GEN 41

Genesis 41:12

WEB

There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. He interpreted to each man according to his dream.

BSB

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 individually.

KJV

And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

Matthew Henry

Verses 9–16

Genesis 41:9–16

Here is, 1. The recommending of Joseph to Pharaoh for an interpreter. The chief butler did it more in compliment to Pharaoh, to oblige him, than in gratitude to Joseph, or in compassion for his case. He makes a fair confession (Gen 41:9): "I remember my faults this day, in forgetting Joseph." Note, It is best to remember our duty, and to do it in its time; but, if we have neglected that, it is next best to remember our faults, and repent of them, and do our duty at last; better late than never. Some think he means his faults against Pharaoh, for which he was imprisoned; and then he would insinuate that, though Pharaoh had forgiven him, he had not forgiven himself. The story he had to tell was, in short, That there was an obscure young man in the king's prison, who had very properly interpreted his dream, and the chief baker's (the event corresponding in each with the interpretation), and that he would recommend him to the king his master for an interpreter. Note, God's time for the enlargement of his people will appear at last to be the fittest time. If the chief butler had at first used his interest for Joseph's enlargement, and had obtained it, it is probable that upon his release he would have gone back to the land of the Hebrews again, which he spoke of so feelingly (Gen 40:15), and then he would neither have been so blessed himself, nor such a blessing to his family, as afterwards he proved. But staying two years longer, and coming out now upon this occasion, at last, to interpret the king's dreams, way was made for his very great preferment. Those that patiently wait for God shall be paid for their waiting, not only principal but interest, Lam 3:26. 2. The introducing of Joseph to Pharaoh. The king's business requires haste. Joseph is sent for out of the dungeon with all speed; Pharaoh's order discharged him both from his imprisonment and from his servitude, and made him a candidate for some of the highest trusts at court. The king can scarcely allow him time, but that decency required it, to shave himself, and to change his raiment, Gen 41:14. It is done with all possible expedition, and Joseph is brought in, perhaps almost as much surprised as Peter was, Act 12:9. So suddenly is his captivity brought back that he is as one that dreams, Psa 126:1. Pharaoh immediately, without enquiring who or whence he was, tells him his business, that he expected he should interpret his dream, Gen 41:15. To which, Joseph makes him a very modest decent reply, (Gen 41:16), in which, (1.) He gives honour to God. "It is not in me, God must give it." Note, Great gifts appear most graceful and illustrious when those that have them use them humbly, and take not the praise of them to themselves, but give it to God. To such God gives more grace. (2.) He shows respect to Pharaoh, and hearty good-will to him and his government, in supposing that the interpretation would be an answer of peace. Note, Those that consult God's oracles may expect an answer of peace. If Joseph be made the interpreter, hope the best.

Cross-references: Gen 41:9 · Gen 40:15 · Lam 3:26 · Gen 41:14 · Acts 12:9 · Ps 126:1 · Gen 41:15 · Gen 41:16

Hebrew interlinear

ל֔וֹloprep + suffix · pronominal · 3rd · masc · sing
לָ֖נוּlanuprep + suffix · pronominal · 1st · common · plur

H8033

שָׁםshâm/shawm/

adv — there, then, thither, thence

Derivation: a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

KJV: in it, thence, there (-in, of, out), thither, whither.

שָׁם

adv — there

שָׁם adv. there, thither

H854

אֵתʼêth/ayth/

prep — nearness, near, with, by, at, among

Derivation: probably from 579;

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.

KJV: against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix.

אֵת

prep — with

אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity

1. Of companionship, together with

2. Of localities

3. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially

a. in one's possession or keeping

b. in one's knowledge or memory

4. מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

H5288

נַעַרnaʻar/nah'-ar/

n-m — boy, servant, girl

Derivation: from 5287;

(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)

KJV: babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).

נַ֫עַר

n.m — boy

נַ֫עַר 239 n.m. 1. boy, lad, youth. 2. retainer (not in P)

1. boy, lad, youth (c. 133 t.)

2. servant, retainer (c. 105 t.)

H5680

עִבְרִיʻIbrîy/ib-ree'/

n-pr — Eberite

Derivation: patronymic from 5677;

an Eberite (i.e. Hebrew) or descendant of Eber

KJV: Hebrew(-ess, woman).

עִבְרִי

adj — Hebrew

עִבְרִי adj. et n.gent. Hebrew

H5650

עֶבֶדʻebed/eh'-bed/

n-m — servant

Derivation: from 5647;

a servant

KJV: × bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.

עֶ֫בֶד

n.m — slave

עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant

1. slave, servant of household

2. Subjects, of chief

3. Servants, worshippers of God

4. Servant of י׳, in a special sense

5. Israel as a people is servant of י׳

6. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

7. Phrases

H8269

שַׂרsar/sar/

n-m — head

Derivation: from 8323;

a head person (of any rank or class)

KJV: captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.

שַׂר

n.m — chieftain

שַׂר 420 n.m. chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

H2876

טַבָּחṭabbâch/tab-bawkh'/

n-m — butcher, lifeguardsman, cook

Derivation: from 2873;

properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner); also a cook (usually slaughtering the animal for food)

KJV: cook, guard.

טַבָּח

n.m — cook

טַבָּח n.m. 1. cook, 2. guardsman

H5608

סָפַרçâphar/saw-far'/

v n-m — score, inscribe, enumerate, recount, celebrate

Derivation: a primitive root;

properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate

KJV: commune, (ac-) count; declare, number, penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.

סָפַר

vb — count

סָפַר 107 vb. count, Pi. recount, relate

Qal 27

1. count things, to learn their number

2. number = take account of, carefully observe and consider, reckon

Niph. be counted, numbered

Pi. 67 recount, rehearse, declare

Pu. be recounted, related, rehearsed

סֹפֵר

n.m — enumerator

סֹפֵר, סוֹפֵר n.m. enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe

H6622

פָּתַרpâthar/paw-thar'/

v — open up, interpret

Derivation: a primitive root;

to open up, i.e. (figuratively) interpret (a dream)

KJV: interpret(-ation, -er).

פָּתַר

vb — interpret

פָּתַר vb. interpret (dream), only Gn 40, 41

H853

אֵתʼêth/ayth/

prt — self, even, namely

Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].

אֵת

mark of the accusative

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

H2472

חֲלוֹםchălôwm/khal-ome'/

n-m — dream

Derivation: or (shortened) חֲלֹם; from 2492;

a dream

KJV: dream(-er).

חֲלוֹם

n.m — dream

חֲלוֹם n.m. dream

1. ordinary dream of sleep

2. dreams with prophetic meaning

H376

אִישׁʼîysh/eesh/

n-m — man

Derivation: contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant);

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), none, one, people, person, steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare 802.

אִישׁ

n.m — man

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

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