Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 40:8
And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and [there is] no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, [Do] not interpretations [belong] to God? tell me [them], I pray you.
8. none that can interpret it ] The Egyptians regarded the interpretation of dreams as a science requiring special study; or as a department of magic needing special initiation. Had the two officials been at liberty, they would have each repaired to their special soothsayer or dream-interpreter for an explanation of the dream that had so greatly disturbed them.
belong to God ] Joseph claims that the interpretation of dreams is neither science nor magic. The man, to whom God reveals His secrets, alone can interpret them. He himself does not pretend to interpret. But, possibly, God may make use of His servant to make known His mind, cf. Gen 41:16; Gen 41:38-39 and Dan 2:19; Dan 2:28; Dan 2:47.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. There is no interpreter] They either had access to none, or those to whom they applied could give them no consistent, satisfactory meaning.
Do not interpretations belong to God?] God alone, the Supreme Being, knows what is in futurity; and if he have sent a significant dream, he alone can give the solution.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
There is no interpreter of it, to wit, with us, or to whom we can now resort; for otherwise there were many in Egypt of that profession, Gen 41:8.
Do not interpretations belong to God? In vain do you expect such things from your wise men, for it is only that God who sends these dreams that can interpret them, and to him you should seek for it.
Tell me, who am the servant of the true God, who useth to communicate his secrets to his people, and who, I doubt not, will hear my prayers for this mercy. This he spoke by special direction and instinct from God, who had given this gift to him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they said unto him, we have dreamed a dream,…. Each of them:
and [there is] no interpreter of it; in that place in which they were, the prison; otherwise there were persons enough in the land that pretended to the interpretation of dreams, Ge 41:8; but they could not come at them, being in prison:
and Joseph said unto them, [do] not interpretations [belong] to God? that is, of dreams, and to him only, meaning the true God whom he worshipped; for as dreams themselves, which are of importance, and predict things to come, are of God; for none can foretell future events but he, and such to whom he imparts the gift of prophecy; so none can interpret dreams with any certainty but God himself, and those to whom he gives the faculty of interpretation of them; this Joseph said to take off their minds from the magicians and wise men, and interpreters of dreams among the Egyptians, these officers were hankering after, and wished they had them with them to interpret their dreams to them; and to suggest unto them, that though he did not arrogate such a power to himself, as having it of himself, yet intimates that he doubted not, but upon an address to his God, he would favour him with the interpretation of their dreams, and therefore encourages them to relate them to him:
tell me [them], I pray you; or “now” z, directly, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; signifying, that he would immediately interpret them to them; no doubt Joseph said this under a divine impulse.
z “nunc”, Drusius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
On their replying that they had dreamed, and there was no one to interpret the dream, Joseph reminded them first of all that “interpretations are God’s,” come from God, are His gift; at the same time he bade them tell him their dreams, from a consciousness, no doubt, that he was endowed with this divine gift.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(8) There is no interpreter.In Egypt it was the business of men trained for the purpose, called in Gen. 41:8, magicians and wise men, to interpret dreams, and to such the butler and baker could have no access from their prison. But Joseph denies that art and training can really avail, and claims that the interpretation belongs to God.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Do not interpretations belong to God He who had been visited with prophetic dreams in childhood, (Gen 37:5; Gen 37:9,) believed that God alone could interpret them . Comp . Gen 41:16; Gen 41:25; Gen 41:32. In his imprisonment and loneliness he might well have despaired of any fulfilling of his own dreams, but he trusts in God .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 40:8. Do not interpretations, &c. That is, says Calmet, “the explanation of your dreams depends not on a diviner; it is God who reveals it to the diviner himself, [if it be revealed] and who can reveal it to me as well as to him, if he think proper.” Joseph reasons here upon a principle universally allowed, that God alone has the knowledge of future events, and consequently that he alone can reveal such events, whatever instruments he may think fit to use for that purpose. See Dan 4:8-9. and Herod. l. ii. c. 83.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
How piously Joseph refers all wisdom unto GOD! Isa 41:22-23 ; Dan 2:28-30 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 40:8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and [there is] no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, [Do] not interpretations [belong] to God? tell me [them], I pray you.
Ver. 8. And there is no interpreter. ] The superstitious Egyptians did curiously observe their dreams; and commonly repaired to the soothsayers for an interpretation. Gen 41:8 Joseph calls these idolaters from their superstitions vanities to the living God; as Isaiah did those of his time, Isa 8:19-20 and Daniel those of his. Dan 2:28 ; Dan 5:18 He had consulted with God by prayer, and with the Scripture, which revealed sufficient direction to him, Eze 31:1-12 and so soon despatched the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Dan 4:10 So Joseph here; he suffered “troubles as an evildoer, even unto bonds: but the word of God is not bound.” 2Ti 2:9
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Do not: etc. Gen 41:15, Gen 41:16, Job 33:15, Job 33:16, Psa 25:14, Isa 8:19, Dan 2:11, Dan 2:28, Dan 2:47, Dan 4:8, Dan 5:11-15, 1Co 12:10, 1Co 12:11, Amo 3:7
Reciprocal: Gen 20:3 – a dream Gen 40:5 – General Gen 40:6 – behold Gen 40:22 – he hanged Gen 41:8 – but there Num 20:10 – we fetch Jdg 7:15 – interpretation thereof Ecc 8:1 – who knoweth Dan 2:3 – General Dan 5:16 – make Dan 7:15 – the visions Act 3:12 – or
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 40:8. Do not interpretations belong to God? He means the God whom he worshipped, to the knowledge of whom he endeavours hereby to lead them. And if interpretations belong to God, he is a free agent, and may communicate the power to whom he pleases, therefore tell me your dreams.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
40:8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and [there is] no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, {c} [Do] not interpretations [belong] to God? tell me [them], I pray you.
(c) Cannot God raise up such as shall interpret such things.