Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream

411 Two years passed and Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile River. 2 Seven cows came up out of the Nile, all shimmering with health, and grazed on the marsh grass. 3 Then seven other cows, all skin and bones, came up out of the river after them and stood by them on the bank of the Nile. 4 The skinny cows ate the seven healthy cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He went back to sleep and dreamed a second time: Seven ears of grain, full-bodied and lush, grew out of a single stalk. 6 Then seven more ears grew up, but these were thin and dried out by the east wind. 7 The thin ears swallowed up the full, healthy ears. Then Pharaoh woke up - another dream. 8 When morning came, he was upset. He sent for all the magicians and sages of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but they couldn't interpret them to him.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 41:1-8

Commentary on Genesis 41:1-8

(Read Genesis 41:1-8)

The means of Joseph's being freed from prison were Pharaoh's dreams, as here related. Now that God no longer speaks to us in that way, it is no matter how little we either heed dreams, or tell them. The telling of foolish dreams can make no better than foolish talk. But these dreams showed that they were sent of God; when he awoke, Pharaoh's spirit was troubled.