NIV 1984 Edition

41:1 When two full years had passed [since the release of the chief cupbearer from prison; cupbearer forgot Joseph (cf. Gen. 40:23); the silence between chapters 40 and 41 represents one of the greatest tests of faith in Joseph’s life], Pharaoh had a dream [a vehicle of divine revelation; the dream originated with God; this dream will change everything for Joseph]: He was standing by the Nile [provided water for crops in Egypt; everything in Egypt depended on the Nile],

41:2 when out of the river [the Nile, Egypt’s lifeline] there came up [slowly emerged from the river] seven [number signals completeness] cows [symbolized wealth], sleek and fat [Hebrew literally reads: “beautiful of appearance and healthy of flesh”], and they grazed among the reeds [vegetation growing along the banks of the Nile].

41:3 After them, seven [signifies completeness] other [this word emphasizes contrast; they are not merely additional cows but different cows] cows, ugly and gaunt [literally “bad of appearance and thin of flesh”], came up out of the Nile [both the healthy and unhealthy cows emerged from the same river] and stood beside [death quietly stood next to life and famine beside prosperity] those on the riverbank.

41:4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt [the description of the cows communicates that something is terribly wrong] ate up [cows are herbivores thus an unnatural image in the dream; to “eat” or “consume” in Scripture conveys idea of complete destruction] the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up [the disturbing dream startled him awake and troubled him (see verse 8)].

41:5 He fell asleep again [God was not finished with his revelation] and had a second dream [second dream was parallel to the first; the repetition communicated that what he had dreamed was certain and imminent]: Seven heads of grain [imagery shifts from livestock to agriculture; Egypt’s prosperity depended on grain production], healthy and good [an exceptional harvest], were growing on a single stalk [grain heads normally produce one primary head; seven heads represents unusual abundance].

41:6 After them [these words signal a coming contrast], seven [signifies completeness] other heads of grain [Joseph later explains that these seven heads represent seven years of famine (Genesis 41:27)] sprouted [these heads of grain grew from the same field as the healthy grain]—thin [withered or underdeveloped; contained little or no usable grain] and scorched by the east wind [the wind that came from the area of the Arabian Desert; hot and dry wind that withered everything in its path; cf. Jonah 4:8].

41:7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up [to engulf or consume completely; an image of overwhelming destruction] the seven healthy, full heads [this grain represented extraordinary abundance]. Then Pharaoh woke up [his dream lingered and did not fade]; it had been a dream [Pharaoh was troubled by his two dreams; (cf. Gen. 41:8)].

41:8 In the morning [he did not dismiss the dreams] his mind was troubled [he was profoundly disturbed; see also Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2:1], so he sent for all the magicians [Egypt’s elite religious scholars charged with interpreting dreams, studied sacred writings, practicing divination, and advising Pharaoh] and wise men [likely included scholars, counselors, astrologers, advisors] of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams [he faithfully recounted his dreams], but no one [not one person among the best minds in Egypt; human wisdom has limits] could interpret them for him.

41:9 Then [marks a dramatic turning point; if the magicians and wise men had interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams then Joseph would have remained forgotten in prison] the chief cupbearer [reintroduced after two years; his testimony was credible because Pharaoh trusted him] said to Pharaoh [finally the cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh on behalf of Joseph], “Today [after two years of failing to remember Joseph] I am reminded [see Gen. 40:23; everything will soon change for Joseph because the cupbearer remembered; the only thing Joseph had asked of him was to remember him] of my shortcomings [he realized that he had failed Joseph who had shown him kindness in prison].

41:10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.


41:11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.


41:12 Now 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, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.


41:13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.”

41:14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said [from the cupbearer who had forgotten Joseph (cf. Gen. 40:23)] of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

41:16 “I cannot do it [Joseph refused to take the credit for himself],” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God [a significant statement because people in Egypt worshiped many gods] will give Pharaoh [considered a god in Egypt] the answer he desires [a favorable answer; one that would calm and reassure the troubled monarch].”

41:17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

41:18  when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.

41:19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt.

41:20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first.

41:21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.

41:22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk.

41:23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind.

41:24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.”

41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

41:26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years [years of bumper crops throughout Egypt]; it is one and the same dream.

41:27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

41:28 “It is just as I [Joseph was merely the spokesman describing for Pharaoh what God was about to do] said to Pharaoh: God has shown [in advance; a warning to help them prepare for the coming difficulties] Pharaoh what he is about to do.

41:29 Seven years [represented by the seven good cows and the seven good heads of grain] of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,

41:30 but seven years [represented by the lean, ugly good cows and the seven worthless heads of grain] of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance [everything gained during the seven years of plenty] in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage [or consume] the land [indicates the magnitude of the famine].

41:31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.

41:32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms [this emphasized the importance of the message of the dreams; recall that Joseph’s dream about his brothers was also repeated (cf. Gen. 37:5-1)] is that the matter has been firmly decided [speaks of certainty] by God, and God will do it soon [speaks of imminence].

41:33 “And now [after interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph courageously offered practical advice about how to deal with the situation] let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt [the Scripture does not indicate that Joseph was seeking this job for himself].

41:34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth [20%] of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

41:35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities [perhaps cities strategically located for distribution efforts in the future and cities where the grain could be protected] for food.

41:36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

41:37 The plan seemed good [they saw the wisdom of Joseph’s suggestion to prepare for coming difficulties] to Pharaoh and to all his officials.

41:38 So Pharaoh asked [his question was rhetorical] them [his officials and advisors], “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

41:39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you [Pharaoh gave God the credit for Joseph’s insight and wisdom], there is no one so discerning and wise as you.

41:40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders [Joseph’s word would be law throughout the land]. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you [Joseph was made one of the most powerful men in Egypt].”

Note: Joseph had gained valuable administrative experience while in Potiphar’s household (Gen. 39:1-6) and while he was in prison (Gen. 39:21-23).

41:41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”

41:42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.

41:43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.


41:44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”

41:45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

41:46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt.

41:47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully.

41:48  Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it.

41:49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

41:50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.

41:51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”

41:52 The second son he named Ephraim[f] and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

41:53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end,

41:54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.

41:55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”

41:56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt.

41:57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.