Bible Study Reader

Genesis 41

Introduction

Genesis 41 is the turning point of the Joseph narrative — the chapter in which the forgotten prisoner becomes the most powerful man in Egypt after Pharaoh himself. Two full years after the cupbearer's release, Pharaoh dreams two troubling dreams that none of his magicians can interpret. The cupbearer finally remembers Joseph, who is summoned from prison, interprets the dreams as a divine warning of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of devastating famine, and proposes a plan to save Egypt. Pharaoh, recognizing the spirit of God in Joseph, elevates him to the role of vizier over all Egypt.

The chapter is rich with contrasts and theological significance. Joseph, who was stripped of his robe, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, is now robed in fine linen, adorned with gold, given a new name and a wife, and placed on the second chariot of Egypt. The dreamer who was mocked by his brothers (Genesis 37:19) now interprets dreams that determine the fate of nations. Throughout, Joseph consistently deflects credit: "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer" (v. 16). The chapter covers thirteen years of Joseph's life — from age seventeen when he was sold (Genesis 37:2) to age thirty when he stands before Pharaoh (v. 46).

Pharaoh's Two Dreams (vv. 1-8)

1 After two full years, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, 2 when seven cows, sleek and fat, came up out of the Nile and grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, plump and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was a dream. 8 In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

1 At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed: he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, seven cows — beautiful in appearance and fat of flesh — came up out of the Nile and fed among the reeds. 3 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the Nile — ugly in appearance and thin of flesh — and they stood beside the first cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate the seven beautiful, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke. 5 He fell asleep and dreamed a second time: behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 Then behold, seven ears — thin and scorched by the east wind — sprouted after them. 7 And the thin ears swallowed the seven plump, full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream. 8 In the morning his spirit was troubled, and 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 for Pharaoh.

Notes

The Cupbearer Remembers Joseph (vv. 9-13)

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I recall my failures. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted each man's dream for him. 13 And it happened just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged."

9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I must mention my offenses today. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants and placed me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard — me and the chief baker. 11 We both dreamed on the same night, each of us a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew man was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us — to each man according to his dream he interpreted. 13 And just as he interpreted for us, so it came about: I was restored to my position, and the other was hanged."

Notes

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams (vv. 14-32)

14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. He shaved and changed his clothes, and then came before Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." 16 "I cannot do it," Joseph replied, "but God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." 17 Then Pharaoh told Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when seven cows, fat and sleek, came up out of the Nile and grazed among the reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny, very ugly, and gaunt. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows. 21 But after they had devoured them, you could not tell that they had eaten them; they were as ugly as before. Then I woke up. 22 I also saw in my dream seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind. 24 And the thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me." 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh 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 heads of grain are seven years. The dreams are one and the same. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven empty heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine. 28 It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29 Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. 30 But seven years of famine will follow them, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land, 31 and the abundance will be unknown in the land because of the famine that follows, for it will be very severe. 32 Now the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms because the matter has been firmly decided by God, and He will carry it out soon."

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurried him out of the pit. He shaved, changed his clothes, and came before Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that you can hear a dream and interpret it." 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me. God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream, I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 and behold, seven cows — fat of flesh and beautiful in form — came up out of the Nile and fed among the reeds. 19 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them — poor, very ugly in form, and thin of flesh. I had never seen anything so ugly in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate the first seven fat cows. 21 But when they had consumed them, no one could tell that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as before. Then I woke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on a single stalk, full and good. 23 Then behold, seven ears — withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind — sprouted after them. 24 And the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. I told this to the magicians, but no one could explain it to me." 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dreams are one. God has declared 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 thin and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine. 28 It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. 30 But after them will arise seven years of famine, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the abundance will not be recognized in the land because of the famine that follows, for it will be very severe. 32 The dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the matter is established by God, and God will soon bring it about."

Notes

Joseph's Plan and Elevation (vv. 33-45)

33 Now therefore, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of Egypt's harvest during the seven years of abundance. 35 Under Pharaoh's authority, let them collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain in the cities, so they may preserve it as food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the land, for the seven years of famine that will take place in the land of Egypt. Otherwise, the land will be devastated by the famine." 37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?" 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." 41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. 44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt." 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

33 "Now then, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh act and appoint overseers over the land, and take a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 Let them gather all the food of these coming good years and store up grain under Pharaoh's authority as food in the cities, and let them guard it. 36 This food will be a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine that will come upon the land of Egypt, so that the land will not be cut off by the famine." 37 The proposal was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the spirit of God?" 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves by your word. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you." 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand. He clothed him in garments of fine linen and placed a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in his second chariot, and they called out before him, "Bow the knee!" Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." 45 Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-Paneah, and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

Notes

Interpretations

Joseph's acceptance of an Egyptian name, an Egyptian wife from a pagan priestly family, and full integration into Egyptian culture has been interpreted differently across traditions. Some see Joseph as compromising his faith by assimilating into pagan society. Others emphasize that Joseph maintained his faith throughout — his consistent crediting of God before Pharaoh, his naming of his sons with Hebrew theological names (vv. 51-52), and his later self-identification to his brothers all suggest that the external trappings of Egyptian identity did not displace his covenant identity. Most Protestant interpreters see this as a case of God providentially placing his servant within a foreign system for redemptive purposes, similar to Daniel's experience in Babylon.

The Seven Years of Abundance (vv. 46-49)

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance 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. 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; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and traveled through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance, the land produced in handfuls. 48 He gathered all the food of the seven years that came in the land of Egypt and stored food in the cities — the food from the fields surrounding each city he stored within it. 49 Joseph stored up grain like the sand of the sea, in such abundance that he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.

Notes

Joseph's Sons and the Years of Famine (vv. 50-57)

50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh 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 and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful 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 began, 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, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you." 56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.

50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, for he said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house." 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, for he said, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." 53 The seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in every land, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all Egypt, "Go to Joseph; whatever he tells you, do." 56 The famine spread over all the face of the land, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 All the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Notes