Genesis 41:17 kjv

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

Genesis 41:17 nkjv

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: "Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river.

Genesis 41:17 niv

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

Genesis 41:17 esv

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile.

Genesis 41:17 nlt

So Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. "In my dream," he said, "I was standing on the bank of the Nile River,

Genesis 41 verses

Genesis 41 17 Meaning

Genesis 41:17 marks the beginning of Pharaoh's detailed account of his dreams to Joseph. It establishes the immediate setting for the dream, locating Pharaoh by the crucial River Nile, a life-source and spiritual focal point for Egypt. This initial statement sets the stage for the divine revelation that follows through Joseph, highlighting God's sovereign control over even the most powerful human leaders and natural elements.

Genesis 41 17 Context

Genesis 41:17 occurs at a pivotal moment in the narrative of Joseph. Pharaoh, the most powerful ruler of his time, has been greatly disturbed by two dreams that none of his wise men or magicians could interpret. Having heard from his cupbearer about Joseph's unique gift, Pharaoh summoned the former prisoner. Just before this verse, in Gen 41:16, Joseph had humbly deflected any personal credit, stating, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." Pharaoh's detailed recounting of his dream immediately after Joseph's declaration underscores Joseph's unique position as God's instrument and sets the stage for God's divine revelation through him. Historically, dreams were often considered significant omens or messages from the gods in ancient Egypt, and their interpretation was crucial for rulers and societies. The Nile River was the very heart of Egyptian life and religion, representing fertility, sustenance, and divine power (through the god Hapi). Pharaoh beginning his dream description by the river bank signifies its immense importance to Egyptian thought and existence, making the dream's subsequent elements (cows, grain) intrinsically tied to the land's sustenance.

Genesis 41 17 Word analysis

• And Pharaoh: Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה (vaYomer Parʿoh).
  • Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה - Parʿoh): The title for the king of Egypt. In the biblical narrative, Pharaoh represents the epitome of worldly power and sovereignty, yet even he is subject to the plans and revelations of the Most High God. This highlights God's authority over all earthly rulers.
• said: Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר (vaYomer). A standard narrative conjunction and verb, but here it marks the beginning of Pharaoh's direct speech, a moment of immense importance given his royal status and Joseph's humble one.
• to Joseph: Hebrew: אֶל־יוֹסֵף (ʾel-Yosef).
  • Joseph (יוֹסֵף - Yosef): Formerly a despised brother and forgotten prisoner, now God's chosen vessel to reveal divine truth to the highest authority in Egypt. This is a dramatic reversal of status, underscoring God's ability to exalt the humble.
• “In my dream, Hebrew: בַּחֲלוֹמִי (baḥªlomi).
  • dream (חֲלוֹם - ḥalom): A primary mode of divine revelation in the Old Testament, particularly before the completed canon of Scripture. For Pharaoh, it was a source of great perplexity and trouble, yet for God, it was a precise means of communicating His plan for Egypt and beyond.
• behold, Hebrew: הִנֵּה (hinneh). An emphatic interjection or particle, meaning "lo," "look," or "indeed." It draws immediate attention to what follows, indicating something significant or striking in the dream vision. It gives a vivid, immediate quality to Pharaoh's description.
• I was standing: Hebrew: עֹמֵד (ʿomed). Present participle, meaning "standing." Pharaoh describes himself as actively present within his own dream, indicating a sense of personal involvement and vividness.
• on the bank: Hebrew: עַל־שְׂפַת (ʿal-sᵉphath).
  • bank (שְׂפַת - sᵉphath): Literally means "lip" or "edge." Used here metaphorically for the bank or shore of a river. It precisely places Pharaoh at the vital interface between land and water.
• of the river;” Hebrew: הַיְאֹר (hayye'or).
  • river (יְאֹר - ye'or): Specifically refers to the Nile River. In ancient Egypt, the Nile was considered a god (Hapi) and the source of all life, fertility, and prosperity. Pharaoh's dream being centered on the Nile immediately connects it to the well-being and very existence of Egypt. The theological significance is that even this divine symbol of Egypt is ultimately subject to the God of Abraham.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Pharaoh said to Joseph": This phrase sets the authoritative yet dependent tone. The most powerful man on earth speaks directly to a humble prisoner, demonstrating Pharaoh's utter reliance on God's chosen interpreter. It signifies the commencement of Pharaoh's plea for divine understanding, humbly submitting his mysterious dreams to Joseph, and by extension, to Joseph's God.
• "In my dream, behold, I was standing": This sequence immerses the listener immediately into the internal, deeply personal experience of Pharaoh. "Behold" heightens the sensory and experiential nature of the dream, making it feel vivid and immediate. Pharaoh isn't just recounting an event; he's reliving a disturbing divine encounter. The phrase establishes the mode of divine revelation (dream) and Pharaoh's active presence within it, emphasizing its real impact on him.
• "on the bank of the river;": This pinpointed location is profoundly significant. The "river" is unequivocally the Nile, the lifeline of Egypt, synonymous with the nation's agricultural sustenance and economic well-being. Its centrality implies the dream's direct connection to Egypt's prosperity or peril. The imagery here would have been instantly recognizable and resonant to Pharaoh and any Egyptian, hinting at issues of sustenance, water, and life itself—themes directly relevant to the coming famine. It also implicitly highlights a potential polemic, as Pharaoh, ruler of a land worshipping the Nile, is now receiving divine insight from the God of Joseph, who controls even their sacred river.

Genesis 41 17 Bonus section

• The fact that Pharaoh, despite being considered divine himself and surrounded by expert magicians and wise men, turns to Joseph (a non-Egyptian prisoner) highlights the failure of human wisdom and pagan divination to discern divine truth (compare with Daniel in Babylon).
• The detail "I was standing" suggests a personal and immediate involvement in the dream by Pharaoh, implying it was not a fleeting or easily dismissed vision, but one that deeply affected him and warranted urgent interpretation.
• The use of "behold" (Hineh) adds a dramatic flair to Pharaoh's narrative, drawing Joseph's (and the reader's) attention to the vividness and importance of what he experienced in the dream, signifying that the events he witnessed were real and compelling.

Genesis 41 17 Commentary

Genesis 41:17 serves as the commencement of Pharaoh's articulation of his dreams to Joseph, a moment pregnant with theological significance. Pharaoh's immediate reliance on Joseph, despite his immense worldly power and the presence of his own skilled diviners, underscores the biblical truth that true wisdom and divine insight originate solely from God. Pharaoh’s opening statement places him, the ruler of Egypt, at the iconic "bank of the Nile." The "Nile River" (Ye'or), the very pulse of Egyptian life, fertility, and idol worship, becomes the setting for God's impending revelation concerning the land's future. This direct engagement with the symbol of Egypt's supposed independent sustenance, within the context of a divine revelation mediated by a foreign slave, functions as a powerful subtle polemic against the idolatrous beliefs of Egypt. It demonstrates that the God of Joseph, Yahweh, controls even what the Egyptians consider their life-source, revealing that human authority and natural forces are entirely subservient to His will and sovereign plan. The dream’s starting point near the Nile, from which the subsequent signs of plenty and famine emerge, vividly connects the divine message to the lifeblood of Egypt, highlighting God’s providential care and judgment.