Genesis 41:16

Humility God's power and sovereignty Wisdom Pride

¹⁴ So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh.

¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

¹⁷ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

¹⁸ when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”
KJV: And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
WEB: Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
ASV: And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
DARBY: And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
BLB: And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “[It is] not in me; God will answer Pharaoh with peace.”

ÅB: Og Josef svarte Farao og sa: Det står ikke til meg; Gud vil gi et svar som spår lykke for Farao.
OTB: Josef svarte farao: "Det er ikke i meg; Gud vil gi farao et svar til fred."
B1930: Og Josef svarte Farao og sa: Det står ikke til mig; Gud vil gi et svar som spår lykke for Farao.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
Read in context
Genesis 40:8
“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
Read in context
Daniel 2:47
The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
Read in context
Acts 3:12
And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
Read in context
Numbers 12:6
He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Read in context
Daniel 4:2
I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
Read in context
Acts 3:7
Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong.
Read in context