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.

50 Before the year of famine came, (L)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.”[d] 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has (M)made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”[e]

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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
  4. Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like the Hebrew for making to forget
  5. Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for making fruitful

37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(A) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[a]?”(B)

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(C) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(D) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(E) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(F) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(G)

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(H) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(I) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(J) of fine linen(K) and put a gold chain around his neck.(L) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(M) as his second-in-command,[b](N) and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!”(O) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(P)

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”(Q) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph(R) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest(S) of On,[d](T) to be his wife.(U) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old(V) when he entered the service(W) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance(X) 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.(Y) 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;(Z) 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.(AA) 51 Joseph named his firstborn(AB) Manasseh[e](AC) 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](AD) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful(AE) in the land of my suffering.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
  2. Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot
  3. Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down
  4. Genesis 41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50
  5. Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget.
  6. Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful.