Genesis 41 38

Genesis 41:38 kjv

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

Genesis 41:38 nkjv

And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?"

Genesis 41:38 niv

So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"

Genesis 41:38 esv

And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?"

Genesis 41:38 nlt

So Pharaoh asked his officials, "Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?"

Genesis 41 verses

Genesis 41 38 meaning

Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the then-known world, acknowledging a foreign slave, poses a rhetorical question to his highest officials, implicitly stating that Joseph possesses unparalleled wisdom and insight. This extraordinary discernment, far beyond human capability or the wisdom of Egyptian magicians and wise men, is directly attributed to the "Spirit of God" dwelling within him. This verse signifies a crucial moment where even a pagan king recognizes and confesses the unique divine source of Joseph's abilities, leading to his dramatic elevation for God's purposes.

Genesis 41 38 Context

Genesis chapter 41 details Pharaoh's two disturbing dreams—seven lean cows devouring seven fat ones, and seven scorched ears of grain consuming seven healthy ones. Troubled, he consults all the wise men and magicians of Egypt, but none can interpret them. At this point, the chief butler, who was restored to his position by Joseph's prior interpretation, remembers Joseph in prison and suggests him to Pharaoh. Joseph is brought swiftly from the dungeon. When asked, Joseph humbly declares that the interpretation is not from him but "God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer" (Gen 41:16). Joseph then interprets the dreams as foretelling seven years of abundant harvest followed by seven years of severe famine. He also proposes a wise administrative plan to save a fifth of the produce during the abundant years to prepare for the famine. Verse 38 is Pharaoh's profound and public reaction to Joseph's wisdom and plan, demonstrating immediate conviction of Joseph's divine endowment and the plan's inherent genius, setting the stage for Joseph's dramatic promotion. Historically, pharaohs were considered living gods or intermediaries to the gods; Pharaoh's statement, therefore, is a remarkable admission, contrasting the perceived wisdom of his own court with the undeniable divine insight of the God of the Hebrews, even if he doesn't fully understand who "Elohim" truly is.

Genesis 41 38 Word analysis

• And Pharaoh: Refers to the reigning king of Egypt, the most powerful and revered figure in Egyptian society, often considered divine himself. His words carry immense authority and political weight.
• said to his servants: This was a deliberate statement made to his highest officials and advisors. It was a public acknowledgment and a significant, informed decision rather than a private thought, indicating that his court's collective wisdom had failed.
• Can we find: The interrogative "Can" (Hebrew `הֲ` - "ha", a prefixed interrogative particle) implies a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer from a human perspective. It conveys absolute certainty that such a man cannot be found through human searching or within their existing royal infrastructure.
• such a man as this: Points specifically to Joseph and his unique abilities and divine insight, differentiating him from all other wise men in Egypt, whose wisdom proved deficient.
• in whom is: The phrase `אֲשֶׁר ... בּוֹ` (asher...bo) translates to "in whom is," signifying a dwelling or residing presence, implying that the Spirit is a continuous, empowering force within Joseph, not merely an occasional influence.
• the Spirit: Hebrew `רוּחַ` (Ruach). This word has a range of meanings: wind, breath, or spirit. In this context, combined with "God," it clearly denotes a divine spirit, a life-giving and empowering essence from God.
• of God: Hebrew `אֱלֹהִים` (Elohim). This is a general name for God, often used in a plural form but singular in meaning when referring to the one true God, especially in Genesis. Pharaoh, as an Egyptian monarch with a pantheon of gods, recognized a higher, singular spiritual power associated with Joseph. It marks a distinction between Joseph's power source and the magical arts of Egypt, implying that Joseph's source is authentic and superior.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Pharaoh said to his servants, Can we find...": This indicates a weighty, official deliberation among the highest levels of the Egyptian government. Pharaoh consults with his core group of advisors, demonstrating that the search for wisdom had been extensive and ultimately fruitless until Joseph arrived. The rhetorical question underscores their prior helplessness and the dramatic nature of Joseph's arrival and interpretation.
• "...such a man as this, in whom is the Spirit of God?": This pivotal phrase highlights Joseph's unparalleled uniqueness. The contrast between Joseph and all others is explicitly attributed to a divine endowment. It sets the wisdom Joseph exhibited apart from any human capacity or the power of Egyptian deities, magic, or wisdom, proclaiming that a unique divine essence empowers him directly. This also forms an implicit polemic against Egyptian beliefs, asserting the superiority of the God who is with Joseph.

Genesis 41 38 Bonus section

• Contrast with Egyptian worldview: For Pharaoh, himself seen as divine, acknowledging the Spirit of God (Elohim) in a non-Egyptian Hebrew slave was a shocking and significant admission. It suggested that the God of Joseph was greater than the gods of Egypt, and His Spirit more potent than the wisdom of Pharaoh's priests and magicians who relied on their own pantheon.
• Precedent for divine empowerment: This is one of the earliest explicit mentions in Scripture of the "Spirit of God" (Ruach Elohim) indwelling and empowering an individual for specific, strategic tasks, establishing a pattern that continues throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Bezalel, Joshua, the Judges, David) and culminates in the New Testament with Jesus and the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
• God's unexpected instruments: The verse highlights God's preference for using unlikely vessels (a Hebrew prisoner) to accomplish His grand purposes, demonstrating His power over human status and societal hierarchy. It emphasizes that it is God's power, not human merit, that makes one capable.
• The path to exaltation: Joseph's exaltation from prison to power follows a divine blueprint. This verse is the pivot, showing Pharaoh's conviction that only a man divinely empowered could manage such a crisis, thereby preparing the way for Joseph to save the known world and preserve the lineage of Israel.

Genesis 41 38 Commentary

Genesis 41:38 marks a watershed moment for Joseph, transitioning him from a forgotten prisoner to a pivotal figure in God's plan. Pharaoh's declaration is profoundly significant: he, the deified ruler of the most advanced civilization of his time, publicly confesses that Joseph's extraordinary wisdom is not of human origin, but stems from a higher divine source—the "Spirit of God." This is a testament to the undeniable power of God at work through His chosen servant. Pharaoh’s inability to find a comparable man within his own court or among his revered wise men underscores the exclusivity and superiority of divine wisdom over all human and even perceived supernatural wisdom of other gods. This recognition is not necessarily conversion but a profound acknowledgment of the true God's undeniable power manifesting through Joseph. This divine equipping ensures that Joseph's subsequent administration of Egypt is orchestrated by God's providence, not human ingenuity alone, ultimately preserving God's covenant people through a global famine and setting the stage for the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham. This verse thus demonstrates God's sovereignty, His power to raise up His servants from obscurity, and His ability to influence the hearts of even powerful secular rulers for the accomplishment of His divine purposes.