan. Y dijo Faraón á todos los Egipcios: Id á José, y haced lo que él os dijere.
56 Y el hambre estaba por toda la extensión del país. Entonces abrió José todo granero donde había, y vendía á los Egipcios; porque había crecido el hambre en la tierra de Egipto.
57 Y toda la tierra venía á Egipto para comprar de José, porque por toda la tierra había crecido el hambre.
Genesis 41
New International Version
Genesis 41
New International Version
Pharaoh’s Dreams
41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:(A) He was standing by the Nile,(B) 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat,(C) and they grazed among the reeds.(D) 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.(E)
5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain,(F) healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.(G) 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up;(H) it had been a dream.
8 In the morning his mind was troubled,(I) so he sent for all the magicians(J) and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.(K)
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.(L) 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,(M) and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.(N) 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(O) 12 Now a young Hebrew(P) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.(Q) We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.(R) 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.(S)”
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.(T) When he had shaved(U) and changed his clothes,(V) he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.(W) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(X)
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”(Y)
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,(Z) 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.(AA) 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.(AB)”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.(AC) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(AD) 26 The seven good cows(AE) 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.(AF)
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.(AG) 29 Seven years of great abundance(AH) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine(AI) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.(AJ) 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(AK) by God, and God will do it soon.(AL)
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man(AM) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.(AN) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners(AO) over the land to take a fifth(AP) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.(AQ) 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.(AR) 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,(AS) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(AT) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[a]?”(AU)
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(AV) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(AW) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(AX) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(AY) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(AZ)”
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(BA) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(BB) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(BC) of fine linen(BD) and put a gold chain around his neck.(BE) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(BF) as his second-in-command,[b](BG) and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!”(BH) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(BI)
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”(BJ) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph(BK) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest(BL) of On,[d](BM) to be his wife.(BN) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old(BO) when he entered the service(BP) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance(BQ) 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.(BR) 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;(BS) 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.(BT) 51 Joseph named his firstborn(BU) Manasseh[e](BV) 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](BW) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful(BX) 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(BY) began,(BZ) 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,(CA) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”(CB)
56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,(CC) for the famine(CD) was severe throughout Egypt.(CE) 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,(CF) because the famine was severe everywhere.(CG)
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.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reina-Valera Antigua (RVA)
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.