Pharaoh (of Joseph)

Ask about Pharaoh (of Joseph)
Portrait of Pharaoh (of Joseph)

The Pharaoh of Joseph's day is never named in Scripture. Troubled by two dreams - seven lean cattle devouring seven fat ones, and seven thin ears of grain swallowing seven full ones - he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt, but none could interpret them. Told of a Hebrew prisoner who interpreted dreams, he summoned Joseph, who said, 'It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.' Recognizing 'a man in whom the Spirit of God is,' Pharaoh set Joseph over all Egypt, gave him his ring, a new Egyptian name, and Asenath as his wife. Later he welcomed Joseph's family, settled them in the land of Goshen, and received a blessing from the aged Jacob. Scholars propose various dates and dynasties for him, but the text leaves him anonymous.

0:00

Biography

Occupation
King of Egypt
Era
Patriarchs
Nationality
Egyptian
Old Testament Patriarchs King Genesis

Did You Know?

1

The name Pharaoh gave Joseph, Zaphnath-paaneah (Genesis 41:45), is Egyptian; its meaning is debated, with proposals including 'God speaks and he lives.'

2

Pharaoh's gifts to Joseph - his ring, garments of fine linen, a gold chain, and a ride in the second chariot (Genesis 41:42-43) - resemble the honors given to officials in Egyptian scenes of appointment to office.

3

When Jacob stood before Pharaoh, it was the aged shepherd who blessed the king, at both the beginning and the end of their meeting (Genesis 47:7, 10).

Key Chapters

Genesis 41 Pharaoh's Dreams 8 min read The most powerful man in Egypt is helpless before two dreams, and all his wise m... Genesis 45 Joseph Reveals Himself 5 min read Pharaoh's generosity opens Egypt to Jacob's family, preserving them through the ... Genesis 47 Jacob's Family in Goshen 6 min read The aged patriarch, a shepherd and a stranger in the land, blesses the king of E...

Key Passages

Pharaoh's Dreams

Genesis 41:1-8

The most powerful man in Egypt is helpless before two dreams, and all his wise men cannot help him.

A1nd it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. 3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. 8 And 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 the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

Read full chapter: Genesis 41 →

Joseph Before Pharaoh

Genesis 41:14-16

Joseph points Pharaoh away from himself to God, the true source of the interpretation.

T14hen 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.

15 And 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 thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Read full chapter: Genesis 41 →

Over All the Land of Egypt

Genesis 41:37-45

A foreign king recognizes the Spirit of God in a Hebrew slave and raises him to power, fulfillling God's purpose for Joseph.

A37nd the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

Read full chapter: Genesis 41 →

Bring Your Father and Come

Genesis 45:16-20

Pharaoh's generosity opens Egypt to Jacob's family, preserving them through the famine.

A16nd the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; 18 And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. 19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.

Read full chapter: Genesis 45 →

Jacob Blesses Pharaoh

Genesis 47:5-10

The aged patriarch, a shepherd and a stranger in the land, blesses the king of Egypt, a quiet reminder of whose promises truly governed the story.

A5nd Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:

6 The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle. 7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

Read full chapter: Genesis 47 →

Explore Related

Characters 4

Joseph Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, aroused such jealousy in his brothers that they sold him into slavery in… Jacob Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, played a pivotal role in the biblical narrative as one of… Asenath Asenath, an Egyptian woman and daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, entered the biblical narrative when… Potiphar Potiphar served as an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, purchasing Joseph as a slave…

Places 3

Egypt Egypt served as the place of bondage for the Israelites, who were enslaved by a Pharaoh who feared their… Goshen Goshen served as the rich pastureland in Egypt where Joseph brought his family to dwell at Pharaoh's… Canaan God designated the territory of Canaan as the inheritance promised to Abraham and his seed, embodying the…

Timeline Events 3

Joseph Interprets Dreams Joseph, who had been sold into slavery by his brothers and imprisoned in Egypt, was summoned to interpret… Joseph Becomes Ruler of Egypt In the book of Genesis, Joseph interprets Pharaoh's troubling dreams as a prediction of seven years of… Jacob's Family Moves to Egypt During a widespread famine in Canaan, Jacob and his family of seventy members journeyed to Egypt at the…

Dreams & Visions 1

Pharaoh's Dream of Cows and Grain Seven fat cows devoured by seven thin cows. Seven plump ears of grain swallowed by seven withered ones.…