Genesis 41 8

Genesis 41:8 kjv

And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:8 nkjv

Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:8 niv

In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

Genesis 41:8 esv

So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:8 nlt

The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant.

Genesis 41 verses

Genesis 41 8 meaning

Genesis 41:8 describes Pharaoh's intense distress after a recurring dream and his subsequent futile attempt to seek interpretation from Egypt's entire elite of magicians and wise men. This verse highlights the profound limitations of human wisdom and pagan spiritual systems when confronted with a message from the one true God. The failure of all Egyptian interpreters served to isolate the dream as being of truly divine origin, preparing the way for God's chosen messenger, Joseph.

Genesis 41 8 Context

Genesis 41:8 occurs at a critical juncture in Joseph's life and the biblical narrative. For two full years, Joseph has remained in Pharaoh's prison, forgotten by the chief cupbearer he helped. This verse pivots the story from Joseph's prolonged suffering to his elevation. Pharaoh has two consecutive, vivid dreams (the seven fat and seven thin cows, and the seven full and seven blighted ears of grain) which leave him deeply disturbed. Dreams were regarded as highly significant in ancient Egypt, often interpreted as divine communications or omens by a specialized priestly class. The setting in the morning emphasizes the immediate, pressing nature of Pharaoh's unease and his need for an explanation. This failure of all available human wisdom underscores the divine origin of the dreams and sets the stage for God to intervene through Joseph, demonstrating His ultimate sovereignty over Egyptian powers and beliefs.

Genesis 41 8 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis

• And it came to pass: (וַיְהִי, vayhi) A common transitional Hebrew phrase, introducing a new event, often signifying divine orchestration or the unfolding of God's plan.
• in the morning: (בַּבֹּקֶר, bab•bō'·qer) The freshness of morning, suggesting an immediate and pressing need for understanding after a night of unsettling dreams. It also marks the start of a new day, which symbolically will lead to a new era for Egypt and Joseph.
• that his spirit was troubled: (רוּחוֹ נִפְעָמָה, rū·ḥō nīf·‘ā·māh)
  • spirit: (רוּחוֹ, rū·ḥō) Refers to Pharaoh's inner being, his mind and emotional state.
  • troubled: (נִפְעָמָה, nif’amah) From the root pa`am (פָּעַם), meaning "to beat, pulsate, agitate, distress." This word conveys deep internal perturbation, not merely slight unease but a profound, agitating disturbance, hinting at divine origin (cf. Dan 2:1, Nebuchadnezzar's spirit troubled). It implies a powerful inner turmoil caused by something beyond a typical nightmare, suggesting God was actively unsettling him.
• and he sent: (וַיִּשְׁלַח, vay·yiš·laḥ) Indicates an authoritative, urgent royal decree.
• and called for: (וַיִּקְרָא אֶת־כָּל־, vay·yiq·rā' 'eṯ-kāl-) Pharaoh's summoning signifies the comprehensive and official nature of his search for answers.
• all the magicians: (חַרְטֻמֵּי, kharṭummê)
  • magicians: (חַרְטֻמִּים, kharṭummim) A specific class of Egyptian priests or scribes skilled in sacred writing, magic, and interpretation of omens and dreams. They are presented as a collective professional body expected to possess hidden knowledge (Exod 7:11).
• of Egypt: (מִצְרַיִם, mits·ra·yim) Specifies the national scope; Pharaoh consults the best that his nation can offer.
• and all the wise men thereof: (וְאֶת־כָּל־חֲכָמֶיהָ, wə'eṯ-kāl-ḥă·ḵā·mehā)
  • wise men: (חֲכָמִים, ḥăḵāmim) A broader term than magicians, referring to knowledgeable individuals, scholars, advisors, or those proficient in interpreting omens, solving riddles, and administering state affairs. This ensures that every known form of Egyptian wisdom and interpretive skill was consulted.
• and Pharaoh told them his dream: (וַיְסַפֵּר פַּרְעֹה לָהֶם אֶת־חֲלֹמוֹ, vay·sa·pēr par·‘ōh lā·hem 'eṯ-ḥălō·mōw) He presented the challenge directly, expecting an answer based on their purported expertise.
• but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh: (וְאֵין פּוֹתֵר אוֹתָם לְפַרְעֹה, wə'ên pō·ṯêr 'ō·ṯām lə·par·‘ōh)
  • none that could interpret: (אֵין פּוֹתֵר, ên pō·ṯêr) From the verb pathar (פָּתַר), meaning "to interpret, solve, unravel." The explicit declaration that "none" could interpret underscores the absolute failure of all of Egypt's wise men. This is the crucial point; it highlights the impotence of human and pagan wisdom in the face of God's direct communication. This void of understanding opens the door for God to reveal His truth through His chosen instrument, Joseph.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "his spirit was troubled": This phrase emphasizes the depth of Pharaoh's psychological and spiritual agitation. It wasn't just a bad dream; the dreams carried a profound weight and divine impact that stirred him deeply. This inner turmoil points to the extraordinary, non-human origin of the dreams, making it impossible for ordinary interpreters to understand.
• "all the magicians... and all the wise men": This grouping highlights the exhaustive consultation of every echelon of Egyptian intellectual and spiritual power. It represents the comprehensive failure of a vast system dedicated to interpreting the unknown. Their collective inability underscores the unique, divinely encrypted nature of Pharaoh's dreams, a message specifically for which only God had the key.
• "but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh": This definitive statement is a powerful theological declaration. It serves as a direct polemic against the supposed wisdom and spiritual efficacy of Egyptian polytheistic beliefs and practices. It reveals that the pagan gods and the human wisdom rooted in them are powerless before the specific, intentional communication of the true God of Israel. This narrative moment ensures that when the true interpretation comes, its divine origin through Joseph will be undeniable, elevating Joseph (and more importantly, his God) above all Egyptian spiritual authority.

Genesis 41 8 Bonus section

This verse functions as a divinely imposed deadlock. Pharaoh's immense power cannot command an interpretation, and the cumulative wisdom of Egypt's elite is rendered useless. This inability creates a vacuum that only God can fill, thereby showcasing His unparalleled sovereignty. The detail of Pharaoh's spirit being "troubled" rather than just "afraid" emphasizes a deeper, almost spiritual agitation, signifying the dreams were not just ordinary, scary dreams but carried an anointing of divine distress designed to propel Pharaoh into action that aligned with God's ultimate purposes. It highlights a common biblical theme where God confounds the wise of the world to demonstrate His own wisdom and raise up His seemingly "foolish" or forgotten servants (1 Cor 1:27).

Genesis 41 8 Commentary

Genesis 41:8 is a pivotal verse, orchestrating a divine bottleneck. Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the ancient world, finds himself tormented by dreams beyond the grasp of his entire cadre of religious and intellectual experts. His "troubled spirit" signals a disturbance beyond typical human anxiety, a divinely induced agitation forcing him to seek an answer beyond the ordinary. The collective failure of Egypt's renowned "magicians" (kharṭummîm) and "wise men" (chakhamîm) is not accidental; it is a deliberate act of God demonstrating the utter impotence of human and pagan wisdom when confronted with divine revelation. This absolute inability serves two purposes: first, to emphasize that the dreams' origin and their interpretation were solely from God, bypassing all conventional human knowledge systems. Second, it systematically eliminates every human alternative, thereby ensuring that when the correct interpretation finally comes, it can only be attributed to a superior divine source through God's chosen instrument. This divine strategy perfectly sets the stage for Joseph, raising him from forgotten prisoner to a position of immense power, directly enabling God's larger plan to preserve Jacob's family and ultimately bring forth Israel. The scene establishes that true wisdom and power belong exclusively to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.