What does Genesis 41:11 mean?
One of the court officials to Egypt's ruler is explaining his experience in prison. The man was jailed, then released, and his freedom was predicted by a fellow prisoner (Genesis 40:20–22). Joseph had heard of the cupbearer's dream and accurately interpreted it (Genesis 40:9–13). More recently, the king—known by the title Pharaoh—has struggled to find meaning in two disturbing dreams of his own. Until now, the cupbearer has said nothing about Joseph (Genesis 40:23), but now seems to believe there is benefit in speaking up.The cupbearer will continue by describing Joseph as "a young Hebrew," and noting how his dream interpretation was perfectly accurate (Genesis 41:12–13).
Genesis 41:9–36 contains Joseph's explanation of Pharaoh's visions. When Egypt's ruler is bothered by vivid dreams, his formerly jailed cupbearer remembers a young Hebrew. This is Joseph, who explained the cupbearer's dream in prison (Genesis 40:23). Joseph explains that Pharaoh's dreams point to seven years of abundance in Egypt followed by seven years of desperate famine. Joseph boldly proposes a plan to manage the coming crisis.
Joseph's status in Genesis 41 begins as "forgotten Hebrew prison slave" and ends as "the second most powerful man in Egypt." The cupbearer from the previous chapter finally mentions Joseph two years later, when Pharaoh is troubled by dreams which wise men can't interpret. Joseph reveals the meaning of the dreams: seven years of abundance will be followed by seven years of great famine in the land. Pharaoh, recognizing that God's Spirit is with Joseph, makes him second in command over the entire nation and tasks him with preparing for the famine.
