Genesis — Chapter 41

King James Version (KJV)

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Genesis 41:1 And it came to pass at the end of ^Rtwo full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

Genesis 41:2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

Genesis 41:3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ^Rill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.

Genesis 41:4 And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. ^RSo Pharaoh awoke.

Genesis 41:5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, ^RTrank and good.

Genesis 41:6 And, behold, seven thin ears and ^Rblasted with the east wind sprung up after them.

Genesis 41:7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was ^Ra dream.

Genesis 41:8 And it came to pass in the morning that ^Rhis 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.

Genesis 41:9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, ^RI do remember my faults this day:

Genesis 41:10 ^RPharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker:

Genesis 41:11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

Genesis 41:12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, ^Rservant 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.

Genesis 41:13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; ^Rme he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.

Genesis 41:14 Then Pharaoh ^Rsent and called Joseph, and they ^Tbrought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and ^RI have heard say of thee, that ^Tthou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

Genesis 41:16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, ^RIt is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Genesis 41:17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

Genesis 41:18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:

Genesis 41:19 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:

Genesis 41:20 And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:

Genesis 41:21 And when they had ^RTeaten 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.

Genesis 41:22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:

Genesis 41:23 And, behold, seven ears, ^Twithered, ^Rthin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:

Genesis 41:24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and ^RI told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.

Genesis 41:25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: ^RGod hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

Genesis 41:26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven ^Rgood ears are seven years: the dream is one.

Genesis 41:27 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 ^Rseven years of famine.

Genesis 41:28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: ^RWhat God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

Genesis 41:30 And there shall arise after them ^Rseven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

Genesis 41:31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very ^RTgrievous.

Genesis 41:32 And for that the dream was ^Rdoubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is ^Testablished by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Genesis 41:33 Now ^Rtherefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint ^RTofficers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

Genesis 41:35 And let them ^Rgather 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.

Genesis 41:36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; ^Rthat the land ^Tperish not through the famine.

Genesis 41:37 And ^Rthe thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

Genesis 41:38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man ^Rin whom the Spirit of God is?

Genesis 41:39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

Genesis 41:40 ^RThou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people ^Tbe ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

Genesis 41:41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:42 And Pharaoh took off ^Rhis ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of ^Tfine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

Genesis 41:43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; ^Rand they cried before him, ^TBow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man ^Rlift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name ^TZaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah ^RTpriest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:46 And Joseph was thirty ^Ryears 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.

Genesis 41:47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by ^Rhandfuls.

Genesis 41:48 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.

Genesis 41:49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

Genesis 41:50 And ^Runto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah ^Tpriest of On bare unto him.

Genesis 41:51 And Joseph ^Rcalled the name of the firstborn ^TManasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.

Genesis 41:52 And the name of the second ^Rcalled he ^TEphraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

Genesis 41:53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.

Genesis 41:54 And ^Rthe 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.

Genesis 41:55 And when all the land of Egypt was ^Rfamished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

Genesis 41:56 And the famine was over all ^Rthe face of the earth: And Joseph ^Topened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:57 And ^Rall countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 41:1–16 — Pharaoh Calls for Joseph

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Pharaoh’s dreams trouble him, and no Egyptian interpreter can explain them. The chief butler remembers Joseph, who is brought from the dungeon and declares that God will give Pharaoh an answer.

Key Truth: Joseph directs attention to God rather than claiming the answer as his own ability.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 41:17–36 — Plenty and Famine Foretold

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Joseph explains that the dreams describe seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He advises appointing a wise overseer and gathering food during the plentiful years.

Key Truth: The interpretation leads to practical preparation for the coming famine.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 41:37–46 — Joseph Is Set over Egypt

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Pharaoh recognizes Joseph’s wisdom and sets him over Egypt. Joseph receives Pharaoh’s ring, fine linen, and a gold chain; he is thirty years old when he begins this responsibility.

Key Truth: Joseph moves from imprisonment to a position of great responsibility.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 41:47–57 — Food Stored and the Famine Begins

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Joseph stores food during the plentiful years, and Manasseh and Ephraim are born. When famine comes, Egypt has bread, and other countries come to Joseph to buy corn.

Key Truth: The preparation made during plenty preserves food for the years of famine.

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