Genesis 41

1 After two full years Pharaoh had a dream. He dreamed he was standing by the Nile River.

2 Suddenly, seven nice-looking, well-fed cows came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

3 Seven other cows came up from the river behind them. These cows were sickly and skinny. They stood behind the first seven cows on the riverbank.

4 The cows that were sickly and skinny ate the seven nice-looking, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream. Seven good, healthy heads of grain were growing on a single stalk.

6 Seven other heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted behind them.

7 The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full, healthy heads. Then Pharaoh woke up. It was only a dream.

8 In the morning he was so upset that he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could tell him what they meant.

9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, "I remember a promise I failed to keep.

10 Some time ago when Pharaoh was angry with his servants, he confined me and the chief baker to the captain of the guard's prison.

11 We both had dreams the same night. Each dream had its own meaning.

12 A young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guard, was with us. We told him our dreams, and he told each of us what they meant.

13 What he told us happened: Pharaoh restored me to my position, but he hung the baker on a pole."

14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and immediately he was brought from the prison. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came in front of Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can tell me what it means. I heard that when you are told a dream, you can say what it means."

16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, "I can't, but God can give Pharaoh the answer that he needs."

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile.

18 Suddenly, seven nice-looking, well-fed cows came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

19 Seven other cows came up behind them. These cows were scrawny, very sick, and thin. I've never seen such sickly cows in all of Egypt!

20 The thin, sickly cows ate up the seven well-fed ones.

21 Even though they had eaten them, no one could tell they had eaten them. They looked just as sick as before. Then I woke up.

22 "In my second dream I saw seven good, full heads of grain growing on a single stalk.

23 Seven other heads of grain, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted behind them.

24 The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but no one could tell me what it meant."

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh had the same dream twice. God has told Pharaoh what he's going to do.

26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. It's all the same dream.

27 The seven thin, sickly cows that came up behind them are seven years. The seven empty heads of grain scorched by the east wind are also seven years. Seven years of famine are coming.

28 "It's just as I said to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what he's going to do.

29 Seven years are coming when there will be plenty of food in Egypt.

30 After them will come seven years of famine. People will forget that there was plenty of food in Egypt, and the famine will ruin the land.

31 People won't remember that there once was plenty of food in the land, because the coming famine will be so severe.

32 The reason Pharaoh has had a recurring dream is because the matter has been definitely decided by God, and he will do it very soon.

33 "Pharaoh should look for a wise and intelligent man and put him in charge of Egypt.

34 Make arrangements to appoint supervisors over the land to take a fifth of Egypt's harvest during the seven good years.

35 Have them collect all the food during these good years and store up grain under Pharaoh's control, to be kept for food in the cities.

36 This food will be a reserve supply for our country during the seven years of famine that will happen in Egypt. Then the land will not be ruined by the famine."

37 Pharaoh and all his servants liked the idea.

38 So Pharaoh asked his servants, "Can we find anyone like this--a man who has God's Spirit in him?"

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has let you know all this, there is no one as wise and intelligent as you.

40 You will be in charge of my palace, and all my people will do what you say. I will be more important than you, only because I'm Pharaoh."

41 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I now put you in charge of Egypt."

42 Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring and put it on Joseph's finger. He had Joseph dressed in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.

43 He had him ride in the chariot of the second-in-command. Men ran ahead of him and shouted, "Make way!" Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of Egypt.

44 He also said to Joseph, "Even though I am Pharaoh, no one anywhere in Egypt will do anything without your permission."

45 Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenathpaneah and gave him Asenath as his wife. She was the daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On. Joseph traveled around Egypt.

46 Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). He left Pharaoh and traveled all around Egypt.

47 During the seven good years the land produced large harvests.

48 Joseph collected all the food grown in Egypt during those seven years and put this food in the cities. In each city he put the food from the fields around it.

49 Joseph stored up grain in huge quantities like the sand on the seashore. He had so much that he finally gave up keeping any records because he couldn't measure it all.

50 Before the years of famine came, Joseph had two sons by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On.

51 Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh [He Helps Me Forget], because God helped him forget all his troubles and all about his father's family.

52 He named the second son Ephraim [Blessed Twice With Children], because God gave him children in the land where he had suffered.

53 The seven years when there was plenty of food in Egypt came to an end.

54 Then the seven years of famine began as Joseph had said they would. All the other countries were experiencing famine. Yet, there was food in Egypt.

55 When everyone in Egypt began to feel the effects of the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. But Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph! Do what he tells you!"

56 When the famine had spread all over the country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians. He did this because the famine was severe in Egypt.

57 The whole world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, since the famine was so severe all over the world.

Genesis 41 Commentary

Chapter 41

Pharaoh's dreams. (1-8) Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams. (9-32) Joseph's counsel, He is highly advanced. (33-45) Joseph's children, The beginning of the famine. (46-57)

Verses 1-8 The means of Joseph's being freed from prison were Pharaoh's dreams, as here related. Now that God no longer speaks to us in that way, it is no matter how little we either heed dreams, or tell them. The telling of foolish dreams can make no better than foolish talk. But these dreams showed that they were sent of God; when he awoke, Pharaoh's spirit was troubled.

Verses 9-32 God's time for the enlargement of his people is the fittest time. If the chief butler had got Joseph to be released from prison, it is probable he would have gone back to the land of the Hebrews. Then he had neither been so blessed himself, nor such a blessing to his family, as afterwards he proved. Joseph, when introduced to Pharaoh, gives honour to God. Pharaoh had dreamed that he stood upon the bank of the river Nile, and saw the kine, both the fat ones, and the lean ones, come out of the river. Egypt has no rain, but the plenty of the year depends upon the overflowing of the river Nile. See how many ways Providence has of dispensing its gifts; yet our dependence is still the same upon the First Cause, who makes every creature what it is to us, be it rain or river. See to what changes the comforts of this life are subject. We cannot be sure that to-morrow shall be as this day, or next year as this. We must learn how to want, as well as how to abound. Mark the goodness of God in sending the seven years of plenty before those of famine, that provision might be made. The produce of the earth is sometimes more, and sometimes less; yet, take one with another, he that gathers much, has nothing over; and he that gathers little, has no lack, ( Exodus 16:18 ) . And see the perishing nature of our worldly enjoyments. The great harvests of the years of plenty were quite lost, and swallowed up in the years of famine; and that which seemed very much, yet did but just serve to keep the people alive. There is bread which lasts to eternal life, which it is worth while to labour for. They that make the things of this world their good things, will find little pleasure in remembering that they have received them.

Verses 33-45 Joseph gave good advice to Pharaoh. Fair warning should always be followed by good counsel. God has in his word told us of a day of trial before us, when we shall need all the grace we can have. Now, therefore, provide accordingly. Pharaoh gave Joseph an honourable testimony. He is a man in whom the spirit of God is; and such men ought to be valued. Pharaoh puts upon Joseph marks of honour. He gave him such a name as spoke the value he had for him, Zaphnath-paaneah, "a revealer of secrets." This preferment of Joseph encourages all to trust in God. Some translate Joseph's new name, "the saviour of the world." The brightest glories, even of the upper world, are put upon Christ, the highest trust lodged in his hand, and all power given him, both in heaven and earth.

Verses 46-57 In the names of his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph owned the Divine providence. 1. He was made to forget his misery. 2. He was made fruitful in the land of his affliction. The seven plenteous years came, and were ended. We ought to look forward to the end of the days, both of our prosperity and of our opportunity. We must not be secure in prosperity, nor slothful in making good use of opportunity. Years of plenty will end; what thy hand finds to do, do it; and gather in gathering time. The dearth came, and the famine was not only in Egypt, but in other lands. Joseph was diligent in laying up, while the plenty lasted. He was prudent and careful in giving out, when the famine came. Joseph was engaged in useful and important labours. Yet it was in the midst of this his activity that his father Jacob said, Joseph is not! What a large portion of our troubles would be done away if we knew the whole truth! Let these events lead us to Jesus. There is a famine of the bread of life throughout the whole earth. Go to Jesus, and what he bids you, do. Attend to His voice, apply to him; he will open his treasures, and satisfy with goodness the hungry soul of every age and nation, without money and without price. But those who slight this provision must starve, and his enemies will be destroyed.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 41

In this chapter are related Pharaoh's dreams, which his magicians could not interpret, Ge 41:1-9, upon which the chief butler now remembering Joseph, recommended him to Pharaoh as an interpreter, having had an happy experience of him as such himself, Ge 41:10-13, when Joseph was sent for out of prison; and Pharaoh having related his dreams, he interpreted them of seven years of plenty, and seven years of famine, that should be in the land of Egypt, Ge 41:14-32; and having done, he gave his advice to provide in the years of plenty against the years of famine, and proposed a scheme for doing it, which was approved of by Pharaoh and his ministers, Ge 41:33-37; and Joseph himself was pitched upon as the most proper person to execute it, and was appointed chief over the kingdom next to Pharaoh, who gave him a new name and a wife upon this occasion, Ge 41:38-45; accordingly, in the years of plenty he took a tour throughout the whole land, and gathered and laid up food in vast quantities in every city, Ge 41:46-49; an account is given of two sons born to Joseph, and of their names, Ge 41:50-52; and of the seven years of famine, beginning to come on at the end of the seven years of plenty, which brought great distress on the land of Egypt, and the countries round about, who all came to Joseph to buy corn, Ge 41:53-57.