Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams
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Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that a Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river.
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Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow.
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Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river.
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And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.
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He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good.
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Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the b east wind, sprang up after them.
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And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream.
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Now it came to pass in the morning c that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all d the magicians of Egypt and all its e wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.
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Then the f chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: "I remember my faults this day.
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"When Pharaoh was g angry with his servants, h and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker,
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i "we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream.
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"Now there was a young j Hebrew man with us there, a k servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he l interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream.
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"And it came to pass, just m as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him."
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n Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they o brought him quickly p out of the dungeon; and he shaved, q changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.
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And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. r But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it."
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So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, s "It is not in me; t God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace."
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Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: "Behold, u in my dream I stood on the bank of the river.
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"Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow.
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"Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt.
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"And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows.
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"When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke.
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"Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good.
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"Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them.
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"And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So v I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me."
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Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one; w God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:
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"The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one.
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"And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are x seven years of famine.
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y "This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
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"Indeed z seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt;
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"but after them seven years of famine will a arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine b will deplete the land.
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"So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe.
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"And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the c thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
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"Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
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"Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, d to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years.
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"And e let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
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"Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land f may not perish during the famine."
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Cross References
Genesis 40:5
Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man's dream in one night and each man's dream with its own interpretation.
Judges 7:13
And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, "I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.
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Cross References
Exodus 10:13
So Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
Ezekiel 17:10
Behold, it is planted, Will it thrive? Will it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It will wither in the garden terrace where it grew." '
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Cross References
Daniel 2:1
Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.
Daniel 2:3
And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream.
Daniel 4:5
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
Daniel 4:19
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!
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Cross References
Exodus 7:11
But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the so...
Exodus 7:22
Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their e...
Isaiah 29:14
Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous ...
Daniel 1:20
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding ...
Daniel 2:2
Then the king gave the command to call the magi...
Daniel 4:7
Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chalde...
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Cross References
Matthew 2:1
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.
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Cross References
Genesis 40:1
It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
Genesis 40:14
But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.
Genesis 40:23
Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
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Cross References
Genesis 40:2
And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker.
Genesis 40:3
So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined.
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Cross References
Genesis 39:20
Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
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Cross References
Genesis 40:5
Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man's dream in one night and each man's dream with its own interpretation.
Judges 7:15
And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.
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Cross References
Genesis 39:14
That she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, "See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.
Genesis 43:32
So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
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Cross References
Genesis 37:36
Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
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Cross References
Genesis 40:12
And Joseph said to him, "This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days.
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Cross References
Genesis 40:21
Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.
Genesis 40:22
But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.
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Cross References
Psalms 105:20
The king sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free.
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Cross References
Daniel 2:25
Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, "I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 2:8
He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, And He has set the world upon them.
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Cross References
2 Kings 25:27 - 29
Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that EvilMero'dach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.
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Cross References
Genesis 41:8
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 41:12
Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream.
Daniel 5:16
"And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."
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Cross References
Daniel 2:30
But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
Acts 3:12
So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.
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Cross References
Genesis 40:8
And they said to him, "We each have had a dream...
Genesis 41:25
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pha...
Genesis 41:28
This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharao...
Genesis 41:32
And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice bec...
Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, b...
Daniel 2:22
He reveals deep and secret things; He knows wha...
Daniel 2:28
But there is a God in heaven who reveals secret...
Daniel 2:47
The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your...
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Cross References
Genesis 41:1
Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river.
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Cross References
Genesis 41:8
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.
Exodus 7:11
But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Isaiah 8:19
And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
Daniel 4:7
Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.
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Cross References
Genesis 41:28
This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharao...
Genesis 41:32
And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice bec...
Daniel 2:28
But there is a God in heaven who reveals secret...
Daniel 2:29
As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind ...
Daniel 2:45
"Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out...
Revelation 4:1
After these things I looked, and behold, a door...
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Cross References
2 Kings 8:1
Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.
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Cross References
Genesis 41:25
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:
Genesis 41:32
And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
Daniel 2:28
But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
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Cross References
Genesis 41:47
Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly.
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Cross References
Genesis 41:54
And the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
Genesis 41:56
The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt.
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Cross References
Genesis 47:13
Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine.
Psalms 105:16
Moreover He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread.
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Cross References
Genesis 41:25
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:
Genesis 41:28
This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.
Isaiah 46:11
Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.
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Cross References
Proverbs 6:6 - 8
Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise.
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Cross References
Genesis 41:48
So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them.
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Cross References
Genesis 47:15
So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.
Genesis 47:19
"Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate."
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.