Genesis 41:51 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”

NIV: Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, 'It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household.'

NASB: Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh; 'For,' he said, 'God has made me forget all my trouble and all of my father’s household.'

CSB: Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh and said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and my whole family."

NLT: Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, 'God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.'

KJV: And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

NKJV: Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.”

During Joseph's first seven years as Pharaoh's second-in-command, the Lord blesses the couple with children. Two sons are born to the couple. Joseph names the firstborn Manasseh. The name means "making forget." Joseph names the child in celebration of the fact that he has forgotten both his hardship and his father's house. Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers (Genesis 37:8), then spent years in prison on a false charge (Genesis 40:14–15). In a moment arranged by God, Joseph was suddenly brought from jail to a position of incredible power (Genesis 41:44). Already, the benefits in Joseph's life are outweighing the hardships he faced.

Of course, in modern speech, we use the term "forget" to mean something lost from memory. In Scripture, the concept has more to do with what a person dwells on or chooses to emphasize. Joseph has not failed to remember either his time in prison or the loss of his family. Instead, the name given to his son implies new gladness and a family of his own to replace what was lost in those difficult years.

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 5/2/2024 8:33:08 AM