New King James Version
Genesis 41:38
38And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Genesis 41:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
- New International Version (NIV)So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?"
- New Living Translation (NLT)So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”
Context of Genesis 41:38
36Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.” 37So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Read all of Genesis 41Genesis 41:38 word by word
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֖ה אֶל־עֲבָדָ֑יו הֲנִמְצָ֣א כָזֶ֔ה אִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֛ר ר֥וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֖ים בּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Pharaohפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto his servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- Can we findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- as thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- in whomאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- the Spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
Cross-references for Genesis 41:38
- Numbers 27:18And the Lord said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;
- Job 32:8But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
- Daniel 4:6Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
- Daniel 5:11There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.
- Daniel 6:3Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
Commentaries on Genesis 41:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38In whom the Spirit of God is? - אלהים רוח ruach Elohim, the identical words used Genesis 1:2; and certainly to be understood here as in the preceding place. If the Egyptians were idolaters, they acknowledged Joseph's God; and it is not to be supposed that they only became acquainted with him on this occasion. The knowledge of the true God was in Egypt long before; but it is very likely that though they acknowledged his influence with respect to Joseph, as…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
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 33-45Verses 33-45 Joseph gave good advice to Pharaoh. Fair warning should always be followed by good counsel. God has in his word told us of a day of trial before us, when we shall need all the grace we can have. Now, therefore, provide accordingly. Pharaoh gave Joseph an honourable testimony. He is a man in whom the spirit of God is; and such men ought to be valued. Pharaoh puts upon Joseph marks of honour. He gave him such a name as spoke the value he had…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37-40Pharaoh saw that Joseph was the right person for this work. He recognized that Joseph had the Spirit of God and was wise and understanding. In this way, God showed his rule and authority over Egypt. Israelites who later read this story could trust that God would save them, just as he had promised.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 37-5738. Pharaoh said unto his servants--The kings of ancient Egypt were assisted in the management of state affairs by the advice of the most distinguished members of the priestly order; and, accordingly, before admitting Joseph to the new and extraordinary office that was to be created, those ministers were consulted as to the expediency and propriety of the appointment. a man in whom the Spirit of God is--An acknowledgment of the being and power of the true…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 41:38
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries