Genesis 41
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Two full years - שנתים ימים shenathayim yamim, two years of days, two complete solar revolutions, after the events mentioned in the preceding chapter. The river - The Nile, the cause of the fertility of Egypt.
Open source ↗PHARAOH'S DREAM. (Gen. 41:1-24) at the end of two full years--It is not certain whether these years are reckoned from the beginning of Joseph's imprisonment, or from the events described in the preceding chapter--most likely the latter. What a long time for Joseph to experience the sickness of hope deferred! But the time of his enlargement came when he had sufficiently learned the lessons of God designed for him; and the plans of Providence were matured. Pharaoh dreamed--"Pharaoh," from an Egyptian word Phre, signifying the "sun," was the official title of the kings of that country. The prince, who occupied the throne of Egypt, was Aphophis, one of the Memphite kings, whose capital was On or Heliopolis, and who is universally acknowledged to have been a patriot king. Between the arrival of Abraham and the appearance of Joseph in that country, somewhat more than two centuries had elapsed. Kings sleep and dream, as well as their subjects. And this Pharaoh had two dreams in one night so singular and so similar, so distinct and so apparently significant, so coherent and vividly impressed on his memory, that his spirit was troubled.
Open source ↗And it came to pass at the end of two full years,.... It is not a clear case, as Aben Ezra observes, from whence these years are to be reckoned, whether from the time of Joseph's being put into prison, or from the time that the chief butler was taken out of it; the latter seems more probable, and better connects this and the preceding chapter: that Pharaoh dreamed, and, behold, he stood by the river; it seemed to him, in his dream, as if he stood near the river Nile, or some canal or flow of water cut out of that river.
Open source ↗Pharaoh's Dreams and Their Interpretation. - Two full years afterwards (ימים accus. "in days," as in Gen 29:14) Pharaoh had a dream. He was standing by the Nile, and saw seven fine fat cows ascend from the Nile and feed in the Nile-grass (אחוּ an Egyptian word); and behind them seven others, ugly (according to Gen 41:19, unparalleled in their ugliness), lean (בּשׂר דּקּות "thin in flesh," for which we find in Gen 41:19 דּלּות "fallen away," and בּשׂר רקּות withered in flesh, fleshless), which placed themselves beside those fat ones on the brink of the Nile and devoured them, without there being any effect to show that they had eaten them. He then awoke, but fell asleep again and had a second, similar dream: seven fat (Gen 41:22, full) and fine ears grew upon one blade, and were swallowed up by seven thin (Gen 41:23, "and hardened") ones, which were blasted by the east wind (קדים i.e., the S.E. wind, Chamsin, from the desert of Arabia).
Open source ↗Observe, 1. The delay of Joseph's enlargement. It was not till the end of two full years (Gen 41:1); so long he waited after he had entrusted the chief butler with his case and began to have some prospect of relief. Note, We have need of patience, not only bearing, but waiting, patience. Joseph lay in prison until the time that his word came, Psa 105:19. There is a time set for the deliverance of God's people; that time will come, though it seem to tarry; and, when it comes, it will appear to have been the best time, and therefore we ought to wait for it (Hab 2:3), and not think two full years too long to continue waiting. 2. The means of Joseph's enlargement, which were Pharaoh's dreams, here related. If we were to look upon them as ordinary dreams, we might observe from them the follies and absurdities of a roving working fancy, how it represents to itself tame cows as beasts of prey (nay, more ravenous than any, eating up those of their own kind), and ears of corn as devouring one another. Surely in the multitude of dreams, nay, even in one dream, there are divers vanities, Ecc 5:7. Now that God no longer speaks to us in that way, I think it is no matter how little we either heed them or tell them. Foolish dreams related can make no better than foolish talk. But these dreams which Pharaoh dreamed carried their own evidence with them that they were sent of God; and therefore, when he awoke, his spirit was troubled, Gen 41:8. It cannot but put us into a concern to receive any extraordinary message from heaven, because we are conscious to ourselves that we have no reason to expect any good tidings thence. His magicians were puzzled, the rules of their art failed them: these dreams of Pharaoh, it seems, did not fall within the compass of them, so that they could not offe…
Open source ↗41:1-46 God had used two dreams to identify Joseph as a leader among his brothers (37:5-11). He used two dreams to test Joseph’s faith in prison (40:5-14). Now he would use two dreams to elevate Joseph from prison to preeminence. Joseph had repeatedly proven faithful in small matters; now he would be put in charge of great things. 41:1-4 Pharaoh’s first dream was about cows. Cows liked to stand half-submerged among the reeds in the Nile River to take refuge from the heat and flies. They would come out of the water to find pasture. The second group of cows disturbed Pharaoh because they were scrawny yet able to swallow the fat cows.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
קֵץ (qêts, H7093) — an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings חָלַם (châlam, H2492) — properly, to bind firmly, i.e. (by implication) to be (causatively to make) plump; also… עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) יְאֹר (yᵉʼôr, H2975) — a channel, e.g. a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the Nile, as the one river of Egypt,…
Open source ↗עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… יְאֹר (yᵉʼôr, H2975) — a channel, e.g. a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the Nile, as the one river of Egypt,… שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… יָפֶה (yâpheh, H3303) — beautiful (literally or figuratively) מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758) — a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape… פָּרָה (pârâh, H6510) — a heifer בָּרִיא (bârîyʼ, H1277) — fatted or plump בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… אָחוּ (ʼâchûw, H260) — a bulrush or any marshy grass (particularly that along the Nile)
Open source ↗שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… אַחֵר (ʼachêr, H312) — properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc. פָּרָה (pârâh, H6510) — a heifer עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… יְאֹר (yᵉʼôr, H2975) — a channel, e.g. a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the Nile, as the one river of Egypt,… רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758) — a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape… דַּק (daq, H1851) — crushed, i.e. (by implication) small or thin בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) אֵצֶל (ʼêtsel, H681) — a side; (as a preposition) near שָׂפָה (sâphâh, H8193) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a…
Open source ↗רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758) — a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape… דַּק (daq, H1851) — crushed, i.e. (by implication) small or thin בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… פָּרָה (pârâh, H6510) — a heifer אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… יָפֶה (yâpheh, H3303) — beautiful (literally or figuratively) בָּרִיא (bârîyʼ, H1277) — fatted or plump פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings יָקַץ (yâqats, H3364) — to awake (intransitive)
Open source ↗יָשֵׁן (yâshên, H3462) — properly, to be slack or languid, i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die);… חָלַם (châlam, H2492) — properly, to bind firmly, i.e. (by implication) to be (causatively to make) plump; also… שֵׁנִי (shênîy, H8145) — properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… שִׁבֹּל (shibbôl, H7641) — a stream (as flowing); also an ear of grain (as growing out); by analogy, a branch עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first קָנֶה (qâneh, H7070) — a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem,… בָּרִיא (bârîyʼ, H1277) — fatted or plump טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the…
Open source ↗שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… דַּק (daq, H1851) — crushed, i.e. (by implication) small or thin שִׁבֹּל (shibbôl, H7641) — a stream (as flowing); also an ear of grain (as growing out); by analogy, a branch שָׁדַף (shâdaph, H7710) — to scorch קָדִים (qâdîym, H6921) — the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for… צָמַח (tsâmach, H6779) — to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative) אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various…
Open source ↗דַּק (daq, H1851) — crushed, i.e. (by implication) small or thin שִׁבֹּל (shibbôl, H7641) — a stream (as flowing); also an ear of grain (as growing out); by analogy, a branch בָּלַע (bâlaʻ, H1104) — to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… בָּרִיא (bârîyʼ, H1277) — fatted or plump מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4392) — full (literally or figuratively) or filling (literally); also (concretely) fulness;… פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings יָקַץ (yâqats, H3364) — to awake (intransitive) חֲלוֹם (chălôwm, H2472) — a dream
Open source ↗בֹּקֶר (bôqer, H1242) — properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… פָּעַם (pâʻam, H6470) — to tap, i.e. beat regularly; hence (generally) to impel or agitate שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… חַרְטֹם (charṭôm, H2748) — a horoscopist (as drawing magical lines or circles) מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt חָכָם (châkâm, H2450) — wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful) פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings סָפַר (çâphar, H5608) — properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe,… חֲלוֹם (chălôwm, H2472) — a dream פָּתַר (pâthar, H6622) — to open up, i.e. (figuratively) interpret (a dream)
Open source ↗דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) שָׁקָה (shâqâh, H8248) — to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or furnish apotion to פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… חֵטְא (chêṭᵉʼ, H2399) — a crime or its penalty יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to…
Open source ↗פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings קָצַף (qâtsaph, H7107) — to crack off, i.e. (figuratively) burst out in rage עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) מִשְׁמָר (mishmâr, H4929) — a guard (the man, the post or the prison); a deposit (figuratively); also (as observed) a… שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) טַבָּח (ṭabbâch, H2876) — properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner);… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אָפָה (ʼâphâh, H644) — to cook, especially to bake
Open source ↗חָלַם (châlam, H2492) — properly, to bind firmly, i.e. (by implication) to be (causatively to make) plump; also… חֲלוֹם (chălôwm, H2472) — a dream אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… פִּתְרוֹן (pithrôwn, H6623) — interpretation (of a dream)
Open source ↗נַעַר (naʻar, H5288) — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a… עִבְרִי (ʻIbrîy, H5680) — an Eberite (i.e. Hebrew) or descendant of Eber עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) טַבָּח (ṭabbâch, H2876) — properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner);… סָפַר (çâphar, H5608) — properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe,… פָּתַר (pâthar, H6622) — to open up, i.e. (figuratively) interpret (a dream) חֲלוֹם (chălôwm, H2472) — a dream אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term…
Open source ↗פָּתַר (pâthar, H6622) — to open up, i.e. (figuratively) interpret (a dream) שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… כֵּן (kên, H3653) — a stand, i.e. pedestal or station תָּלָה (tâlâh, H8518) — to suspend (especially to gibbet)
Open source ↗פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… יוֹסֵף (Yôwçêph, H3130) — Joseph, the name of seven Israelites רוּץ (rûwts, H7323) — to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush) בּוֹר (bôwr, H953) — a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison) גָּלַח (gâlach, H1548) — properly, to be bald, i.e. (causatively) to shave; figuratively to lay waste חָלַף (châlaph, H2498) — properly, to slide by, i.e. (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce… שִׂמְלָה (simlâh, H8071) — a dress, especially a mantle בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month,
One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”
The waters of the Nile will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and empty.
For the land that you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated on foot, like a vegetable garden.
The land of Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD. Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it,’
So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
But if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. Then the water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.”
That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him.
both of these men—the Egyptian king’s cupbearer and baker, who were being held in the prison—had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning.