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.

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Footnotes

  1. 41:38 Or the spirit of the gods, or a god’s spirit
  2. 41:40 Lit will kiss your mouth
  3. 41:40 Lit Only the throne I
  4. 41:43 Or “Kneel!”
  5. 41:45 Or Heliopolis, also in v. 50
  6. 41:45 Or Joseph gained authority over

Joseph Rises to Power

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, (A)in whom is the Spirit of God?”[a] 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 (B)You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command.[b] Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, (C)I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh (D)took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and (E)clothed him in garments of fine linen (F)and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. (G)And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!”[c] Thus he set him (H)over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and (I)without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he (J)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. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, (K)like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
  2. Genesis 41:40 Hebrew and according to your command all my people shall kiss the ground
  3. Genesis 41:43 Abrek, probably an Egyptian word, similar in sound to the Hebrew word meaning to kneel