BibleWord.ai› Bible› Genesis› Chapter 41› Verse 17

Genesis 41:17

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 41:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the brink of the river:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the brink of the river:
Genesis 41:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 41

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
15And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that when thou hearest a dream thou canst interpret it.
16And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
17And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the brink of the river:
18and, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and well-favored: and they fed in the reed-grass:
19and, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
20and the lean and ill-favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
← Genesis 41:16Genesis 41:18 →
← Full Chapter 41 Genesis Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, etc.] Relating both his dreams in a more ample manner, though to the same purpose, than before related: in my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river; the river Nile, where he could have a full sight of what were after presented to his view.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Pharaoh said, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river--The dreams were purely Egyptian, founded on the productions of that country and the experience of a native. The fertility of Egypt being wholly dependent on the Nile, the scene is laid on the banks of that river; and oxen being in the ancient hieroglyphics symbolical of the earth and of food, animals of that species were introduced in the first dream.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“41:17-24 Pharaoh recounted his dreams and testified that no human wisdom could interpret them.”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Genesis 41 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification