Genesis 41Genesis41

Berean Standard BibleKing James Version

1. The Dreams of Pharaoh

2. 1BSBAfter two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,KJVKJV: And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
3. 2BSBwhen seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.KJVKJV: And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
4. 3BSBAfter them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river.KJVKJV: And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
5. 4BSBAnd the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up,KJVKJV: And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
6. 5BSBbut he fell back asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, came up on one stalk.KJVKJV: And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
7. 6BSBAfter them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind.KJVKJV: And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
8. 7BSBAnd the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.KJVKJV: And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
9. 8BSBIn the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.KJVKJV: And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
10. 9BSBThen the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures.KJVKJV: Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:
11. 10BSBPharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard.KJVKJV: Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker:
12. 11BSBOne night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning.KJVKJV: And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
13. 12BSBNow a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us individually.KJVKJV: And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.
14. 13BSBAnd it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”KJVKJV: And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.

15. Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams

16. 14BSBSo Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh.KJVKJV: Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
17. 15BSBPharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”KJVKJV: And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
18. 16BSB“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”KJVKJV: And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
19. 17BSBThen Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,KJVKJV: And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:
20. 18BSBwhen seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.KJVKJV: And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
21. 19BSBAfter them, seven other cows—sickly, ugly, and thin—came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt!KJVKJV: And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
22. 20BSBThen the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first.KJVKJV: And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
23. 21BSBWhen they had devoured them, however, no one could tell that they had done so; their appearance was as ugly as it had been before. Then I awoke.KJVKJV: And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
24. 22BSBIn my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk.KJVKJV: And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:
25. 23BSBAfter them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind.KJVKJV: And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:
26. 24BSBAnd the thin heads of grain swallowed the seven plump ones. I told this dream to the magicians, but no one could explain it to me.”KJVKJV: And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.
27. 25BSBAt this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.KJVKJV: And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
28. 26BSBThe seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning.KJVKJV: The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
29. 27BSBMoreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine.KJVKJV: And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
30. 28BSBIt is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.KJVKJV: This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
31. 29BSBBehold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,KJVKJV: Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
32. 30BSBbut seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land.KJVKJV: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
33. 31BSBThe abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.KJVKJV: And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
34. 32BSBMoreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly.KJVKJV: And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
35. 33BSBNow, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.KJVKJV: Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
36. 34BSBLet Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.KJVKJV: Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
37. 35BSBUnder the authority of Pharaoh, let them collect all the excess food from these good years, that they may come and lay up the grain to be preserved as food in the cities.KJVKJV: And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
38. 36BSBThis food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.”KJVKJV: And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

39. Joseph Given Charge of Egypt

40. 37BSBThis proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials.KJVKJV: And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
41. 38BSBSo Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”KJVKJV: And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
42. 39BSBThen Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.KJVKJV: And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
43. 40BSBYou shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”KJVKJV: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
44. 41BSBPharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.”KJVKJV: And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
45. 42BSBThen Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.KJVKJV: And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
46. 43BSBHe had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.KJVKJV: And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
47. 44BSBAnd Pharaoh declared to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission, no one in all the land of Egypt shall lift his hand or foot.”KJVKJV: And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
48. 45BSBPharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah, and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph took charge of all the land of Egypt.KJVKJV: And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

49. The Seven Years of Plenty

50. 46BSBNow Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.KJVKJV: And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
51. 47BSBDuring the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully.KJVKJV: And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
52. 48BSBDuring those seven years, Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities. In every city he laid up the food from the fields around it.KJVKJV: And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
53. 49BSBSo Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it; for it was beyond measure.KJVKJV: And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
54. 50BSBBefore the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.KJVKJV: And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him.
55. 51BSBJoseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”KJVKJV: And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
56. 52BSBAnd the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”KJVKJV: And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

57. The Famine Begins

58. 53BSBWhen the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end,KJVKJV: And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
59. 54BSBthe seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was famine in every country, there was food throughout the land of Egypt.KJVKJV: And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
60. 55BSBWhen extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”KJVKJV: And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
61. 56BSBWhen the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.KJVKJV: And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
62. 57BSBAnd every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.KJVKJV: And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.