Genesis 41:15 kjv
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
Genesis 41:15 nkjv
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it."
Genesis 41:15 niv
Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
Genesis 41:15 esv
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
Genesis 41:15 nlt
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it."
Genesis 41 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 40:8 | "Do not interpretations belong to God?..." | Joseph's assertion: God is the source of interpretation. |
| Gen 40:12 | Joseph interprets the cupbearer's dream, showing his gift. | Precedent for Joseph's interpretive ability. |
| Gen 41:16 | Joseph replies, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh..." | Joseph credits God, not himself. |
| Gen 41:25 | "What God is about to do He has shown to Pharaoh." | Reiteration: God reveals the future. |
| Dan 2:19 | Daniel's mystery revealed to him in a night vision. | Parallel: God grants interpretive wisdom. |
| Dan 2:28 | "But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries..." | Direct statement: God is the revealer. |
| Dan 4:2 | Nebuchadnezzar praises God for revelation. | Pagan ruler acknowledges God's power. |
| Job 33:15-16 | God speaks in a dream, in a vision of the night... | God uses dreams for divine communication. |
| Num 12:6 | "If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream." | Dreams as a means of divine communication. |
| Isa 29:14 | "...the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden." | Human wisdom fails when God acts. |
| 1 Cor 1:19 | "...I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the prudence of the prudent I will nullify." | God negates human wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 2:5 | "...so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom but on God’s power." | Faith is in God's power, not human intellect. |
| Jas 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously..." | God gives wisdom to those who ask. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | "For promotion comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another." | God elevates people as He chooses. |
| Psa 113:7-8 | "He raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes..." | God exalts the humble and lowly. |
| Prov 15:33 | "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility." | Humility precedes exaltation. |
| Luke 14:11 | "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Principle of divine reversal of status. |
| 1 Pet 5:6 | "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." | God's timing for exaltation. |
| John 15:5 | "Without Me you can do nothing." | Emphasizes human inability apart from God. |
| Prov 22:29 | "Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men." | Diligence can lead to prominence. |
| Acts 7:9-10 | Stephen's speech on Joseph: God was with him and delivered him. | NT confirmation of Joseph's story. |
| Gen 37:5-9 | Joseph's own prophetic dreams, sowing initial conflict. | Background to Joseph's understanding of dreams as divine messages. |
Genesis 41 verses
Genesis 41 15 Meaning
Pharaoh conveys to Joseph his pressing need for an interpretation of a disturbing dream that none of his own wise men could explain. He indicates that he has heard of Joseph's unique ability to interpret dreams merely by hearing them, setting the stage for Joseph's divinely-guided response. This declaration highlights Pharaoh's helplessness and establishes Joseph's reputation as a potential solution to a crisis that transcends human understanding.
Genesis 41 15 Context
Genesis chapter 41 details Pharaoh's two disturbing dreams: first of seven fat cows eaten by seven thin cows, then seven plump ears of grain swallowed by seven withered ones. Troubled by these vivid images, Pharaoh summons all the magicians and wise men of Egypt, but none can interpret them. At this critical juncture, the chief cupbearer, who had been in prison with Joseph, remembers Joseph's accurate interpretation of his own dream (and the chief baker's). He then tells Pharaoh of Joseph's gift while imprisoned. Pharaoh, in a state of desperation and urgency, immediately commands that Joseph be brought from the dungeon. This verse, Gen 41:15, marks Pharaoh's first direct address to Joseph, occurring immediately after Joseph has been quickly prepared and presented before the king. Historically and culturally, dreams held immense significance in ancient Near Eastern societies, particularly in Egypt, where they were believed to be divine messages, and interpreting them was a task of great import, often for priests or seers. The inability of Pharaoh's own learned men highlights the gravity of the situation and contrasts human limitations with divine power, which Joseph embodies.
Genesis 41 15 Word analysis
- And Pharaoh said to Joseph: Vayyōʼmer Parʿōh ʾel-Yōsep̄. A direct, official address from the most powerful ruler to a Hebrew slave fresh from prison. This immediate conversation underscores the urgency of Pharaoh's need.
- I have had a dream,: Ḥălamtî ḥalôm. Literally, "I dreamed a dream." This is a common Hebrew idiomatic construction using a verb and its cognate noun for emphasis, signaling a profound or significant experience. Pharaoh is relaying the unsettling nature and deep impression of the dream.
- and there is no one who can interpret it;: ûpōtēr ʾêynennû lō. The Hebrew word pōtēr (פֹּתֵר) comes from the root pātar (פָּתַר), meaning "to interpret," "to explain." The phrase highlights the utter failure of all Egyptian wisdom, including the court magicians and wise men, reinforcing the unique void that Joseph is poised to fill. It sets the stage for God's glory to be manifested.
- and I have heard it said of you: waʾănî šāmaʿtî ʿālāyk. Pharaoh explicitly states the basis of his hope in Joseph—reputation, specifically that relayed by the chief cupbearer. This indicates the news of Joseph's ability had reached the king's ears. The phrase "heard it said of you" signifies that Joseph's renown precedes him, despite his lowly status.
- that when you hear a dream you can interpret it: kî-tišmaʿ ḥalôm liptōr ʾōtô. This expresses Pharaoh's understanding and expectation of Joseph's remarkable gift—that Joseph can interpret simply by hearing a dream, implying an immediate and accurate comprehension, contrasting with the failed attempts of others. This is Pharaoh's explicit expectation and the foundation of his trust in Joseph.
Genesis 41 15 Bonus section
- The contrast here is stark: the supreme ruler of the then-known world, surrounded by all the supposed wisdom of Egypt, finds himself helpless and is forced to turn to an imprisoned Hebrew slave, highlighting that true wisdom and power do not originate from human authority or learning, but from God alone.
- This instance sets the stage for a spiritual polemic against the polytheistic magical practices of Egypt, showing their impotency compared to the living God whom Joseph serves. The Egyptians relied on various gods and magic for interpretation; Joseph's God needs no intermediary but reveals directly.
- Pharaoh's words indicate that Joseph's reputation for his gift was remarkable enough to reach the ears of the most powerful man, despite Joseph's obscure circumstances as a prisoner, signifying the profound impact of God's work.
Genesis 41 15 Commentary
Genesis 41:15 is a pivotal verse, shifting the narrative from Joseph's imprisonment to his elevation. Pharaoh's candid admission of the failure of his entire learned counsel—"there is no one who can interpret it"—underscores the critical nature of his predicament and highlights the inadequacy of worldly wisdom and spiritual systems against the direct revelation of the Almighty God. This desperation creates the perfect setting for God's power to be magnified through Joseph. Pharaoh's statement, "I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it," serves two key purposes: it acknowledges Joseph's reputation, established through previous divine interventions (like with the cupbearer), and it sets up Joseph's humble, God-honoring response in the next verse, deflecting credit from himself to the true Source of all interpretation. It is a moment where human limitations pave the way for divine intervention, demonstrating God's meticulous timing and sovereignty in orchestrating circumstances to bring about His purposes and elevate His chosen vessel.