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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 41 ESV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/genesis/41.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/genesis/41-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ESV</a> > Genesis 41</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../genesis/40.htm" title="Genesis 40">◄</a> Genesis 41 <a href="../genesis/42.htm" title="Genesis 42">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">English Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/esv/nas/genesis/41.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div></a><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>So 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 none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or (compare Samaritan, Septuagint) Without God it is not possible to give Pharaoh an answer about his welfare">a</a></sup></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or over the land and organize the land">b</a></sup></span> of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”</p> <p class="heading">Joseph Rises to Power</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or of the gods">c</a></sup></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command.<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew and according to your command all my people shall kiss the ground">d</a></sup></span> Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span>And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!”<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Abrek, probably an Egyptian word, similar in sound to the Hebrew word meaning to kneel">e</a></sup></span> Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-44.htm"><b>44</b></a></span>Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-45.htm"><b>45</b></a></span>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.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-46.htm"><b>46</b></a></span>Joseph was thirty years old when he 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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-47.htm"><b>47</b></a></span>During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-48.htm"><b>48</b></a></span>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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-49.htm"><b>49</b></a></span>And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-50.htm"><b>50</b></a></span>Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-51.htm"><b>51</b></a></span>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.”<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Manasseh sounds like the Hebrew for making to forget">f</a></sup></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-52.htm"><b>52</b></a></span>The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for making fruitful">g</a></sup></span></p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-53.htm"><b>53</b></a></span>The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-54.htm"><b>54</b></a></span>and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-55.htm"><b>55</b></a></span>When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-56.htm"><b>56</b></a></span>So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew all that was in them">h</a></sup></span> and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/41-57.htm"><b>57</b></a></span>Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="footnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">16</span> Or (compare Samaritan, Septuagint) <i>Without God it is not possible to give Pharaoh an answer about his welfare</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">34</span> Or <i><span class="catch-word">over</span> the land and organize the land</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">38</span> Or <i>of the gods</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">40</span> Hebrew <i><span class="catch-word">and</span> according to your command all my people shall kiss the ground</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">e</span> <span class="fnverse">43</span> <i language="Egyptian">Abrek</i>, probably an Egyptian word, similar in sound to the Hebrew word meaning <i>to kneel</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">f</span> <span class="fnverse">51</span> <i class="catch-word">Manasseh</i> sounds like the Hebrew for <i>making to forget</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">g</span> <span class="fnverse">52</span> <i class="catch-word">Ephraim</i> sounds like the Hebrew for <i>making fruitful</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">h</span> <span class="fnverse">56</span> Hebrew <i><span class="catch-word">all</span> that was in them</i><br /></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">ESV Text Edition® (2016).<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="http://www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 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