Genesis 41

1 After [at the end of] two full years [a period of twenty-four months, a complete cycle of time] had passed, Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] had a dream [was given a vision, experienced a prophetic revelation]: He was standing [stood upright, firmly established] beside [by, near, upon] the Nile [a river, a stream, a life-giving waterway], word study 2 when seven cows, sleek [beautiful, well-favored] and well-fed [fat, plump], came up [to ascend, rise] from the river [stream, watercourse] and began to graze [to care for, tend] among the reeds [meadow, field of grass]. word study 3 After them, seven other cows, sickly [ill-favored, unhealthy-looking] and thin [lean-fleshed, gaunt], came up from the Nile [a stream, river, or watercourse] and stood beside [near, close to] the well-fed [healthy, robust] cows on the bank [brink, edge] of the river [a canal, watercourse, or mining stream]. word study 4 And the cows [ill-favored, ugly] that were sickly [lean-fleshed, thin] and thin [small, fragile] devoured [ate up, consumed] the seven sleek [beautiful, well-favored], well-fed [fat, plump] cows. Then Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] woke up [became active, arose from sleep], word study 5 but he fell back asleep [to sleep again] and dreamed [had a vision, to recover] a second [again, another] time: Seven heads of grain [ears of corn, Shibboleth], plump [fat, well-fed] and ripe [healthy, good], came up [to ascend, grow] on one [united, single] stalk [branch, reed]. word study 6 After them, seven other heads of grain [Shibboleth, ears of grain] sprouted, thin [fragile, small] and scorched [blasted, dried up] by the east [direction of sunrise] wind [hot and dry, destructive to crops]. word study 7 And the thin [small, fragile] heads of grain [Shibboleth, ears of grain] swallowed up [devoured, consumed] the seven plump [fat, well-fed], ripe [full, mature] ones. Then Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] awoke [woke up, became active] and realized [saw, understood] it was a dream [vision, prophetic message]. word study 8 In the morning [at the break of day, when new beginnings unfold] his spirit [the breath of life, his mind and emotions] was troubled [deeply disturbed, like a drum being beaten], so he summoned [sent for, called upon] all the magicians [astrologers, wise men who claim special knowledge] and wise men [skilled, intelligent, and crafty individuals] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa, with a rich history and culture]. Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] told them his dreams [visions, prophetic messages], but no one could interpret [explain, provide understanding] them for him [give insight to Pharaoh, reveal the meaning]. word study 9 Then the chief [ruler, person in charge] cupbearer [butler, one who gives drink] said to Pharaoh [the king of Egypt], “Today [this day, at this moment] I recall [remember, call to mind] my failures [sins, mistakes, faults]. word study 10 Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful ruler] was once angry [wroth, intensely furious] with his servants [slaves, attendants], and he put me and the chief baker [head cook, overseer of bread-making] in the custody [guard, care] of the captain [ruler, commander] of the guard [executioners, lifeguards]. word study 11 One night [in a single evening, during the darkness] both the chief baker and I [the narrator, Joseph] had dreams [visions, prophetic messages], and each dream [prophetic vision, revelation] had its own meaning [interpretation, explanation, like a prophetic sign]. word study 12 Now a young [youth, from infancy to adolescence] Hebrew [a descendant of Eber, an Israelite] was there with us, a servant [or slave, one who serves] of the captain [ruler, leader] of the guard [lifeguardsman, executioner]. We told him our dreams [visions, prophetic messages] and he interpreted [explained, revealed the meaning] them for us individually [to each man, according to his own dream]. word study 13 And it happened [came to pass, occurred] to us just as he had interpreted [explained, given the meaning of]: I was restored [returned, put back] to my position [office, role], and the other man was hanged [executed, put to death by hanging].” word study 14 So Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] sent [to summon, to call forth] for Joseph, who was quickly [hastily, with urgency] brought out of the dungeon [pit, prison]. After he had shaved [to lay waste, to be bald] and changed [to pass, to exchange] his clothes [mantle, apparel], he went in [to approach, to enter] before Pharaoh [the ruler, the king]. word study 15 Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] said to Joseph [Jehovah has added, a name given to several Israelites], “I had a dream [a prophetic vision, a nighttime revelation], and no one [not a single person, none] can interpret [explain, uncover the meaning of] it. But I have heard [been told, informed] it said of you that when you hear [listen to, pay attention to] a dream [a prophetic message, a vision] you can interpret [understand, reveal the meaning of] it.” word study 16 “I myself [without God’s help, on my own] cannot do it,” Joseph [Jehovah has added, a name given to several Israelites] replied, “but God [Elohim, the one supreme God] will give Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] a sound [peaceful, prosperous] answer [of peace, shalom, completeness and wellness].” word study 17 Then Pharaoh [the king of Egypt] said to Joseph: “In my dream [vision, prophetic insight] I was standing [positioned, established] on the bank [brink, edge] of the Nile [stream, river], word study 18 when seven cows [heifers, young female cattle], well-fed [fat, plump] and sleek [beautiful, lovely in appearance], came up [ascended, rose] from the river [stream, watercourse] and began to graze [feed, tend] among the reeds [meadow, field of grass]. word study 19 After them, seven other cows—sickly [poor and very ill-favored], ugly [having a very bad form], and thin [lean-fleshed, emaciated]—came up [ascended, rose]. I have never seen [looked upon, gazed at] such ugly [evil, morally bad] cows in all [the entirety of] the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa]! word study 20 Then the thin [emaciated, lean], ugly cows devoured [ate up, consumed] the seven well-fed [fat, plump] cows that were there [present, in existence] first [initially, at the beginning]. word study 21 When they had devoured them, however, no one could tell that they had done so; their appearance [was still ill-favored, as ugly as before] was as ugly [bad, evil] as it had been before [at the beginning, from the start]. Then I awoke [to wake up, become active]. word study 22 In my dream [vision, prophetic insight] I also saw [behold, looked upon] seven heads of grain [ears of corn, shibboleth], plump [full, mature] and ripe [good, pleasant], growing [ascending, rising up] on a single [one, united] stalk [branch, reed]. word study 23 After them, seven other heads of grain [Shibboleth, ears of grain] sprouted [dried up]—withered [to dry, losing vitality], thin [small, fragile], and scorched [blasted, damaged] by the east [direction of the rising sun] wind [a strong, destructive force]. word study 24 And the thin [small, fragile] heads of grain [Shibboleth, ears of grain] swallowed the seven plump [good, pleasant] ones. I told [related, declared] this dream to the magicians [astrologers, wise men], but no one [none, nothing] could explain [declare, tell] it to me [give me understanding].” word study 25 At this, Joseph [the son of Jacob, a man of faith] said to Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader], “The dreams [visions, prophetic messages] of Pharaoh are one and the same [unified, having a single meaning]. God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] has revealed [made known, declared] to Pharaoh what He is about [going to do, planning to accomplish] to do [bring to pass, fulfill]. word study 26 The seven [sacred or special number] good [pleasant, beneficial] cows [heifers, young female cows] are seven [seven times, a week of years] years, and the seven [sacred or special number] ripe [good, full] heads of grain [ears of grain, Shibboleth] are seven [seven times, a week of years] years. The dreams [visions, prophetic messages] have the same [one, united] meaning [sense, interpretation]. word study 27 Moreover, the seven [a period of completion or perfection] thin [emaciated, lacking nourishment], ugly [unpleasant, unattractive] cows [heifers, young female cattle] that came up [ascended, rose] after them are seven years [a period of time, a cycle of seasons], and so are the seven [a period of completion or perfection] worthless [empty, without value] heads of grain [ears of corn, Shibboleth] scorched [blasted, damaged] by the east [direction of the rising sun] wind—they are seven years [a period of time, a cycle of seasons] of famine [a state of hunger, scarcity, or lack]. word study 28 It is just as I said [previously] to Pharaoh: God [Elohim, the supreme ruler] has shown [revealed, made known] Pharaoh what [which, the things] He is about [going, intending] to do [accomplish, bring to pass]. word study 29 Behold [look, take notice], seven years of great [abundant, plentiful] abundance [having plenty of something, being satisfied] are coming [approaching, drawing near] throughout [in all parts of, everywhere in] the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], word study 30 but seven [a period of completion or perfection] years of famine [a time of severe hunger or scarcity] will follow them [come after, in the rear]. Then all [everything, the entirety] the abundance [plenty, a state of being well-supplied] in the land [the earth, a country or region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] will be forgotten [misremembered, overlooked], and the famine [a lack of food or spiritual nourishment] will devastate [consume, lay waste to] the land [the earth, a country or region]. word study 31 The abundance [plenty, having more than enough] in the land [earth, territory] will not be remembered [known, recalled to mind], since the famine [hunger, time of scarcity] that follows [comes after, is a consequence of] it will be so [very, exceedingly] severe [heavy, grievous]. word study 32 Moreover, because the dream [given by God, a prophetic vision] was given to Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] in two versions [doubled, repeated for emphasis], the matter [thing, event, or circumstance] has been decreed [established, firmly decided] by God [Elohim, the one supreme God], and He will carry it out [bring it to pass, fulfill it] shortly [quickly, without delay, soon]. word study 33 Now [at this time, currently], therefore, Pharaoh [the king of Egypt] should look for [provide, search out] a discerning [discreet, wise, having good sense] and wise [intelligent, skilled, prudent] man [individual, person] and set [appoint, place] him over [in charge of, responsible for] the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa]. word study 34 Let Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] take action [to make, to do] and appoint [to put in charge, to oversee] commissioners [officers, overseers] over the land [the soil, the ground, the country] to take [to receive, to collect] a fifth [one-fifth, a tax] of the harvest [the produce, the crops] of Egypt [the land of the Nile, a country in northeastern Africa] during the seven [a special number, a week of years] years of abundance [plenty, a time of rich harvest]. word study 35 Under the authority [control, supervision] of Pharaoh [the king of Egypt], let them collect [gather, assemble] all the excess [surplus, abundance] food [sustenance, provisions] from these [specific, aforementioned] good [prosperous, favorable] years, that they may come and lay up [store, accumulate] the grain [corn, crops] to be preserved [kept, protected] as food [nourishment, supplies] in the cities [towns, urban areas]. word study 36 This food [provision, store] will be a reserve [deposit, storehouse] for the land [country, territory] during the seven years of famine [hunger, scarcity] to come upon the land [earth, region] of Egypt [northeastern Africa]. Then the country [nation, territory] will not [absence, negation] perish [be cut off, destroyed] in the famine [lack of food, spiritual hunger].” word study 37 This proposal [seemed good, was a good idea] pleased [was good in the eyes of] Pharaoh [the king of Egypt] and all [everything, every one of] his officials [servants, slaves, attendants]. word study 38 So Pharaoh [the king of Egypt] asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man [a person with exceptional wisdom], in whom the Spirit [the breath of life] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God] abides [lives and works, guiding him]?” word study 39 Then Pharaoh [the king of Egypt] said to Joseph, “Since God [Elohim, the supreme God] has made [revealed, shown] all this [these things, everything] known to you, there is no one [none, no other] as discerning [discreet, understanding] and wise [skilled, intelligent] as you [like you, comparable to you]. word study 40 You [the one I have chosen] shall be in charge of my house [my palace, my kingdom], and all my people [my nation, my subjects] are to obey your commands [your word, your decrees]. Only with regard to the throne [the seat of power, the kingship] will I be greater than you [in authority, in rank].” word study 41 Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] also told Joseph [Jehovah has added, a name given to several Israelites], “I hereby [by my own authority, as a decree] place [set, appoint, put] you [as a leader, with great responsibility] over [in charge of, with authority on] all [everything, the whole] the land [the soil, the ground, a country] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa, with its people and culture].” word study 42 Then Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] removed [took off, turned aside] the signet ring [a ring or signet] from his finger, put it on Joseph’s [Jehovah has added, a name given to several Israelites] finger, clothed [wrapped, arrayed] him in garments [clothing, robes] of fine linen [white, luxurious fabric], and placed [set, put] a gold [valuable, brilliant] chain [necklace, ornament] around his neck [the part of the body that supports the head]. word study 43 He had Joseph ride [in a vehicle of high rank] in his second [subordinate, next in command] chariot, with men calling out before him [shouting to clear the way, to show respect], “Bow the knee [show reverence, kneel in worship]!” So he placed him over [gave him authority, set him as ruler] all the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa]. word study 44 And Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] declared to Joseph, “I [the king, the ruler] am Pharaoh [the supreme authority], but without your permission [consent, approval], no one [not a single person, no man] in all [the entirety of] the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] shall lift [exalt, raise] his hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] or foot [a part of the body, used for movement].” word study 45 Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful ruler] gave Joseph [Jehovah has added] the name Zaphenath-paneah [meaning’the savior of the world’ or’the revealer of secrets’], and he gave him Asenath [a woman of noble birth, daughter of a priest] daughter of Potiphera [an Egyptian priest, a spiritual leader], priest [a mediator between God and man, one who serves God] of On [a city of sun worship, a place of spiritual significance], to be his wife [a life partner, a companion]. And Joseph [a man of God, a leader] took charge [exercised authority, had dominion] of all the land [the territory, the country] of Egypt [a nation, a people]. word study 46 Now Joseph [the one Jehovah has added] was thirty [a mature age, a time of leadership] years old when he entered [stood before, began serving] the service of Pharaoh [the king, ruler] king of Egypt [a powerful and prominent nation]. And Joseph left [went out from, departed] Pharaoh’s [the king’s] presence [face, royal court] and traveled [passed through, inspected] throughout [all of, the entire] the land [territory, region] of Egypt [the Egyptian kingdom, a country in northeastern Africa]. word study 47 During the seven [plenteous, abundant] years of abundance [having plenty, being satisfied], the land [earth, territory] brought forth [produced, yielded] bountifully [by handfuls, in masses, abundantly]. word study 48 During those seven [a number considered sacred] years, Joseph [as a wise and faithful steward] collected [gathered, assembled] all the excess [surplus, abundant] food [grain, provisions] in the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and stored [laid up, preserved] it in the cities [towns, urban centers]. In every city [town, municipality] he laid up [stored, reserved] the food [produce, crops] from the fields [agricultural lands, countryside] around [surrounding, adjacent to] it. word study 49 So Joseph [the one God has added] stored up grain [like wheat or corn, a field of barley] in such abundance [very much, exceedingly], like the sand [round or whirling particles] of the sea [a large body of water], that he stopped keeping track of it [ceased to number, gave up measuring]; for it was beyond measure [without number, countless]. word study 50 Before [prior to, preceding] the years [periods of time, seasons] of famine [hunger, scarcity] arrived, two [a pair, a duo] sons [male children, descendants] were born [brought into existence, given birth] to Joseph [Jehovah has added, a name given to several Israelites] by Asenath [an Egyptian woman] daughter [female child, woman] of Potiphera [an Egyptian priest, father of Asenath], priest [one who serves God, spiritual leader] of On [a city in Egypt, a place of sun worship]. word study 51 Joseph named the firstborn [the eldest child, holding a special status] Manasseh, saying, “God [Elohim, the one supreme God] has made me forget [to neglect or disregard, causing me to overlook] all my hardship [trouble, toil, or labor] and all my father’s [paternal] household [family, dwelling place].” word study 52 And the second [again, a second time] son he named Ephraim [doubly fruitful], saying, “God [Elohim, the supreme Lord] has made me fruitful [to be fruitful, produce something] in the land [country, territory] of my affliction [misery, trouble, sorrow].” word study 53 When the seven years [periods of time, cycles] of abundance [plenty, rich supply] in the land [earth, territory, country] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] came to an end [to finish, be completed], word study 54 the seven years of famine [hunger, scarcity of food] began, just as Joseph [Jehovah has added, a name given to several Israelites] had said. And although there was famine [drought, dearth] in every country [land, territory], there was food [bread, grain, sustenance] throughout the land [earth, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa]. word study 55 When extreme [severe, intense] hunger [famine, scarcity of food] came to all [every part of] the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and the people [nation, crowd] cried out [petitioned, begged] to Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] for food [bread, sustenance], he told all [every one of] the Egyptians [inhabitants of Egypt], “Go [walk, proceed] to Joseph [Jehovah has added, a leader] and do [obey, follow] whatever [all that] he tells [instructs, commands] you [as individuals, collectively].” word study 56 When the famine [severe hunger, lack of food] had spread over all [the entire, every part of] the land, Joseph [Jehovah has added, a leader] opened up all [every single, without exception] the storehouses and sold grain [food, provisions] to the Egyptians [people of Egypt, a nation]; for the famine [hunger, scarcity] was severe [very bad, intense] in the land [country, territory] of Egypt. word study 57 And every [all, each] nation came to Joseph [Jehovah has added] in Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] to buy [acquire, trade for] grain [food, sustenance], because the famine [hunger, scarcity of food] was severe [strong, intense] over all [every, the entire] the earth [land, world, the physical realm]. word study