37 Now the proposal seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his servants . 38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants , "Can we find a man like this , in whom is a divine spirit ?" 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph , "Since God has informed you of all this , there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. 40 " You shall be over my house , and according to your command all my people shall do homage ; only in the throne I will be greater than you." 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph , "See , I have set you over all the land of Egypt ." 42 Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand , and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck . 43 He had him ride in his second chariot ; and they proclaimed before him, "Bow the knee !" And he set him over all the land of Egypt . 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph , "Though I am Pharaoh , yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt ." 45 Then Pharaoh named e Joseph Zaphenath-paneah ; and he gave him Asenath , the daughter of Potiphera priest of On , as his wife . And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt .
46 Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh , king of Egypt . And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt . 47 During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth abundantly . 48 So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities ; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields . 49 Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea , until e he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure . 50 Now before the year of famine came , two sons were born to Joseph , whom Asenath , the daughter of Potiphera priest of On , bore to him. 51 Joseph named e the firstborn Manasseh , "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household ." 52 He named e the second Ephraim , "For," he said, " God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction ." 53 When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end , 54 and the seven years of famine began to come , just as Joseph had said , then there was famine in all the lands , but in all the land of Egypt there was bread . 55 So when all the land of Egypt was famished , the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread ; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians , "Go to Joseph ; whatever he says to you, you shall do ." 56 When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth , then Joseph opened all the storehouses , and sold to the Egyptians ; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt . 57 The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph , because the famine was severe in all the earth .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 41:37-57
Commentary on Genesis 41:33-45
(Read Genesis 41:33-45)
Joseph gave good advice to Pharaoh. Fair warning should always be followed by good counsel. God has in his word told us of a day of trial before us, when we shall need all the grace we can have. Now, therefore, provide accordingly. Pharaoh gave Joseph an honourable testimony. He is a man in whom the spirit of God is; and such men ought to be valued. Pharaoh puts upon Joseph marks of honour. He gave him such a name as spoke the value he had for him, Zaphnath-paaneah, "a revealer of secrets." This preferment of Joseph encourages all to trust in God. Some translate Joseph's new name, "the saviour of the world." The brightest glories, even of the upper world, are put upon Christ, the highest trust lodged in his hand, and all power given him, both in heaven and earth.
Commentary on Genesis 41:46-57
(Read Genesis 41:46-57)
In the names of his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph owned the Divine providence. 1. He was made to forget his misery. 2. He was made fruitful in the land of his affliction. The seven plenteous years came, and were ended. We ought to look forward to the end of the days, both of our prosperity and of our opportunity. We must not be secure in prosperity, nor slothful in making good use of opportunity. Years of plenty will end; what thy hand finds to do, do it; and gather in gathering time. The dearth came, and the famine was not only in Egypt, but in other lands. Joseph was diligent in laying up, while the plenty lasted. He was prudent and careful in giving out, when the famine came. Joseph was engaged in useful and important labours. Yet it was in the midst of this his activity that his father Jacob said, Joseph is not! What a large portion of our troubles would be done away if we knew the whole truth! Let these events lead us to Jesus. There is a famine of the bread of life throughout the whole earth. Go to Jesus, and what he bids you, do. Attend to His voice, apply to him; he will open his treasures, and satisfy with goodness the hungry soul of every age and nation, without money and without price. But those who slight this provision must starve, and his enemies will be destroyed.