God’s Word Translation
Genesis 41:8
8In the morning he was so upset that he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could tell him what they meant.
Genesis 41:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now 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 its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.
Context of Genesis 41:8
6Seven other heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted behind them. 7The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full, healthy heads. Then Pharaoh woke up. It was only a dream. In the morning he was so upset that he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could tell him what they meant. 9Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, “I remember a promise I failed to keep. 10Some time ago when Pharaoh was angry with his servants, he confined me and the chief baker to the captain of the guard’s prison.
Read all of Genesis 41Genesis 41:8 word by word
וַיְהִ֤י בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ וַתִּפָּ֣עֶם רוּח֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח וַיִּקְרָ֛א אֶת־כָּל־חַרְטֻמֵּ֥י מִצְרַ֖יִם וְאֶת־כָּל־חֲכָמֶ֑יהָ וַיְסַפֵּ֨ר פַּרְעֹ֤ה לָהֶם֙ אֶת־חֲלֹמ֔וֹ וְאֵין־פּוֹתֵ֥ר אוֹתָ֖ם לְפַרְעֹֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass in the morningבֹּ֫קֶרbôqer · morningH1242
- that his spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- was troubledפָּעַםpâ‛am · to troubleH6470
- and he sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- and calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- for all the magiciansחַרְטֹםcharţôm · magicianH2748
- of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- and all the wise menחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- thereof: and Pharaohפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
- toldסָפַרsâphar · to recountH5608
- them his dreamחֲלוֹםchălôm chălôm · dreamH2472
- none that could interpretפָּתַרpâthar · to interpretH6622
Cross-references for Genesis 41:8
- Genesis 40:6When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were upset.
- Daniel 2:1During the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he had some dreams. He was troubled, but he stayed asleep.
- Daniel 4:5I had a dream that terrified me. The visions I had while I was asleep frightened me.
- Daniel 5:6Then the king turned pale, and his thoughts frightened him. His hip joints became loose, and his knees knocked against each other.
- Daniel 7:28Here is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts, and I turned pale. I kept this to myself.
- Daniel 8:27I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and worked for the king. The vision horrified me because I couldn’t understand it.
- Habakkuk 3:16I have heard, so there’s trembling within me. At the report my lips quivered. A rotten feeling has entered me. I tremble where I stand. I wait for the day of trouble to come to the people who will attack us.
- Exodus 7:11Then Pharaoh sent for his wise men and sorcerers. These Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells.
- Exodus 8:7But the magicians did the same thing using their magic spells and brought frogs onto the land.
- Exodus 9:11The magicians couldn’t compete with Moses because they had boils like all the other Egyptians.
- Leviticus 19:31“Don’t turn to psychics or mediums to get help. That will make you unclean. I am the Lord your God.
- Leviticus 20:6“I will condemn people who turn to mediums and psychics and chase after them as though they were prostitutes. I will exclude them from the people.
- Deuteronomy 18:9When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, never learn the disgusting practices of those nations.
- Isaiah 8:19People will say to you, “Ask for help from the mediums and the fortunetellers, who whisper and mutter.” Shouldn’t people ask their God for help instead? Why should they ask the dead to help the living?
- Isaiah 19:3The Egyptians will lose courage. I will unravel their plans. They will turn to idols, ghosts, mediums, and fortunetellers.
- Isaiah 29:14That is why I am going to do something completely amazing for these people once again. The wisdom of their wise people will disappear. The intelligence of their intelligent people will be hidden.”
Commentaries on Genesis 41:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Called for all the magicians - חרטמים chartummim . The word here used may probably mean no more than interpreters of abstruse and difficult subjects; and especially of the Egyptian hieroglyphics, an art which is now entirely lost. It is most likely that the term is Egyptian, and consequently its etymology must remain unknown to us. If Hebrew, Mr. Parkhurst's definition may be as good as any: "חרט cheret, a pen or instrument to write or draw with, and תם…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-57Verses 1-57 - Joseph Was Exalted 1. יאר ye'or “river, canal,” mostly applied to the Nile. Some suppose the word to be Coptic. 2. אחוּ 'āchû “sedge, reed-grass, marsh-grass.” This word is probably Coptic. 8. חרטמים charṭumı̂ym ̓̀ exēgētai ̔͂ hierogrammateis “sacred scribes, hieroglyphs.” חרט chereṭ “stylus,” a graving tool. 43. אברך 'abrēk “bend the knee.” In this sense it is put for הברך habrēk imperative hiphil of ברך bārak Those who take the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8The magicians and wise men were part of a group of people who claimed special skill in spiritual matters, such as understanding dreams and visions (see Exodus 8:18–19; Daniel 2:10–11). God used an Israelite slave to show that the wisdom of this world is limited (see Daniel 2). Even the most powerful nation is still under God’s rule and control (Daniel 2:20–23).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. he called for all the magicians of Egypt--It is not possible to define the exact distinction between "magicians" and "wise men"; but they formed different branches of a numerous body, who laid claim to supernatural skill in occult arts and sciences, in revealing mysteries, explaining portents, and, above all, interpreting dreams. Long practice had rendered them expert in devising a plausible way of getting out of every difficulty and framing an answer…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 41:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 41
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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