Joseph

22Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and let her have a baby.

And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

Note"God remembered" does not mean God had forgotten her. It means God now did something to help her.

23She was going to have a baby, and she had a son. She said, "God has taken away my shame."

And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

NoteOther people had looked down on Rachel for having no children. That is the shame she means.

24She named him Joseph. She said, "May the LORD give me another son."

And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

Note"Joseph" sounds like the Hebrew word for "may he add another."

1Jacob lived in the land of Canaan. His father had lived there as a foreigner.

And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

NoteCanaan was the land where Joseph's family lived. It is near the sea, where Israel is today. Jacob's father Isaac lived there too, but the land was not his own.

2This is the story of Jacob's family. Joseph was seventeen years old. He took care of the sheep and goats with his brothers. He was with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. Joseph told his father bad things about his brothers.

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

NoteJacob had more than one wife. Bilhah and Zilpah were two of them. So Joseph's brothers had different mothers than he did.

3Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because Joseph was born when Jacob was old. Jacob made him a coat of many colors.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

NoteThis coat was long and fancy, with sleeves down to the wrists. Working boys wore short, plain clothes instead. The coat showed everyone that Joseph was his father's favorite. Israel was Jacob's other name. This chapter uses both names for the same man.

4His brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than he loved them. So they hated Joseph. They could not say one kind word to him.

And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

5Joseph had a dream. He told his brothers about it. Then they hated him even more.

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

NoteLong ago, people believed dreams could show what would happen later. So a dream like this was big news in a family.

6He said to them, "Please listen to the dream I had."

And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

7"We were tying up bundles of cut grain in the field. My bundle stood up tall. Your bundles stood all around mine and bowed down to it."

For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

NoteAt harvest time, people cut grain by hand. Then they tied it into bundles called sheaves. Bowing down was what people did in front of a king.

8His brothers said to him, "Are you really going to be our king? Are you really going to rule us?" They hated him even more because of his dreams and his words.

And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

NoteTo reign means to be the king. To rule means to be the boss of everyone.

9Joseph had another dream. He told his brothers about it too. He said, "Listen, I had one more dream. The sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed down to me."

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

NoteJoseph had eleven brothers. That is why eleven stars mattered so much to them.

10He told this dream to his father and his brothers. His father spoke sharply to him. He said, "What kind of dream is this? Will your mother and your brothers and I really bow low to the ground in front of you?"

And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11His brothers were jealous of him. But his father kept thinking about what Joseph had said.

And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

12His brothers went to feed their father's flock near a place called Shechem.

And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.

NoteShechem was a town far to the north. It was many days of walking away from home.

13Israel said to Joseph, "Your brothers are feeding the flock at Shechem, are they not? Come, I am sending you to them." Joseph said, "Here I am."

And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

Note"Here I am" was a way of saying, "I am ready to go."

14His father said, "Please go and see if your brothers and the flock are well. Then come back and tell me." So he sent Joseph out from the valley of Hebron. Joseph came to Shechem.

And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

NoteHebron was the valley where Jacob's family lived. Joseph had to walk about fifty miles to reach Shechem.

15A man found Joseph wandering in the field. The man asked him, "What are you looking for?"

And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

16Joseph said, "I am looking for my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks."

And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.

17The man said, "They have gone away from here. I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers. He found them at Dothan.

And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

NoteDothan was another town, even farther north than Shechem.

18They saw him far away, before he came close to them. They made a plan to kill him.

And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

19They said to each other, "Look, here comes the dreamer."

And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

NoteThey said "the dreamer" to make fun of him. It was not a kind name.

20"Come on, let us kill him. We will throw him into one of the pits. We will say a wild animal ate him. Then we will see what happens to his dreams."

Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

NoteThese pits were deep holes dug in the ground. People dug them to hold rainwater. The sides were steep, so no one could climb out alone.

21Reuben heard this. He saved Joseph from them. He said, "Let us not kill him."

And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

NoteReuben was the oldest brother. The oldest son was expected to take care of the family.

22Reuben said to them, "Do not spill his blood. Throw him into this pit out here in the wild. But do not hurt him." Reuben said this so he could save Joseph and take him back to his father.

And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

Note"Do not spill his blood" was a way of saying, "Do not kill him."

23When Joseph came to his brothers, they pulled off his coat. It was the coat of many colors he was wearing.

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

24They took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it.

And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

25Then they sat down to eat. They looked up and saw a group of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh. They were taking these things down to Egypt.

And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

NoteIshmaelites were traders who traveled with camels. Gilead was a place known for its plants and medicine. Balm is sticky sap from a tree, used to help sore skin. Myrrh is another sticky sap, used to make sweet smells.

26Judah said to his brothers, "What do we gain if we kill our brother and hide what we did?"

And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

NoteJudah means hiding what they had done so nobody would find out.

27"Come on, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites. Let us not hurt him ourselves. He is our brother. He is our own family." His brothers agreed.

Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

Note"Our own flesh" means someone from your own family.

28Then some Midianite traders came by. They pulled Joseph up out of the pit. They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

NoteMidianites were traders too, from a land east of Canaan. Twenty pieces of silver was the usual price for a young slave. A slave was a person owned by someone else and forced to work.

29Reuben came back to the pit. Joseph was not in the pit. Reuben tore his clothes.

And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

NotePeople long ago ripped their own clothes to show they were very sad. Everyone who saw the torn clothes knew something terrible had happened.

30He went back to his brothers and said, "The boy is gone! Where can I go now?"

And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

31They took Joseph's coat. They killed a young goat and dipped the coat in its blood.

And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

NoteA kid is a baby goat.

32They sent the coat of many colors to their father. They said, "We found this. Look and see if it is your son's coat or not."

And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no.

33He knew the coat. He said, "It is my son's coat. A wild animal has eaten him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces."

And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

34Jacob tore his clothes. He put rough sackcloth around his waist. He was sad about his son for many days.

And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

NoteSackcloth was rough, scratchy cloth made from goat hair. People wore it when someone they loved had died. It was uncomfortable on purpose, to show deep sadness.

35All his sons and daughters came to comfort him. But he would not let anyone comfort him. He said, "I will go down to my son in the grave, still sad." So his father cried for him.

And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

NotePeople said the place of the dead was down under the ground. Jacob meant he would be sad until the day he died.

36The Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt. They sold him to Potiphar, a leader who worked for Pharaoh. Potiphar was the captain of the king's guards.

And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.

NotePharaoh was the name for the king of Egypt. Potiphar was in charge of the soldiers who guarded him.

1Joseph was taken down to Egypt. A man named Potiphar bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had brought him there. Potiphar was an Egyptian. He was an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

NoteEgypt was a big country far away from Joseph's home. Joseph's brothers had already sold him to traders. The Ishmaelites were traders who traveled from place to place selling things. Potiphar bought Joseph as a slave. A slave belonged to another person and had to work without pay. Pharaoh was the king of Egypt. The captain of the guard was the leader of the king's soldiers.

2The LORD was with Joseph, and things went well for him. He lived in the house of his master, the Egyptian.

And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

NoteThe LORD, written in big letters, is God's own special name. A master was the man who owned a slave and told him what to do.

3His master saw that the LORD was with Joseph. He saw that the LORD made everything Joseph did go well.

And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

4Joseph pleased his master, and he served him. His master put him in charge of the house. He put everything he owned into Joseph's care.

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

NoteBeing in charge of the house meant Joseph ran everything in it. He told the other servants what to do and looked after the money.

5From the time he put Joseph in charge of his house and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything he had, in the house and in the field.

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

NoteTo bless someone means to give that person good things.

6So he left everything he owned in Joseph's care. He did not think about anything except the food he ate. Joseph had a fine build and a handsome face.

And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

NotePotiphar trusted Joseph so much that he checked nothing at all. He only picked out what he wanted to eat.

7After this, his master's wife looked at Joseph. She said, "Sleep with me."

And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

NoteShe wanted Joseph to be close to her the way a husband and wife are close. She was already married to Potiphar, so this was wrong.

8But he said no. He said to his master's wife, "Look. With me here, my master does not worry about anything in his house. He has put everything he owns into my care.

But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

9No one in this house is greater than I am. He has kept nothing back from me but you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?"

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

NoteTo sin means to do something God says is wrong.

10She talked to Joseph day after day. He would not listen to her. He would not lie beside her or be with her.

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

11About this time Joseph went into the house to do his work. None of the men of the house were inside.

And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

12She grabbed him by his coat and said, "Sleep with me." He left his coat in her hand. He ran away and got outside.

And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

NotePeople then wore a long loose coat on top of their clothes. Joseph slipped out of his coat and left it behind as he ran.

13She saw that he had left his coat in her hand and had run outside.

And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

14So she called the men of her house. She said to them, "Look, he has brought a Hebrew man to us to make fun of us. He came in to me to sleep with me, and I screamed out loud.

That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

NoteHebrew was the name for Joseph's people, who came from another land. To make fun of someone here means to treat that person badly. The men of her house were the servants who worked there.

15When he heard me lift my voice and scream, he left his coat with me. He ran away and got outside."

And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

16She kept his coat beside her until Joseph's master came home.

And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

17She told him the same words. She said, "The Hebrew servant you brought to us came in to me to make fun of me.

And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

18But when I lifted my voice and screamed, he left his coat with me and ran outside."

And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

19His master heard the words his wife said to him: "This is what your servant did to me." Then he became very angry.

And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

20Joseph's master took him and put him in the prison. That was the place where the king's prisoners were kept. So Joseph was there in the prison.

And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

NoteA prison is a locked place where people are kept who are in trouble. In those days a master could punish a slave right away. No judge listened to both sides of the story first.

21But the LORD was with Joseph and was kind to him. The LORD made the keeper of the prison pleased with him.

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

NoteThe keeper of the prison was the man in charge of it. He watched the prisoners and decided how things were run.

22The keeper of the prison put all the prisoners into Joseph's care. Whatever was done there, Joseph was the one who did it.

And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

23The keeper did not check on anything that Joseph was in charge of. That was because the LORD was with Joseph. The LORD made everything Joseph did go well.

The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

1Some time later, two servants of the king of Egypt did something wrong. One was his cupbearer, the servant who brought the king his drink. The other was his baker. They had upset their master, the king of Egypt.

And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.

NoteA cupbearer brought the king his drink. He tasted it first to be sure it was safe. So a king picked someone he trusted a lot. The King James word "butler" meant cupbearer back then.

2Pharaoh was angry with two of his officers. They were the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.

And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

Note"Pharaoh" was the word for the king of Egypt, like saying "the king." "Wroth" is an old word for very angry. Officers were the king's important helpers.

3He put them in the house of the captain of the guard. That was the prison, the place where Joseph was held.

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

NoteThe captain of the guard was the leader of the king's soldiers. Prisoners were kept in his big house. "In ward" means being watched and kept in one place.

4The captain of the guard put Joseph in charge of them, and Joseph took care of them. They stayed in prison for a while.

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

NoteJoseph was a prisoner himself. Even so, he was trusted to look after other prisoners. In the King James, "a season" just means a long while.

5One night both men had a dream. Each man had his own dream, and each dream had its own meaning. They were the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, held in the prison.

And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

NoteLong ago in Egypt, people believed dreams could show what would happen. Certain men had the job of explaining dreams. In prison there was no one like that to ask.

6Joseph came in to them in the morning. He looked at them, and he saw that they were sad.

And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

7These were Pharaoh's officers, shut up with him in his master's house. Joseph asked them, "Why do your faces look so sad today?"

And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?

8They said, "We each had a dream. There is no one here to tell us what it means." Joseph said to them, "Doesn’t the meaning of dreams belong to God? Please tell me your dreams."

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

Note"I pray you" is an old way of saying "please." It is not a prayer to God.

9So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said, "In my dream I saw a grapevine in front of me.

And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

NoteA vine is a long climbing plant. Grapes grow on it in bunches.

10The vine had three branches. It grew buds, and its flowers opened, and its bunches became ripe grapes.

And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:

11Pharaoh's cup was in my hand. I took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup. Then I put the cup into Pharaoh's hand."

And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.

NotePeople squeezed grapes by hand to make juice to drink. Putting the cup in the king's hand was the cupbearer's main job.

12Joseph said to him, "This is what your dream means. The three branches are three days.

And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

13In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and give you your place back. You will put Pharaoh's cup into his hand, just as you did before.

Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

Note"Lift up thine head" was an old way of saying "bring you out and honor you." It meant good news for the cupbearer.

14But think of me when things go well for you. Please be kind to me. Tell Pharaoh about me, and get me out of this house.

But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

Note"This house" means the prison. Joseph is asking to be let out of it.

15I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews. And here I have done nothing to be put in this dungeon."

For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

NoteThe Hebrews were Joseph's family and people. They lived far away in a land called Canaan. Joseph was "stolen away" because his brothers sold him to traders. A dungeon is a dark prison room, often under the ground.

16The chief baker saw that the first dream had a good meaning. He said to Joseph, "I had a dream too. I had three white baskets on my head.

When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:

NoteThe baskets held white bread. People often carried heavy loads balanced on their heads.

17In the top basket was every kind of baked food for Pharaoh. And birds were eating it out of the basket on my head."

And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

Note"Bakemeats" does not mean meat. It means every kind of baked bread and cake.

18Joseph answered, "This is what your dream means. The three baskets are three days.

And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

19In three days Pharaoh will lift your head off you. He will hang you on a tree. And birds will eat your flesh off you."

Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

NoteHere the same words mean something very different. Lifting his head off him means he will be killed. Hanging him on a tree meant his body was put up where people could see it.

20Three days later it was Pharaoh's birthday. He made a feast for all his servants. There, in front of them, he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker.

And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

NoteA king's birthday was a big holiday in Egypt. Kings sometimes let prisoners out on that day. "Lifted up the head" here means he brought both men out of prison.

21He gave the chief cupbearer his old job back. The cupbearer put the cup into Pharaoh's hand again.

And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:

Note"Butlership" means his old job of bringing the king his drink.

22But he hanged the chief baker. It happened just as Joseph had told them.

But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

23But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph. He forgot all about him.

Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Note"Forgat" is the old way of writing "forgot."

1Two whole years went by. Then Pharaoh had a dream. In the dream he stood beside the river.

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

NotePharaoh was what people in Egypt called their king. The river here is the Nile, the one big river in Egypt.

2Seven cows came up out of the river. They were fat and looked good. They ate grass in a meadow.

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

NoteA meadow is a field of grass where animals eat. The King James says "kine," an old word for cows.

3Then seven other cows came up out of the river after them. They looked bad and were thin. They stood beside the other cows on the river bank.

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.

4The bad, thin cows ate up the seven good, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

5He slept and dreamed a second time. Seven heads of grain grew on one stalk. They were thick and good.

And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.

NoteGrain is the plant that bread is made from. The King James calls it "corn." Long ago "corn" meant any grain, not the yellow corn we eat today.

6Then seven thin heads of grain grew up after them. The east wind had dried them out.

And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.

NoteThe east wind blew off the desert. It was hot and dry and could kill plants fast.

7The seven thin heads swallowed up the seven thick, full heads. Pharaoh woke up. It had been a dream.

And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

8In the morning Pharaoh felt troubled inside. He sent for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dream. But no one could tell him what it meant.

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.

NoteMagicians were men who tried to know hidden things. Wise men were the king's helpers who gave advice.

9Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh. He said, "Today I remember the wrong things I did."

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:

NoteA cupbearer brought the king his drink. The chief cupbearer was the head one. He was near the king every day.

10"Pharaoh was angry with his servants. He shut me up in the house of the captain of the guard. The chief baker was shut up there too."

Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker:

NoteThe captain of the guard was the king's head soldier. People who were in trouble were locked up at his house.

11"One night we both had a dream, he and I. Each dream had its own meaning."

And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

12"A young man was there with us, a Hebrew. He was a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams. He told each of us what his own dream meant."

And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

NoteHebrew was the name for Joseph's family and his people. They came from Canaan, far away from Egypt.

13"It happened just as he told us. I got my old job back. The other man was hanged."

And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.

NoteHanged here means the baker was put to death.

14Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph. They hurried him out of the deep prison. He shaved, put on other clothes, and came in to Pharaoh.

Then 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.

NoteIn Egypt men shaved their beards and heads. Joseph made himself look neat and Egyptian before meeting the king.

15Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and no one can tell me what it means. But I have heard this about you. When you hear a dream, you can tell what it means."

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.

16Joseph answered Pharaoh, "I cannot do it myself. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

NoteAn answer of peace means a good answer. It is one that makes worry stop.

17Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I stood on the bank of the river."

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

18"Seven cows came up out of the river. They were fat and looked good. They ate grass in a meadow."

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:

19"Then seven other cows came up after them. They were poor and thin and looked very bad. I never saw such bad cows in all the land of Egypt."

And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:

20"The thin, bad-looking cows ate up the first seven fat cows."

And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:

21"But when they had eaten them, no one could tell. They still looked as bad as before. Then I woke up."

And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.

22"In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain on one stalk. They were full and good."

And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:

23"Then seven heads grew up after them. They were dried up and thin, burned by the east wind."

And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:

24"The thin heads swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians. But no one could explain it to me."

And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.

25Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Both of Pharaoh's dreams mean the same thing. God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do."

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

26"The seven good cows are seven years. The seven good heads of grain are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing."

The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

27"The seven thin, bad cows that came up after them are seven years. The seven empty heads burned by the east wind are seven years of famine."

And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

NoteA famine is a long time when there is almost no food. Rain does not come, so crops will not grow.

28"This is what I have said to Pharaoh. God is showing Pharaoh what he is about to do."

This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

29"Look, seven years are coming with plenty of food all over Egypt."

Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

30"After them will come seven years of famine. All that plenty will be forgotten in Egypt. The famine will eat up the land."

And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

31"People in the land will not remember the years of plenty. The famine that comes after will be very hard."

And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

32"Pharaoh had the dream two times. That means God has settled the matter. God will make it happen soon."

And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

NoteGetting the same message twice was a sign. It meant the thing was certain to happen.

33"So now let Pharaoh look for a careful and wise man. Let him set that man over the land of Egypt."

Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

34"Let Pharaoh do this. Let him choose officers over the land. Let them take one fifth of Egypt's crops in the seven years of plenty."

Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

NoteOne fifth means one part out of every five. The other four parts stayed with the farmers.

35"Let them gather all the food of the good years that are coming. Let them store up grain for Pharaoh. Let them keep the food in the cities."

And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

36"That food will be saved for the seven years of famine coming to Egypt. Then the land will not die from the famine."

And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.