Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams and Is Promoted

After two full years, Pharaoh had two disturbing dreams. In one, seven sleek, fat cattle came up from the river, and seven ugly, thin cattle came after them and ate them. In the other, seven good heads of grain grew on one stalk, and seven thin heads, blasted by the east wind, swallowed them up. Pharaoh was troubled, but none of Egypt's magicians and wise men could explain the dreams.

Then the chief cupbearer remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh about a young Hebrew servant in custody at the house of the captain of the guard who had correctly explained his dream and the baker's dream. Pharaoh quickly sent for Joseph. Joseph was brought up from the dungeon, shaved, changed his clothes, and came before Pharaoh. When Pharaoh said he had heard Joseph could interpret dreams, Joseph answered that this was not from himself. God would give Pharaoh an answer.

Pharaoh told the dreams again, including that the thin cattle were still ugly after eating the fat ones. Joseph explained that the two dreams were one message from God. The seven good cattle and seven good heads of grain meant seven years of great plenty in all the land of Egypt. The seven thin cattle and seven empty heads meant seven years of famine afterwards, so severe that the earlier plenty would be forgotten. The doubled dream showed that God had firmly decided it and would soon do it.

Joseph then advised Pharaoh to choose a discerning and wise man over the land. Overseers should collect a fifth of the produce during the seven plentiful years and store grain in the cities under Pharaoh's authority. Then there would be food for the seven years of famine, so the land would not perish through the famine.

Pharaoh and his servants thought this plan was good. Pharaoh said God had shown these things to Joseph and that no one was as discerning and wise as he was. So Pharaoh set Joseph over his house and over all Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. He gave Joseph his signet ring, fine linen clothes, a gold chain, and the second chariot. People called out before him, and Pharaoh gave him the name Zaphenath-Paneah and Asenath as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.