Genesis

Genesis 41:11–16

¹¹One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning. ¹²Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us individually. ¹³And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”

¹⁴So 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.

¹⁵Pharaoh 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.”

¹⁶“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

Read all of Genesis 41

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 41:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
One	אֶחָ֖ד	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
night	בְּלַ֥יְלָה	bə·lay·lāh	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
both	וָה֑וּא	wā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
and I	אֲנִ֣י	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
had dreams	וַנַּֽחַלְמָ֥ה	wan·na·ḥal·māh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural; third person feminine singular	H2492 be healthy, strong
each	אִ֛ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
dream	חֲלֹמ֖וֹ	ḥă·lō·mōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H2472 dream
had its own meaning	כְּפִתְר֥וֹן	kə·p̄iṯ·rō·wn	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct	H6623 interpretation

Genesis 41:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now a young	נַ֣עַר	na·‘ar	Noun - masculine singular	H5288 a shaking, scattering
Hebrew	עִבְרִ֗י	‘iḇ·rî	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H5680 Hebrew
was there	וְשָׁ֨ם	wə·šām	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H8033 there, thither
with us	אִתָּ֜נוּ	’it·tā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H854 with
a servant	עֶ֚בֶד	‘e·ḇeḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
of the captain	לְשַׂ֣ר	lə·śar	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of the guard	הַטַּבָּחִ֔ים	haṭ·ṭab·bā·ḥîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H2876 cook
We told him	וַנְּ֨סַפֶּר־	wan·nə·sap·per-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural	H5608 count
and he interpreted	וַיִּפְתָּר־	way·yip̄·tār-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6622 interpret
for	לָ֖נוּ	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
us	אֶת־	’eṯ-	Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
individually	אִ֥ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man

Genesis 41:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And it happened	וַיְהִ֛י	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
to us	לָ֖נוּ	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
just as	כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
he had interpreted	פָּֽתַר־	pā·ṯar-	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6622 interpret
I was restored	הֵשִׁ֥יב	hê·šîḇ	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7725 turn back, return
to	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
my position	כַּנִּ֖י	kan·nî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H3653 right, veritable, honest
and the other man was hanged	תָלָֽה׃	ṯā·lāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H8518 hang

Genesis 41:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Pharaoh	פַּרְעֹה֙	par·‘ōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6547 Pharaoh
sent for	וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
Joseph	יוֹסֵ֔ף	yō·w·sêp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3130 Joseph
who was quickly brought	וַיְרִיצֻ֖הוּ	way·rî·ṣu·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine singular	H7323 run
out of	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the dungeon	הַבּ֑וֹר	hab·bō·wr	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H953 pit, cistern, well
After he had shaved	וַיְגַלַּח֙	way·ḡal·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1548 be bald
and changed	וַיְחַלֵּ֣ף	way·ḥal·lêp̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2498 pass on or away, pass through
his clothes	שִׂמְלֹתָ֔יו	śim·lō·ṯāw	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H8071 wrapper, mantle
he went in	וַיָּבֹ֖א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
before	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Pharaoh	פַּרְעֹֽה׃	par·‘ōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6547 Pharaoh

Genesis 41:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Pharaoh	פַּרְעֹה֙	par·‘ōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6547 Pharaoh
said	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Joseph	יוֹסֵ֔ף	yō·w·sêp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3130 Joseph
I had a dream	חֲל֣וֹם	ḥă·lō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H2472 dream
and no	אֵ֣ין	’ên	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
one can interpret it	וּפֹתֵ֖ר	ū·p̄ō·ṯêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H6622 interpret
But I	וַאֲנִ֗י	wa·’ă·nî	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
have heard	שָׁמַ֤עְתִּי	šā·ma‘·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H8085 hear
it said	לֵאמֹ֔ר	lê·mōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H559 utter, say
of you	עָלֶ֙יךָ֙	‘ā·le·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular	H5921 height
that when you hear	תִּשְׁמַ֥ע	tiš·ma‘	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H8085 hear
a dream	חֲל֖וֹם	ḥă·lō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H2472 dream
you can interpret it	לִפְתֹּ֥ר	lip̄·tōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6622 interpret

Genesis 41:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I myself cannot do it	בִּלְעָדָ֑י	bil·‘ā·ḏāy	Preposition; first person common singular	H1107 apart from, except, without
Joseph	יוֹסֵ֧ף	yō·w·sêp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3130 Joseph
replied	וַיַּ֨עַן	way·ya·‘an	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6030 answer, respond
but God	אֱלֹהִ֕ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
Pharaoh	פַּרְעֹֽה׃	par·‘ōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6547 Pharaoh
a sound	שְׁל֥וֹם	šə·lō·wm	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
answer	יַעֲנֶ֖ה	ya·‘ă·neh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6030 answer, respond