1 And it came to pass at the end H7093 of two full H3117 years, H8141 that Pharaoh H6547 dreamed: H2492 and, behold, he stood H5975 by the river. H2975
2 And, behold, there came up H5927 out of the river H2975 seven H7651 well H3303 favoured H4758 kine H6510 and fatfleshed; H1277 H1320 and they fed H7462 in a meadow. H260
3 And, behold, seven H7651 other H312 kine H6510 came up H5927 after them H310 out of the river, H2975 ill H7451 favoured H4758 and leanfleshed; H1851 H1320 and stood H5975 by H681 the other kine H6510 upon the brink H8193 of the river. H2975
4 And the ill H7451 favoured H4758 and leanfleshed H1851 H1320 kine H6510 did eat up H398 the seven H7651 well H3303 favoured H4758 and fat H1277 kine. H6510 So Pharaoh H6547 awoke. H3364
5 And he slept H3462 and dreamed H2492 the second time: H8145 and, behold, seven H7651 ears of corn H7641 came up H5927 upon one H259 stalk, H7070 rank H1277 and good. H2896
6 And, behold, seven H7651 thin H1851 ears H7641 and blasted H7710 with the east wind H6921 sprung up H6779 after them. H310
7 And the seven thin H1851 ears H7641 devoured H1104 the seven H7651 rank H1277 and full H4392 ears. H7641 And Pharaoh H6547 awoke, H3364 and, behold, it was a dream. H2472
8 And it came to pass in the morning H1242 that his spirit H7307 was troubled; H6470 and he sent H7971 and called H7121 for all the magicians H2748 of Egypt, H4714 and all the wise men H2450 thereof: and Pharaoh H6547 told H5608 them his dream; H2472 but there was none that could interpret H6622 them unto Pharaoh. H6547
9 Then spake H1696 the chief H8269 butler H8248 unto Pharaoh, H6547 saying, H559 I do remember H2142 my faults H2399 this day: H3117
10 Pharaoh H6547 was wroth H7107 with his servants, H5650 and put H5414 me in ward H4929 in the captain H8269 of the guard's H2876 house, H1004 both me and the chief H8269 baker: H644
11 And we dreamed H2492 a dream H2472 in one H259 night, H3915 I and he; we dreamed H2492 each man H376 according to the interpretation H6623 of his dream. H2472
12 And there was there with us a young man, H5288 an Hebrew, H5680 servant H5650 to the captain H8269 of the guard; H2876 and we told H5608 him, and he interpreted H6622 to us our dreams; H2472 to each man H376 according to his dream H2472 he did interpret. H6622
13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted H6622 to us, so it was; me he restored H7725 unto mine office, H3653 and him he hanged. H8518
14 Then Pharaoh H6547 sent H7971 and called H7121 Joseph, H3130 and they brought him hastily H7323 out of the dungeon: H953 and he shaved H1548 himself, and changed H2498 his raiment, H8071 and came in H935 unto Pharaoh. H6547
15 And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 I have dreamed H2492 a dream, H2472 and there is none that can interpret H6622 it: and I have heard H8085 say H559 of thee, that thou canst understand H8085 a dream H2472 to interpret H6622 it.
16 And Joseph H3130 answered H6030 Pharaoh, H6547 saying, H559 It is not in me: H1107 God H430 shall give H6030 Pharaoh H6547 an answer H6030 of peace. H7965
17 And Pharaoh H6547 said H1696 unto Joseph, H3130 In my dream, H2472 behold, I stood H5975 upon the bank H8193 of the river: H2975
18 And, behold, there came up H5927 out of the river H2975 seven H7651 kine, H6510 fatfleshed H1277 H1320 and well H3303 favoured; H8389 and they fed H7462 in a meadow: H260
19 And, behold, seven H7651 other H312 kine H6510 came up H5927 after them, H310 poor H1803 and very H3966 ill H7451 favoured H8389 and leanfleshed, H7534 H1320 such H2007 as I never H3808 saw H7200 in all the land H776 of Egypt H4714 for badness: H7455
20 And the lean H7534 and the ill favoured H7451 kine H6510 did eat up H398 the first H7223 seven H7651 fat H1277 kine: H6510
21 And when they had eaten them up, H935 H7130 it could not be known H3045 that they had eaten them; H935 H7130 but they were still H4758 ill favoured, H7451 as at the beginning. H8462 So I awoke. H3364
22 And I saw H7200 in my dream, H2472 and, behold, seven H7651 ears H7641 came up H5927 in one H259 stalk, H7070 full H4392 and good: H2896
23 And, behold, seven H7651 ears, H7641 withered, H6798 thin, H1851 and blasted H7710 with the east wind, H6921 sprung up H6779 after them: H310
24 And the thin H1851 ears H7641 devoured H1104 the seven H7651 good H2896 ears: H7641 and I told H559 this unto the magicians; H2748 but there was none that could declare H5046 it to me.
25 And Joseph H3130 said H559 unto Pharaoh, H6547 The dream H2472 of Pharaoh H6547 is one: H259 God H430 hath shewed H5046 Pharaoh H6547 what he is about to do. H6213
26 The seven H7651 good H2896 kine H6510 are seven H7651 years; H8141 and the seven H7651 good H2896 ears H7641 are seven H7651 years: H8141 the dream H2472 is one. H259
27 And the seven H7651 thin H7534 and ill favoured H7451 kine H6510 that came up H5927 after them H310 are seven H7651 years; H8141 and the seven H7651 empty H7386 ears H7641 blasted H7710 with the east wind H6921 shall be seven H7651 years H8141 of famine. H7458
28 This is the thing H1697 which I have spoken H1696 unto Pharaoh: H6547 What God H430 is about to do H6213 he sheweth H7200 unto Pharaoh. H6547
29 Behold, there come H935 seven H7651 years H8141 of great H1419 plenty H7647 throughout all the land H776 of Egypt: H4714
30 And there shall arise H6965 after them H310 seven H7651 years H8141 of famine; H7458 and all the plenty H7647 shall be forgotten H7911 in the land H776 of Egypt; H4714 and the famine H7458 shall consume H3615 the land; H776
31 And the plenty H7647 shall not be known H3045 in the land H776 by reason H6440 of that famine H7458 following; H310 H3651 for it shall be very H3966 grievous. H3515
32 And for that the dream H2472 was doubled H8138 unto Pharaoh H6547 twice; H6471 it is because the thing H1697 is established H3559 by H5973 God, H430 and God H430 will shortly H4116 bring it to pass. H6213
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh H6547 look out H7200 a man H376 discreet H995 and wise, H2450 and set H7896 him over the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
34 Let Pharaoh H6547 do H6213 this, and let him appoint H6485 officers H6496 over the land, H776 and take up the fifth part H2567 of the land H776 of Egypt H4714 in the seven H7651 plenteous H7647 years. H8141
35 And let them gather H6908 all the food H400 of those good H2896 years H8141 that come, H935 and lay up H6651 corn H1250 under the hand H3027 of Pharaoh, H6547 and let them keep H8104 food H400 in the cities. H5892
36 And that food H400 shall be for store H6487 to the land H776 against the seven H7651 years H8141 of famine, H7458 which shall be in the land H776 of Egypt; H4714 that the land H776 perish H3772 not through the famine. H7458
37 And the thing H1697 was good H3190 in the eyes H5869 of Pharaoh, H6547 and in the eyes H5869 of all his servants. H5650
38 And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto his servants, H5650 Can we find H4672 such a one as this H2088 is, a man H376 in whom H834 the Spirit H7307 of God H430 is?
39 And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 Forasmuch H310 as God H430 hath shewed H3045 thee all this, there is none so discreet H995 and wise H2450 as thou art:
40 Thou shalt be H1961 over my house, H1004 and according unto thy word H6310 shall all my people H5971 be ruled: H5401 only in the throne H3678 will I be greater H1431 than thou.
41 And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 See, H7200 I have set H5414 thee over all the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
42 And Pharaoh H6547 took off H5493 his ring H2885 from his hand, H3027 and put H5414 it upon Joseph's H3130 hand, H3027 and arrayed H3847 him in vestures H899 of fine linen, H8336 and put H7760 a gold H2091 chain H7242 about his neck; H6677
43 And he made him to ride H7392 in the second H4932 chariot H4818 which he had; and they cried H7121 before him, H6440 Bow the knee: H86 and he made H5414 him ruler over all the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
44 And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 I am Pharaoh, H6547 and without H1107 thee shall no man H376 lift up H7311 his hand H3027 or foot H7272 in all the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
45 And Pharaoh H6547 called H7121 Joseph's H3130 name H8034 Zaphnathpaaneah; H6847 and he gave H5414 him to wife H802 Asenath H621 the daughter H1323 of Potipherah H6319 priest H3548 of On. H204 And Joseph H3130 went out H3318 over all the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
46 And Joseph H3130 was thirty H7970 years H8141 old H1121 when he stood H5975 before H6440 Pharaoh H6547 king H4428 of Egypt. H4714 And Joseph H3130 went out H3318 from the presence H6440 of Pharaoh, H6547 and went throughout H5674 all the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
47 And in the seven H7651 plenteous H7647 years H8141 the earth H776 brought forth H6213 by handfuls. H7062
48 And he gathered up H6908 all the food H400 of the seven H7651 years, H8141 which were in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 and laid up H5414 the food H400 in the cities: H5892 the food H400 of the field, H7704 which was round about H5439 every city, H5892 laid he up H5414 in the same. H8432
49 And Joseph H3130 gathered H6651 corn H1250 as the sand H2344 of the sea, H3220 very H3966 much, H7235 until he left H2308 numbering; H5608 for it was without H369 number. H4557
50 And unto Joseph H3130 were born H3205 two H8147 sons H1121 before the years H8141 of famine H7458 came, H935 which Asenath H621 the daughter H1323 of Potipherah H6319 priest H3548 of On H204 bare H3205 unto him.
51 And Joseph H3130 called H7121 the name H8034 of the firstborn H1060 Manasseh: H4519 For God, H430 said he, hath made me forget H5382 all my toil, H5999 and all my father's H1 house. H1004
52 And the name H8034 of the second H8145 called H7121 he Ephraim: H669 For God H430 hath caused me to be fruitful H6509 in the land H776 of my affliction. H6040
53 And the seven H7651 years H8141 of plenteousness, H7647 that was in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 were ended. H3615
54 And the seven H7651 years H8141 of dearth H7458 began H2490 to come, H935 according as Joseph H3130 had said: H559 and the dearth H7458 was in all lands; H776 but in all the land H776 of Egypt H4714 there was bread. H3899
55 And when all the land H776 of Egypt H4714 was famished, H7456 the people H5971 cried H6817 to Pharaoh H6547 for bread: H3899 and Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto all the Egyptians, H4714 Go H3212 unto Joseph; H3130 what he saith H559 to you, do. H6213
56 And the famine H7458 was over all the face H6440 of the earth: H776 And Joseph H3130 opened H6605 all the storehouses, and sold H7666 unto the Egyptians; H4714 and the famine H7458 waxed sore H2388 in the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
57 And all countries H776 came H935 into Egypt H4714 to Joseph H3130 for to buy H7666 corn; because that the famine H7458 was so sore H2388 in all lands. H776
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 41
Commentary on Genesis 41 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 41
Ge 41:1-24. Pharaoh's Dream.
1. at the end of two full years—It is not certain whether these years are reckoned from the beginning of Joseph's imprisonment, or from the events described in the preceding chapter—most likely the latter. What a long time for Joseph to experience the sickness of hope deferred! But the time of his enlargement came when he had sufficiently learned the lessons of God designed for him; and the plans of Providence were matured.
Pharaoh dreamed—"Pharaoh," from an Egyptian word Phre, signifying the "sun," was the official title of the kings of that country. The prince, who occupied the throne of Egypt, was Aphophis, one of the Memphite kings, whose capital was On or Heliopolis, and who is universally acknowledged to have been a patriot king. Between the arrival of Abraham and the appearance of Joseph in that country, somewhat more than two centuries had elapsed. Kings sleep and dream, as well as their subjects. And this Pharaoh had two dreams in one night so singular and so similar, so distinct and so apparently significant, so coherent and vividly impressed on his memory, that his spirit was troubled.
8. he called for all the magicians of Egypt—It is not possible to define the exact distinction between "magicians" and "wise men"; but they formed different branches of a numerous body, who laid claim to supernatural skill in occult arts and sciences, in revealing mysteries, explaining portents, and, above all, interpreting dreams. Long practice had rendered them expert in devising a plausible way of getting out of every difficulty and framing an answer suitable to the occasion. But the dreams of Pharaoh baffled their united skill. Unlike their Assyrian brethren (Da 2:4), they did not pretend to know the meaning of the symbols contained in them, and the providence of God had determined that they should all be nonplussed in the exercise of their boasted powers, in order that the inspired wisdom of Joseph might appear the more remarkable.
9-13. then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults—This public acknowledgment of the merits of the young Hebrew would, tardy though it was, have reflected credit on the butler had it not been obviously made to ingratiate himself with his royal master. It is right to confess our faults against God, and against our fellow men when that confession is made in the spirit of godly sorrow and penitence. But this man was not much impressed with a sense of the fault he had committed against Joseph; he never thought of God, to whose goodness he was indebted for the prophetic announcement of his release, and in acknowledging his former fault against the king, he was practising the courtly art of pleasing his master.
14. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph—Now that God's set time had come (Ps 105:19), no human power nor policy could detain Joseph in prison. During his protracted confinement, he might have often been distressed with perplexing doubts; but the mystery of Providence was about to be cleared up, and all his sorrows forgotten in the course of honor and public usefulness in which his services were to be employed.
shaved himself—The Egyptians were the only Oriental nation that liked a smooth chin. All slaves and foreigners who were reduced to that condition, were obliged, on their arrival in that country, to conform to the cleanly habits of the natives, by shaving their beards and heads, the latter of which were covered with a close cap. Thus prepared, Joseph was conducted to the palace, where the king seemed to have been anxiously waiting his arrival.
15, 16. Pharaoh said, … I have dreamed a dream—The king's brief statement of the service required brought out the genuine piety of Joseph; disclaiming all merit, he ascribed whatever gifts or sagacity he possessed to the divine source of all wisdom, and he declared his own inability to penetrate futurity; but, at the same time, he expressed his confident persuasion that God would reveal what was necessary to be known.
17. Pharaoh said, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river—The dreams were purely Egyptian, founded on the productions of that country and the experience of a native. The fertility of Egypt being wholly dependent on the Nile, the scene is laid on the banks of that river; and oxen being in the ancient hieroglyphics symbolical of the earth and of food, animals of that species were introduced in the first dream.
18. there came up out of the river seven kine—Cows now, of the buffalo kind, are seen daily plunging into the Nile; when their huge form is gradually emerging, they seem as if rising "out of the river."
and they fed in a meadow—Nile grass, the aquatic plants that grow on the marshy banks of that river, particularly the lotus kind, on which cattle were usually fattened.
19. behold, seven other kine … poor and ill-favoured—The cow being the emblem of fruitfulness, the different years of plenty and of famine were aptly represented by the different condition of those kine—the plenty, by the cattle feeding on the richest fodder; and the dearth, by the lean and famishing kine, which the pangs of hunger drove to act contrary to their nature.
22. I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears—that is, of Egyptian wheat, which, when "full and good," is remarkable in size (a single seed sprouting into seven, ten, or fourteen stalks) and each stalk bearing an ear.
23. blasted with the east wind—destructive everywhere to grain, but particularly so in Egypt; where, sweeping over the sandy deserts of Arabia, it comes in the character of a hot, blighting wind, that quickly withers all vegetation (compare Eze 19:12; Ho 13:15).
24. the thin ears devoured the seven good ears—devoured is a different word from that used in Ge 41:4 and conveys the idea of destroying, by absorbing to themselves all the nutritious virtue of the soil around them.
Ge 41:25-36. Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams.
25. Joseph said, … The dream … is one—They both pointed to the same event—a remarkable dispensation of seven years of unexampled abundance, to be followed by a similar period of unparalleled dearth. The repetition of the dream in two different forms was designed to show the absolute certainty and speedy arrival of this public crisis; the interpretation was accompanied by several suggestions of practical wisdom for meeting so great an emergency as was impending.
33. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man—The explanation given, when the key to the dreams was supplied, appears to have been satisfactory to the king and his courtiers; and we may suppose that much and anxious conversation arose, in the course of which Joseph might have been asked whether he had anything further to say. No doubt the providence of God provided the opportunity of his suggesting what was necessary.
34. and let him appoint officers over the land—overseers, equivalent to the beys of modern Egypt.
take up the fifth part of the land—that is, of the land's produce, to be purchased and stored by the government, instead of being sold to foreign corn merchants.
Ge 41:37-57. Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt.
38. Pharaoh said unto his servants—The kings of ancient Egypt were assisted in the management of state affairs by the advice of the most distinguished members of the priestly order; and, accordingly, before admitting Joseph to the new and extraordinary office that was to be created, those ministers were consulted as to the expediency and propriety of the appointment.
a man in whom the Spirit of God is—An acknowledgment of the being and power of the true God, though faint and feeble, continued to linger amongst the higher classes long after idolatry had come to prevail.
40. Thou shalt be over my house—This sudden change in the condition of a man who had just been taken out of prison could take place nowhere, except in Egypt. In ancient as well as modern times, slaves have often risen to be its rulers. But the special providence of God had determined to make Joseph governor of Egypt; and the way was paved for it by the deep and universal conviction produced in the minds both of the king and his councillors, that a divine spirit animated his mind and had given him such extraordinary knowledge.
according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled—literally, "kiss." This refers to the edict granting official power to Joseph, to be issued in the form of a firman, as in all Oriental countries; and all who should receive that order would kiss it, according to the usual Eastern mode of acknowledging obedience and respect for the sovereign [Wilkinson].
41. Pharaoh said, … See, I have set thee over all the land—These words were preliminary to investiture with the insignia of office, which were these: the signet-ring, used for signing public documents, and its impression was more valid than the sign-manual of the king; the khelaat or dress of honor, a coat of finely wrought linen, or rather cotton, worn only by the highest personages; the gold necklace, a badge of rank, the plain or ornamental form of it indicating the degree of rank and dignity; the privilege of riding in a state carriage, the second chariot; and lastly—
43. they cried before him, Bow the knee—abrech, an Egyptian term, not referring to prostration, but signifying, according to some, "father" (compare Ge 45:8); according to others, "native prince"—that is, proclaimed him naturalized, in order to remove all popular dislike to him as a foreigner.
44. These ceremonies of investiture were closed in usual form by the king in council solemnly ratifying the appointment.
I am Pharaoh, and without thee, &c.—a proverbial mode of expression for great power.
45. Zaphnath-paaneah—variously interpreted, "revealer of secrets"; "saviour of the land"; and from the hieroglyphics, "a wise man fleeing from pollution"—that is, adultery.
gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of—His naturalization was completed by this alliance with a family of high distinction. On being founded by an Arab colony, Poti-pherah, like Jethro, priest of Midian, might be a worshipper of the true God; and thus Joseph, a pious man, will be freed from the charge of marrying an idolatress for worldly ends.
On—called Aven (Eze 30:17) and also Beth-shemesh (Jer 43:13). In looking at this profusion of honors heaped suddenly upon Joseph, it cannot be doubted that he would humbly yet thankfully acknowledge the hand of a special Providence in conducting him through all his checkered course to almost royal power; and we, who know more than Joseph did, cannot only see that his advancement was subservient to the most important purposes relative to the Church of God, but learn the great lesson that a Providence directs the minutest events of human life.
46. Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh—seventeen when brought into Egypt, probably three in prison, and thirteen in the service of Potiphar.
went out … all the land—made an immediate survey to determine the site and size of the storehouses required for the different quarters of the country.
47. the earth brought forth by handfuls—a singular expression, alluding not only to the luxuriance of the crop, but the practice of the reapers grasping the ears, which alone were cut.
48. he gathered up all the food of the seven years—It gives a striking idea of the exuberant fertility of this land, that, from the superabundance of the seven plenteous years, corn enough was laid up for the subsistence, not only of its home population, but of the neighboring countries, during the seven years of dearth.
50-52. unto Joseph were born two sons—These domestic events, which increased his temporal happiness, develop the piety of his character in the names conferred upon his children.
53-56. The seven years of plenteousness … ended—Over and above the proportion purchased for the government during the years of plenty, the people could still have husbanded much for future use. But improvident as men commonly are in the time of prosperity, they found themselves in want, and would have starved by thousands had not Joseph anticipated and provided for the protracted calamity.
57. The famine was sore in all lands—that is, the lands contiguous to Egypt—Canaan, Syria, and Arabia.