1 And two yeeres after, Pharaoh also dreamed, and beholde, he stoode by a riuer, 2 And loe, there came out of the riuer seuen goodly kine and fatfleshed, and they fedde in a medowe: 3 And loe, seuen other kine came vp after the out of the riuer, euill fauoured and leane fleshed, and stoode by the other kine vpon the brinke of the riuer. 4 And the euilfauoured and leane fleshed kine did eate vp the seuen welfauoured and fatte kine: so Pharaoh awoke. 5 Againe he slept, and dreamed the second time: and beholde, seuen eares of corne grewe vpon one stalke, ranke and goodly. 6 And loe, seuen thinne eares, and blasted with the east winde, sprang vp after them: 7 And the thinne eares deuoured the seuen ranke and full eares. then Pharaoh awaked, and loe, it was a dreame. 8 Nowe when the morning came, his spirit was troubled: therefore he sent and called all the soothsayers of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof, and Pharaoh tolde them his dreames: but none coulde interprete them to Pharaoh. 9 Then spake the chiefe butler vnto Pharaoh, saying, I call to minde my faultes this day. 10 Pharaoh being angrie with his seruantes, put me in ward in the chiefe stewards house, both me and the chiefe baker. 11 Then we dreamed a dreame in one night, both I, and he: we dreamed eche man according to the interpretation of his dreame. 12 And there was with vs a yong man, an Ebrew, seruant vnto the chiefe steward, whome when we told, he declared our dreames to vs, to euery one he declared according to his dreame. 13 And as he declared vnto vs, so it came to passe: for he restored me to mine office, and hanged him. 14 Then sent Pharaoh, and called Ioseph, and they brought him hastily out of prison, and he shaued him, and chaunged his rayment, and came to Pharaoh. 15 Then Pharaoh sayde to Ioseph, I haue dreamed a dreame, and no man can interprete it, and I haue hearde say of thee, that when thou hearest a dreame, thou canst interprete it. 16 And Ioseph answered Pharaoh, saying, Without me God shall answere for the wealth of Pharaoh. 17 And Pharaoh sayde vnto Ioseph, In my dreame, beholde, I stoode by the banke of the riuer: 18 And lo, there came vp out of the riuer seuen fat fleshed, and welfauoured kine, and they fedde in the medowe. 19 Also loe, seuen other kine came vp after them, poore and very euilfauoured, and leanefleshed: I neuer sawe the like in all the lande of Egypt, for euilfauoured. 20 And the leane and euilfauoured kine did eate vp the first seuen fat kine. 21 And when they had eaten them vp, it could not be knowen that they had eaten them, but they were still as euilfauoured, as they were at the beginning: so did I awake. 22 Moreouer I sawe in my dreame, and beholde, seuen eares sprang out of one stalke, full and faire. 23 And lo, seuen eares, withered, thinne, and blasted with the East winde, sprang vp after them. 24 And the thinne eares deuoured the seuen good eares. Nowe I haue tolde the soothsayers, and none can declare it vnto me. 25 Then Ioseph answered Pharaoh, Both Pharaohs dreames are one. God hath shewed Pharaoh, what he is about to doe. 26 The seuen good kine are seuen yeres, and the seuen good eares are seuen yeeres: this is one dreame. 27 Likewise the seuen thinne and euilfauoured kine, that came out after them, are seuen yeeres: and the seuen emptie eares blasted with the East winde, are seuen yeeres of famine. 28 This is the thing which I haue saide vnto Pharaoh, that God hath shewed vnto Pharaoh, what he is about to doe. 29 Beholde, there come seuen yeeres of great plentie in all the land of Egypt. 30 Againe, there shall arise after them seuen yeeres of famine, so that all the plentie shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land: 31 Neither shall the plentie bee knowen in the land, by reason of this famine that shall come after: for it shalbe exceeding great. 32 And therefore the dreame was doubled vnto Pharaoh the second time, because the thing is established by God, and God hasteth to performe it. 33 Nowe therefore let Pharaoh prouide for a man of vnderstanding and wisedome, and set him ouer the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh make and appoynt officers ouer the lande, and take vp the fift part of the land of Egypt in the seuen plenteous yeeres. 35 Also let them gather all the foode of these good yeeres that come, and lay vp corne vnder the hand of Pharaoh for foode, in the cities, and let them keepe it. 36 So the foode shall be for the prouision of the lande, against the seuen yeeres of famine, which shalbe in the lande of Egypt, that the land perish not by famine. 37 And the saying pleased Pharaoh and all his seruants. 38 Then saide Pharaoh vnto his seruants, Can we finde such a man as this, in whom is the Spirit of God? 39 The Pharaoh said to Ioseph, For as much as God hath shewed thee all this, there is no man of vnderstanding, or of wisedome like vnto thee. 40 Thou shalt be ouer mine house, and at thy word shall all my people be armed, onely in the kings throne will I be aboue thee. 41 Moreouer Pharaoh said to Ioseph, Behold, I haue set thee ouer all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh tooke off his ring from his hand, and put it vpon Iosephs hand, and arayed him in garments of fine linnen, and put a golden cheyne about his necke. 43 So he set him vpon the best charet that hee had, saue one: and they cryed before him, Abrech, and placed him ouer all the land of Egypt. 44 Againe Pharaoh saide vnto Ioseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift vp his hand or his foote in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Iosephs name Zaphnath-paaneah: and he gaue him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah prince of On. then went Ioseph abrode in the land of Egypt. 46 And Ioseph was thirtie yeere old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt: and Ioseph departing from the presence of Pharaoh, went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 And in the seuen plenteous yeres the earth brought foorth store. 48 And hee gathered vp all the foode of the seuen plenteous yeeres, which were in the lande of Egypt, and layde vp foode in the cities: the foode of the fielde, that was round about euery citie, layde he vp in the same. 49 So Ioseph gathered wheate, like vnto the sand of the sea in multitude out of measure, vntill he left numbring: for it was without number. 50 Now vnto Ioseph were borne two sonnes (before the yeeres of famine came) which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah prince of On bare vnto him. 51 And Ioseph called the name of the first borne Manasseh: for God, said he, hath made me forget all my labour and al my fathers houshold. 52 Also hee called the name of the second, Ephraim: For God, sayde he hath made me fruitfull in the land of mine affliction. 53 So the seuen yeeres of the plentie that was in the land of Egypt were ended. 54 Then began the seuen yeeres of famine to come, according as Ioseph had saide: and the famine was in all landes, but in all the land of Egypt was bread. 55 At the length all the lande of Egypt was affamished, and the people cryed to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said vnto all the Egyptians, Goe to Ioseph: what he sayth to you, doe ye. 56 When the famine was vpon all the land, Ioseph opened all places, wherein the store was, and solde vnto the Egyptians: for the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came to Egypt to bye corne of Ioseph, because the famine was sore in all landes.
Genesis 41 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Asenath
The Egyptian wife given to Joseph, mother of Ephraim and Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 41:45-52; Genesis 46:20
Ephraim
Joseph's younger son, given the greater blessing by Jacob.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 41:52; 48
Manasseh
Joseph's elder son, whose descendants formed a tribe on both sides of the Jordan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 41:51; 48
Cross references (53)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Genesis 20:3; Genesis 29:14; Ezekiel 29:3; Esther 6:1; Isaiah 19:5
- 2 Isaiah 19:6
- 3 Genesis 41:20–21; Genesis 41:4
- 4 1 Kings 3:15
- 5 Deuteronomy 32:14
- 6 Hosea 13:15; Ezekiel 19:12; Ezekiel 17:10
- 7 Genesis 20:3; Genesis 37:5
- 8 Daniel 4:7; Exodus 7:22; Matthew 2:1; Exodus 7:11; Isaiah 29:14
- 9 Genesis 40:14; Genesis 40:23; Genesis 40:1–3
- 10 Genesis 39:20; Genesis 40:2–3; Genesis 37:36
- 11 Genesis 40:5–8
- 12 Genesis 37:36; Genesis 40:12–19; Genesis 39:20; Genesis 39:1
- 13 Ezekiel 43:3; Jeremiah 1:10; Genesis 40:12; Genesis 40:20–22
- 14 Daniel 2:25; Psalm 113:7–8; Psalm 105:19–22; 1 Samuel 2:7–8; Isaiah 61:3
- 15 Daniel 5:16; Daniel 5:12; Psalm 25:14; Genesis 41:9–13
- 16 2 Corinthians 3:5; Genesis 40:8; Daniel 2:47; Acts 3:12; Numbers 12:6
- 18 Jeremiah 24:1–3; Jeremiah 24:5; Jeremiah 24:8
- 21 Revelation 10:9–10; Ezekiel 3:3; Isaiah 9:20; Psalm 37:19
- 23 2 Kings 19:26; Psalm 129:6–7; Hosea 9:16; Hosea 13:15; Genesis 41:6
- 24 Daniel 4:7; Genesis 41:8; Exodus 8:19
- 25 Daniel 2:45; Revelation 4:1; Daniel 2:28–29; Matthew 24:40; Daniel 2:47
- 26 Genesis 41:2; Genesis 41:47; Exodus 12:11; Genesis 41:5; Genesis 41:29
- 27 2 Kings 8:1; 2 Samuel 24:19
- 28 Genesis 41:25; Genesis 41:16
- 29 Genesis 41:46–47; Genesis 41:26; Genesis 41:49
- 30 Genesis 47:13; Genesis 41:54; James 5:17; Psalm 105:16; 1 Kings 17:1
- 31 Isaiah 24:20; 1 Samuel 5:6
- 32 Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 46:10–11; Isaiah 14:24–27; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Matthew 24:35
- 33 Genesis 41:39; Acts 6:3; Daniel 4:27; Deuteronomy 1:13; Exodus 18:19–22
- 34 Proverbs 6:6–8; Numbers 31:14; Job 5:20; Nehemiah 11:9; Proverbs 22:3
- 35 Genesis 41:48–49; Genesis 45:6–7; Genesis 41:56; Exodus 4:13
- 36 Genesis 47:13–25
- 37 Acts 7:10; Proverbs 25:11; Psalm 105:19; 1 Kings 21:2; Joshua 22:30
- 38 Job 32:8; Daniel 5:14; Numbers 27:18; Daniel 5:11; Daniel 4:18
- 39 Genesis 41:28; Genesis 41:33; Genesis 41:25; Genesis 41:16
- 40 Proverbs 22:29; Acts 7:10; Psalm 105:21–22; Daniel 5:29; Genesis 45:8–9
- 41 Matthew 28:18; Philippians 2:9–11; Genesis 42:6; Daniel 6:3; Daniel 4:2–3
- 42 Daniel 5:7; Daniel 5:29; Esther 3:10; Esther 8:2; Daniel 5:16
- 43 Genesis 45:8; Acts 7:10; Genesis 45:26; Genesis 42:33; Philippians 2:10
- 44 Psalm 105:22; Exodus 11:7
- 45 Genesis 46:20; Ezekiel 30:17; Exodus 2:16; Acts 11:28; Luke 2:1
- 46 Daniel 1:19; 1 Kings 12:6; 2 Samuel 5:4; 1 Samuel 16:21; Genesis 37:2
- 47 Genesis 26:12; Psalm 72:16
- 48 Genesis 41:34–36; Genesis 47:21
- 49 Psalm 78:27; 1 Samuel 13:5; Genesis 22:17; Judges 7:12; Judges 6:5
- 50 Genesis 48:5; Genesis 46:20; Genesis 41:45; 2 Samuel 8:18
- 51 Psalm 30:5; Proverbs 31:7; Psalm 30:11; Genesis 41:30; Deuteronomy 33:17
- 52 Genesis 49:22; Genesis 50:23; Genesis 17:6; Isaiah 40:1–2; Psalm 105:17–18
- 53 Psalm 73:20; Luke 16:25; Genesis 41:29–31
- 54 Acts 7:11; Psalm 105:16; Genesis 45:11; Genesis 41:30; Genesis 41:6–7
- 55 Matthew 17:5; Jeremiah 14:1–6; Matthew 3:17; Philippians 4:19; Genesis 41:40–41
- 56 Genesis 42:6; Acts 17:26; Genesis 47:14–24; Isaiah 23:17; Zechariah 5:3
- 57 Genesis 41:56; Genesis 41:54; Genesis 42:1; Genesis 42:5; Deuteronomy 9:28
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
He also came down upon all righteous men and Prophets; Enos, I mean, and Enoch, and Noah, and the rest; upon Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for as regards Joseph, even Pharaoh perceived that he had the Spirit of God within him.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)