Genesis 41

1 Two years later—to the day—Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River, ^{a41:1 The Heb. lacks River, and so throughout the chapter}ISV — Genesis 41:1

2 when all of a sudden seven healthy, plump cows emerged from the Nile to graze in the grass that grew in the reeds that lined the bank. ^{b41:2 The Heb. lacks that lined the bank}ISV — Genesis 41:2

3 Right after that, seven more cows came up out of the Nile. Ugly and gaunt, they stood next to the other cows on the bank of the Nile River.ISV — Genesis 41:3

4 But all of a sudden they ate up the seven healthy, plump cows! Then Pharaoh woke up.ISV — Genesis 41:4

5 After he had fallen back to sleep, he had a second dream, in which seven ears of plump, fruit-filled grain grew up on a single stalk.ISV — Genesis 41:5

6 Suddenly seven thin ears of grain that had been scorched by an east wind sprouted up right after themISV — Genesis 41:6

7 and ate up the seven plump, fruit-filled ears. Then Pharaoh woke up a second time, ^{c41:7 The Heb. lacks a second time} and it had been a very vivid ^{d41:7 Lit. and behold, it was a} dream!ISV — Genesis 41:7

8 The very next morning, he ^{e41:8 Lit. morning, his spirit} was frustrated ^{f41:8 Or troubled} about the dream, so he sent word to summon all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them what he had dreamed, but no one could interpret them. ^{g41:8 Lit. interpret the dreams for Pharaoh}ISV — Genesis 41:8

9 Then Pharaoh’s senior security advisor ^{h41:9 Lit. Pharaoh’s cupbearer; a servant who tested the Pharaoh’s food and beverages for poison; cf. Neh 1:11} spoke up. “Maybe I should make a confession.ISV — Genesis 41:9

10 When Pharaoh was angry with some of his servants, he incarcerated me in custody of the captain of the bodyguard, along with Pharaoh’s head chef. ^{i41:10 Lit. baker}ISV — Genesis 41:10

11 We each had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning.ISV — Genesis 41:11

12 There was a Hebrew young man incarcerated with us, who was also working as a servant to the captain of the bodyguard. “We each related our dreams, ^{j41:12 The Heb. lacks our dreams} and then he interpreted them for us. He provided specific meanings for each of our dreams.ISV — Genesis 41:12

13 And what he interpreted for each of us came true! Pharaoh ^{k41:13 Lit. He} restored me to my responsibilities, but he executed ^{l41:13 Lit. hanged} the other man.”ISV — Genesis 41:13

14 Pharoah sent word to summon Joseph quickly from the dungeon, so they shaved his beard, changed his clothes, and then sent him straight to Pharaoh.ISV — Genesis 41:14

15 “I’ve had a dream,” Pharaoh told Joseph, “but nobody can interpret it. I’ve heard that you can interpret dreams.”ISV — Genesis 41:15

16 “I can’t do that,” Joseph replied, “but God is concerned about Pharaoh’s well-being.”ISV — Genesis 41:16

17 So Pharaoh told Joseph, “In my dream, I was standing on the bank of the Nile River,ISV — Genesis 41:17

18 and all of a sudden seven healthy, plump, beautiful cows emerged from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds that line the bank. ^{m41:18 The Heb. lacks that lined the bank}ISV — Genesis 41:18

19 Just then, seven other cows emerged after them, poor, ugly, and appearing very gaunt in their flesh. I’ve never seen anything as ugly as those cows anywhere in the entire land of Egypt!ISV — Genesis 41:19

20 But those thin, gaunt cows gobbled up the first seven healthy cows!ISV — Genesis 41:20

21 Not only that,” Pharaoh continued, ^{n41:21 The Heb. lacks Pharaoh continued} “after they had finished devouring the cows, nobody could tell that they had gobbled them up, because they were just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.ISV — Genesis 41:21

22 Later, I also dreamed about seven plump, fruit-filled ears of grain ^{o41:22 The Heb. lacks of grain} that grew up out of a single stalk.ISV — Genesis 41:22

23 All of a sudden, seven thin, withered ears of grain, ^{p41:23 The Heb. lacks of grain} scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them.ISV — Genesis 41:23

24 But the thin ears gobbled up the seven good ears. I told all this to my advisors, but nobody was able to explain it to me.”ISV — Genesis 41:24

25 “Pharaoh’s dreams are identical,” Joseph replied. “God has told Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do.ISV — Genesis 41:25

26 The seven healthy cows represent seven years, as do the seven healthy ears. The dreams are identical.ISV — Genesis 41:26

27 The seven gaunt cows that arose after the healthy cows ^{q41:27 Lit. after them} are seven years, as are the seven gaunt ears scorched by the east wind. There will be seven years of famine.ISV — Genesis 41:27

28 So the message that I have for Pharaoh is that God is telling Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do.ISV — Genesis 41:28

29 Be advised that seven years of phenomenal abundance are coming throughout all the land of Egypt,ISV — Genesis 41:29

30 but after them seven years of famine are ahead, during which all of the abundance will be forgotten throughout the land of Egypt. The famine will ravage the land so severely that ^{r41:30 The Heb. lacks so severely that}ISV — Genesis 41:30

31 there will be no surplus in the land due to the coming famine, because it will be very severe.ISV — Genesis 41:31

32 “Now since Pharaoh had that dream twice, it means that this event has been scheduled by God, and God will bring it to pass very soon.ISV — Genesis 41:32

33 Therefore let Pharaoh select a wise, discerning person to place in charge over the land of Egypt.ISV — Genesis 41:33

34 Also, let Pharaoh immediately proceed to appoint supervisors over the land of Egypt, who will collect one fifth of its agricultural production ^{s41:34 Lit. of the land} during the coming seven years of abundance.ISV — Genesis 41:34

35 Let them collect all the food during the coming fruitful years, store up the grain in cities governed by Pharaoh’s authority, ^{t41:35 Lit. cities in Pharaoh’s hand} and place it under guard.ISV — Genesis 41:35

36 Let the food be kept in reserve to feed ^{u41:36 Lit. reserve for} the land for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout Egypt, so the people don’t ^{v41:36 Lit. land doesn’t} die during the famine.”ISV — Genesis 41:36

37 What Joseph proposed pleased Pharaoh and all of his advisors,ISV — Genesis 41:37

38 so Pharaoh asked his servants, “Can we find anyone else like this—someone in whom the Spirit of God lives?ISV — Genesis 41:38

39 Since God has revealed all of this to you,” Pharaoh told Joseph, “there is no one so wise and discerning as you.ISV — Genesis 41:39

40 So you are to be appointed in charge over my palace, and all of my people are to do whatever you command them to do. Only the throne will have greater authority than you.”ISV — Genesis 41:40

41 “Look!” Pharaoh confirmed ^{w41:41 Lit. said} to Joseph, “I’ve put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt!”ISV — Genesis 41:41

42 Then Pharaoh ^{x41:42 Lit. he} removed his signet ring from his hand, placed it on Joseph’s hand, had him clothed in fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck.ISV — Genesis 41:42

43 Then he provided him with a chariot as his second-in-command, outfitted with a group of people who shouted out in front of him, “Bow your knees!” And that’s how Pharaoh set Joseph over the entire land of Egypt.ISV — Genesis 41:43

44 Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I’m still Pharaoh, but without your permission nobody in all of the land of Egypt will so much as lift up their hands or take a step!”ISV — Genesis 41:44

45 Pharaoh also changed Joseph’s name to Zaphenath-paneah ^{y41:45 The Heb. name means the God who speaks and lives} and gave Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, to him as his wife. And that’s how Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt.ISV — Genesis 41:45

46 Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh, king of Egypt, by traveling throughout the land of Egypt, independent from Pharaoh’s oversight. ^{z41:46 Lit. presence}ISV — Genesis 41:46

47 While bumper crops grew during the seven abundant years,ISV — Genesis 41:47

48 Joseph ^{aa41:48 Lit. he} collected the surplus food throughout the land of Egypt, storing food in cities; that is, he gathered the food from fields that surrounded every city and stored it there.ISV — Genesis 41:48

49 Joseph stored up so much grain—like sand on the seashore in so much abundance!—that he stopped keeping records because it was proving to be impossible to measure how much they were gathering.ISV — Genesis 41:49

50 Before the years of famine arrived, Joseph fathered two sons with Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.ISV — Genesis 41:50

51 Joseph named his firstborn son ^{bb41:51 The Heb. lacks son} Manasseh because, he said, “God has made me forget all of my hard life and my father’s house.”ISV — Genesis 41:51

52 He named his second son Ephraim because, he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my troubles.”ISV — Genesis 41:52

53 As soon as the seven years of abundance throughout the land of Egypt ended,ISV — Genesis 41:53

54 the seven years of famine started, just as Joseph had predicted. ^{cc41:54 Lit. said} It was an international famine, but there was food everywhere throughout the land of Egypt.ISV — Genesis 41:54

55 Eventually, the land of Egypt began to feel the effects of the famine, so the people ^{dd41:55 Lit. so they} cried out to Pharaoh for food. “Go see Joseph,” Pharaoh announced to all the Egyptians, “and do whatever he tells you to do.”ISV — Genesis 41:55

56 Joseph opened all of the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, because the famine was beginning to be severe throughout the land of Egypt.ISV — Genesis 41:56

57 In addition, all of the surrounding nations ^{ee41:57 Lit. the world} came to Joseph to buy grain from Egypt, because the famine had become severe throughout the world.ISV — Genesis 41:57