Font Size
Genesis 41
1599 Geneva Bible
Genesis 41
1599 Geneva Bible
41 26 Pharaoh’s dreams are expounded by Joseph. 40 He is made ruler over all Egypt. 45 Joseph’s name is changed. 50 He hath two sons Manasseh and Ephraim.
1 And [a]two years after, Pharaoh also [b]dreamed, and behold, he stood by a river.
2 And lo, there came out of the river seven [c]goodly kine and fat-fleshed, and they fed in a [d]meadow.
3 And lo, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, evil favored and lean fleshed, and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
4 And the evil favored and lean fleshed kine did eat up the seven well favored and fat kine: so Pharaoh awoke.
5 Again he slept, and dreamed the [e]second time: and behold, seven ears of corn grew upon one stalk, rank and goodly.
6 And lo, seven thin ears, and blasted with the East wind, sprang up after them.
7 And the thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears, then Pharaoh awaked, and lo it was a dream.
8 Now when the morning came, his spirit was [f]troubled: therefore he sent and called all the soothsayers of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof, and Pharaoh told them his dreams: but [g]none could interpret them to Pharaoh.
9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I [h]call to mind my faults this day.
10 Pharaoh being angry with his servants, put me in ward in the chief steward’s house, both me, and the chief baker.
11 Then we dreamed a dream in one night both I, and he: we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
12 And there was with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant unto the chief steward, whom when we told, he declared our dreams to [i]us, to everyone he declared according to his dream.
13 And as he declared unto us, so it came to pass: for he restored me to mine office, and hanged him.
14 (A)Then sent Pharaoh, and called [j]Joseph and they brought him hastily out of prison, and he shaved him, and changed his raiment, and came to Pharaoh.
15 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and no man can interpret it, and I have heard say of thee, that when thou hearest a dream, thou canst interpret it.
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [k]Without me God shall [l]answer for the wealth of Pharaoh.
17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: In my dream, behold, I stood by the bank of the river:
18 And lo, there came up out of the river seven fat fleshed, and well favored kine. and they fed in the meadow.
19 Also lo, seven other kine came up after them poor and very [m]evil favored kine, and lean fleshed: I never saw the like in all the land of Egypt, for evil favored.
20 And the lean and the evil favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine.
21 And when they [n]had eaten them up: it could not be known that they had eaten them, but they were still as evil favored, as they were at the beginning: so did I awake.
22 Moreover I saw in my dream, and behold, seven ears sprang out of one stalk, full and fair.
23 And lo, seven ears withered, thin, and blasted with the East wind, sprang up after them.
24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. Now I have told the soothsayers, and none can declare it unto me.
25 ¶ Then Joseph answered Pharaoh, [o]Both Pharaoh’s dreams are one. God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good Kine are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years: this is one dream.
27 Likewise the seven thin and evil favored kine, that came out after them, are seven years: and the seven empty ears blasted with the East wind, are seven years of famine.
28 This is the thing which I have said unto Pharaoh, that God hath showed unto Pharaoh, what he is about to do.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great [p]plenty in all the land of Egypt.
30 Again, there shall arise after them seven years of famine, so that all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land:
31 Neither shall the plenty [q]be known in the land, by reason of this famine that shall come after, for it shall be exceeding great.
32 And therefore the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh the second time, because the thing is established by God, and God hasteth to perform it.
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh [r]provide for a man of understanding and wisdom, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh make and appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35 Also let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh for food, in the cities, and let them keep it.
36 So the food shall be for the provision of the land, against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land perish not by famine.
37 ¶ And the saying pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.
38 Then said Pharaoh unto his servants, Can we find such a man as this, in whom is the [s]Spirit of God?
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is no man of understanding, or wisdom like unto thee.
40 (B)Thou shalt be over mine house, and at thy [t][u]word shall all my people be armed, only in the king’s throne will I be above thee.
41 Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, Behold, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
42 And Pharaoh took off his [v]ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a golden chain about his neck.
43 So he sat him upon the [w]best chariot that he had, save one: and they cried before him, [x]Abrech, and placed him over all the land of Egypt.
44 Again Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in the land of Egypt.
45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name [y]Zaphnath-Paaneah: and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-Pherah [z]Prince of On: then went Joseph abroad in the land of Egypt.
46 ¶ And Joseph was [aa]thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh King of Egypt: and Joseph departing from the presence of Pharaoh, went throughout all the land of Egypt.
47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth [ab]brought forth store.
48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven plenteous years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, that was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
49 So Joseph gathered wheat, like unto the sand of the sea in multitude out of measure, until he left numbering: for it was without number.
50 Now unto Joseph were born (C)two sons (before the year of famine came) which Asenath the daughter of Poti-Pherah prince of On bare unto him.
51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: for God, said he, hath made me forget all my labor and all my [ac]father’s household.
52 Also he called the name of the second, Ephraim: For God, said he, hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.
53 ¶ So the seven years of the plenty that was in the land of Egypt were ended.
54 (D)Then began the seven years of famine to come, according as Joseph had said: and the famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt was [ad]bread.
55 At the length all the land of Egypt was famished, and the people cried unto Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go to Joseph: what he saith to you, do ye.
56 When the famine was upon all the land, Joseph opened all places, wherein the store was, and sold unto the Egyptians: for the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
57 And all the countries [ae]came to Egypt to buy corn of Joseph, because the famine was sore in all lands.
Footnotes
- Genesis 41:1 Hebrew, at the end of two years of days.
- Genesis 41:1 This dream was not so much for Pharaoh, as to be a means to deliver Joseph, and to provide for God’s Church.
- Genesis 41:2 Or, fair to behold.
- Genesis 41:2 Or, staggie place.
- Genesis 41:5 All these means God used to deliver his servant, and to bring him into favor and authority.
- Genesis 41:8 This fear was enough to teach him that this vision was sent of God.
- Genesis 41:8 The wise of the world understand not God’s secrets, but to his servants his will is revealed.
- Genesis 41:9 He confesseth his fault against the king before he speak of Joseph.
- Genesis 41:12 Read Gen. 40:5.
- Genesis 41:14 The wicked seek to the Prophets of God in their necessity, whom in their prosperity they abhor.
- Genesis 41:16 As though he would say, if I interpret thy dream it cometh of God, and not of me.
- Genesis 41:16 Hebrew, answer peace.
- Genesis 41:19 Hebrew, naught.
- Genesis 41:21 Hebrew, were gone into their inward parts.
- Genesis 41:25 Both his dreams tend to one end.
- Genesis 41:29 Or, abundance and saturity.
- Genesis 41:31 Or, they shall remember no more the plenty.
- Genesis 41:33 The office of a true Prophet is not only to show the evils to come, but also the remedies for the same.
- Genesis 41:38 None should be preferred to honor that have not gifts of God meet for the same.
- Genesis 41:40 Hebrew, mouth.
- Genesis 41:40 Some read, the people shall kiss thy mouth, that is shall obey thee in all things.
- Genesis 41:42 Or, his signet.
- Genesis 41:43 Hebrew, second chariot.
- Genesis 41:43 In sign of honor: which word some expound, tender father, or father of the king, or kneel down.
- Genesis 41:45 Or, the expounder of secrets.
- Genesis 41:45 Or, priest.
- Genesis 41:46 His age is mentioned both to show that his authority came of God, and also that he suffered imprisonment and exile twelve years and more.
- Genesis 41:47 Hebrew, made for gatherings.
- Genesis 41:51 Notwithstanding that his father’s house was the true Church of God: yet the company of the wicked and prosperity caused him to forget it.
- Genesis 41:54 Or, food.
- Genesis 41:57 Or, came to Egypt to Joseph.
Genesis 41
New International Version
Genesis 41
New International Version
Pharaoh’s Dreams
41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:(A) He was standing by the Nile,(B) 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat,(C) and they grazed among the reeds.(D) 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.(E)
5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain,(F) healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.(G) 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up;(H) it had been a dream.
8 In the morning his mind was troubled,(I) so he sent for all the magicians(J) and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.(K)
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.(L) 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,(M) and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.(N) 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(O) 12 Now a young Hebrew(P) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.(Q) We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.(R) 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.(S)”
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.(T) When he had shaved(U) and changed his clothes,(V) he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.(W) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(X)
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”(Y)
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,(Z) 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.(AA) 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.(AB)”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.(AC) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(AD) 26 The seven good cows(AE) are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.(AF)
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.(AG) 29 Seven years of great abundance(AH) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine(AI) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.(AJ) 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided(AK) by God, and God will do it soon.(AL)
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man(AM) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.(AN) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners(AO) over the land to take a fifth(AP) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.(AQ) 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.(AR) 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt,(AS) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(AT) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[a]?”(AU)
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(AV) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(AW) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(AX) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(AY) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(AZ)”
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(BA) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(BB) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(BC) of fine linen(BD) and put a gold chain around his neck.(BE) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(BF) as his second-in-command,[b](BG) and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!”(BH) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(BI)
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”(BJ) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph(BK) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest(BL) of On,[d](BM) to be his wife.(BN) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old(BO) when he entered the service(BP) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance(BQ) 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.(BR) 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;(BS) 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.(BT) 51 Joseph named his firstborn(BU) Manasseh[e](BV) 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](BW) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful(BX) 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(BY) began,(BZ) 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,(CA) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”(CB)
56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,(CC) for the famine(CD) was severe throughout Egypt.(CE) 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,(CF) because the famine was severe everywhere.(CG)
Footnotes
- Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
- Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot
- Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down
- Genesis 41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50
- Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget.
- Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.