Genesis 41:33
in Genesis 41Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
KJV
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
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This verse in Genesis 41
Commentary
6 notes on this verseWhen Joseph said, "Let Pharaoh select a man," he spoke about himself. Joseph, out of modesty, did not say it openly in his own name, but he would not give it to another, for he knew that no one else would be able to make …
This site's exposition
a discerning and wise man
on Genesis 41:33-36
Joseph was asked for a meaning and hands back a policy, a fifth of the harvest stored in the cities against the famine, since the interpretation alone would have saved nobody. He names no man, and the older writers read that silence two ways. Ephrem the Syrian took him to speak of himself out of modesty, and Clarke held that he gave no thought to his own advancement.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
13 ), Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king. The great honour that Pharaoh did to Joseph. He gave him an honourable testimony: He is a man in whom the Spirit of God is; and this puts a great excellency upon any man; such men ought to be valued,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A man discreet and wise - As it is impossible that Joseph could have foreseen his own elevation, consequently he gave this advice without any reference to himself. The counsel therefore was either immediately inspired by God, or was dictated by policy, prudence, and sound sense.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man--The explanation given, when the key to the dreams was supplied, appears to have been satisfactory to the king and his courtiers; and we may suppose that much and anxious conversation arose, in the course of which Joseph might have been asked whether he had anything further to say.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְעַתָּה֙ | veatah | and therefore | H6258 → | 433 times |
| יֵרֶ֣א | yere' | let him see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| פַרְעֹ֔ה | faroh | Pharaoh | H6547 → | 274 times |
| אִ֖ישׁ | ʾish | a man | H376 → | 1663 times |
| נָב֣וֹן | navon | discerning | H995 → | |
| וְחָכָ֑ם | vechakham | and wise | H2450 → | 138 times |
| וִישִׁיתֵ֖הוּ | vishitehu | and let him set him | H7896 → | 83 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| אֶ֥רֶץ | ʾeretz | [the] land of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| מִצְרָֽיִם׃ | mitzrayim | Egypt | H4714 → | 641 times |
וְעַתָּה֙and therefore
veatahH6258 →433 times
יֵרֶ֣אlet him see
yere'H7200 →1300 times
פַרְעֹ֔הPharaoh
farohH6547 →274 times
אִ֖ישׁa man
ʾishH376 →1663 times
נָב֣וֹןdiscerning
navonH995 →
וְחָכָ֑םand wise
vechakhamH2450 →138 times
וִישִׁיתֵ֖הוּand let him set him
vishitehuH7896 →83 times
עַל־over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
אֶ֥רֶץ[the] land of
ʾeretzH776 →2504 times
מִצְרָֽיִם׃Egypt
mitzrayimH4714 →641 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 6:3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 3:7–15
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
- James 3:17–18
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Deuteronomy 1:13
Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”
- 1 Timothy 3:7–15
Through
Daniel 4:27Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be…
it leads to
- Isaiah 55:6–7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
- Jonah 3:9
Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”
- Acts 8:22
Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
- Ezekiel 18:27–32
But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.
- Isaiah 55:6–7
Through
Deuteronomy 1:13Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”
it leads to
- Exodus 18:21
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Exodus 18:21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON GENESIS 35:5; Ephrem the Syrian, Commentary on Genesis; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.