41:1 after two full years Two complete years have passed since Pharaoh restored the cupbearer to his position (40:20–21).

Pharaoh The identity of this pharaoh is unknown. See note on 40:2.

Nile The sustenance of the entire nation depended on the Nile. It flooded every year, providing millions of acres of arable land for the nation’s food. Egyptians viewed the pharaoh as the incarnation of a god (Horus) and as the maintainer of the divinely imposed order on earth. Any irregularity in the annual flooding of the Nile was taken as a sign of weakness or illegitimacy with respect to Pharaoh’s rule.

41:7 a dream Kings’ dreams were often assigned special importance in the ancient Near East, as monarchies were usually considered to have a divine origin.

41:8 the magicians of The Hebrew word used here, chartom, is probably borrowed from the Egyptian language. It is used by biblical writers only with respect to royal personnel of Egypt and Babylon (see Dan 1:20; 2:2). Since the dream does not conform to reality (cows do not eat cows; stalks of corn do not eat stalks of corn), Pharaoh calls for his magicians to interpret it.

wise men The Hebrew term used here, chakham, occurs often in the ot (see Dan 2:12–14; 5:7–8). It refers to people in the king’s immediate circle who were either skilled in divination—discerning the will of deities based on using objects, omens or particular methods—or served as advisers.

41:9 the chief of the cupbearers The cupbearer finally remembers Joseph (see Gen 40:9–15, 23).

41:14 they brought him quickly The Hebrew form used here, yeritsu, is from the Hebrew term for “to run” and reflects Pharaoh’s sense of urgency.

he shaved It is likely that both Joseph’s head and beard were shaved. Egyptians were generally clean shaven, though iconography of the Old Kingdom (circa 2575–2150) indicates that some males had beards or moustaches.

41:16 will answer concerning the well-being of Pharaoh The Hebrew phrase ya'aneh shelom occurs only here. The first word is a form of verb that usually means “to answer” (anah). A close parallel appears in Psa 122:6, where the verb sha’al, meaning “to ask,” is used in the phrase sha'alu shelom, which means “pray [ask] for the welfare.”

41:25 God has revealed to Pharaoh Repeated in v. 28. Having been given the meaning of the dream by God, Joseph frames the information as a message from his God to Pharaoh.

41:32 the matter is established by God See v. 7. Joseph places greater emphasis on the famine to come than the years of plenty that will precede it. Verses 29–31 devote only one sentence to the years of plenty (v. 29) but five sentences to the years of famine (vv. 30–31). This imbalanced emphasis conveys the gravity of the situation.

Famines in the Bible Table

41:38 Can we find a man like this This question is rhetorical; Pharaoh knows that Joseph can competently fill the position of overseer.

the spirit of God The Hebrew phrase used here could be a reference to an empowering by Joseph’s God, Yahweh, or an Egyptian god. It may also be translated as “the spirit of the gods” and refer to the Egyptian pantheon in general. Since this is spoken by Pharaoh, he likely means that in his perception the Egyptian gods are with Joseph.

41:40 over my house Compare 39:4 and note.

Only with respect to the throne It is difficult to identify which office Joseph was appointed to in the Egyptian bureaucracy.

41:42 signet ring This ring signified the Pharaoh’s approval, functioning like his signature of approval for a mandate.

41:45 Zaphenath-paneah Joseph is given an Egyptian name, though the narrative continues to refer to him as Joseph. The precise derivation and meaning of this name is unknown.

Asenath This name or title likely means “she who belongs to Neith”; Neith is an Egyptian goddess. This name does not appear among extant Egyptian texts.

Potiphera Likely a variant of the name Potiphar, but probably not the same person as Joseph’s former master. See note on 37:36.

On The central location for the Egyptian worship of Ra, the sun god.

41:46 Joseph was thirty years old Roughly 13 years have passed since Joseph was sold into slavery (see 37:2). Compare note on 40:1.

41:47 the land produced a plenty in the seven years of abundance Confirms God’s revelation through Joseph, therefore building Joseph’s reputation with Pharaoh.

41:50 two sons were born to Joseph Like the land of Egypt during the seven years of plenty, God blesses Joseph with fertility. His two sons will later be incorporated into the 12 tribes of Israel (see 48:5–6).

41:51 Manasseh The Hebrew name here, menashsheh, roughly means “he who causes to forget,” hence Joseph’s explanation of the name, in which he uses the similar sounding Hebrew verbal form nashshani.

41:52 Ephraim This name is derived from the Hebrew verb parah, meaning “to be fruitful.”

has made me fruitful The Hebrew verb form used here, hiphrani, is a wordplay on the name Ephraim (ephrayim in Hebrew); it describes abundance and prosperity, hence Joseph’s explanation of the name.

41:54 the seven years of famine References to Nile irregularities and famines—even seven-year famines—have survived in Egyptian records.

Famines in the Bible Table

41:57 every land This phrase is not global in scope; it refers to Egypt (v. 56) and the territory of the eastern Mediterranean.