Genesis 41:39 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.

NIV: Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.

NASB: So Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are.

CSB: So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are.

NLT: Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are.

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

NKJV: Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.

Joseph has advised the king of Egypt—who carries the title "Pharaoh"—to appoint a special leader to prepare for the coming seven years of famine (Genesis 41:28–32) by collecting 20 percent of the crops during the first seven years of abundance. This leader should be a wise and discerning man with great authority over the entire kingdom (Genesis 41:33–36). In modern political speech, we might call this person a "famine czar;" someone whose authority stems directly from the leader of the nation.

Pharaoh has agreed to this plan (Genesis 41:37) and now decides that man must be Joseph himself. His only given reason is that God's Spirit is clearly with Joseph (Genesis 41:38). Because of that, nobody else in the land is as wise and discerning as this Hebrew slave. This Pharaoh demonstrates wisdom and humility in recognizing his need for God's help. He will obtain just that, through Joseph, to manage what is to come and to save his people.

Genesis 41:37–57 describes Joseph's sudden and breathtaking rise to power. Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, is convinced that God's Spirit is with Joseph, after seeing him interpret dreams and offer sound advice. He appoints Joseph to be the second most powerful man in the nation. His main task is to prepare for the devastating famine to come. Pharaoh gives to Joseph his own signet ring, along with a new Egyptian name and wife. Joseph sets about to use Pharaoh's authority to gather and store massive amounts of grain. This stockpile, built during the seven years of abundance can then be accessed when the famine strikes (Genesis 47:13–26).

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.

Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers (Genesis 37:24–28). He then excelled in his work for an Egyptian official, only to be falsely accused and imprisoned (Genesis 39:20). There, he accurately interpreted dreams for servants of the Egyptian ruler (Genesis 40:20–22). Unfortunately, the restored cupbearer failed to mention Joseph, leaving him in prison for two more years (Genesis 40:23). A series of disturbing dreams leads to Joseph's audience with Pharaoh. This, in turn, leads to Joseph becoming the second most powerful man in the nation. The following chapters emphasize Joseph's reunion with his family. Details about his administration of food during the famine are recorded in Genesis 47:13–26.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/18/2024 8:49:13 PM