Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 41:39
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, [there is] none so discreet and wise as thou [art]:
39. Forasmuch as ] Lit. “after that.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
God hath showed thee all this, i.e. hath given thee this extraordinary gift of foreseeing and foretelling things to come, and of giving such sage advice for the future.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph,…. After his servants had agreed to his being the man: at least Pharaoh had declared his mind that he should be the person; which if any of them disliked, as probably might be the case of some through envy, and as desirous of the post themselves, yet durst not make any opposition to it:
forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this; the interpretation of his dreams, what would be hereafter for fourteen years to come, what was advisable to be done for the good of the nation, and had proposed a plan so well contrived and formed:
[there is] none so discreet and wise as thou [art]; and consequently none so fit for this business, since he was so divinely qualified; and Justin, the Heathen writer r, observes that he had such knowledge and experience of things, that his answers seemed to be given not from men, but from God.
r E. Trogo, l. 36. c. 32.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
‘And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this there is none so discreet and wise as you. You shall be over my house and my people shall be ruled in accordance with your word. Only in the throne will I be greater than you.” ’
Egypt had many gods, and they were aware that there were gods of other nations. There is then no reason why Pharaoh should not acknowledge that this great God Who has revealed the significance of his dream has special powers which can help Joseph.
“You shall be over my house.” The office of ‘Lord of Pharaoh’s house’ was a recognised and very important one in Egypt. It represented wide authority and power for ‘Pharaoh’s house’ was the land and people of Egypt.
“My people shall be ruled according to your word (literally ‘mouth”).’ He would have absolute authority under Pharaoh. Whatever he decreed would be done. He would be Pharaoh’s mouth.
“According to your mouth.” The background to these words is clearly Egyptian. There “mouth” (ra) was used metaphorically for a representative of Pharaoh. The office of a “mouth” was so important that it was held by the highest State dignitaries. The titles “mouth” and “chief mouth” were used in relation to people such as chief superintendents and overseers of public works who acted as intermediaries between the Pharaoh and the Government officials. The concept of “mouth” or “chief mouth” involved a confidential and exalted position at court, ranking immediately after the king. They were mouths to a god.
“Only in the throne will I be greater than you.” This office can only be that of Vizier, the highest office in the land. He alone held such authority and power as the representative of the king himself. Without his permission no one could approach Pharaoh and all officials were responsible to him.
Others have seen him as the Superintendent of the Granaries, another high Egyptian post. In fact it is probable that he combines the two positions.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
How sweet are those words applied to, and spoken of, JESUS? Joh 15:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 41:39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, [there is] none so discreet and wise as thou [art]:
Ver. 39. Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this. ] Pharaoh at first took him for no other than a cunning soothsayer and conjecturer of dreams. Now he finds better worth in him, a spirit of wisdom and discretion: he took him to be a man spiritually rational, and rationally spiritual; one that seemed to see the insides of nature and grace, and the world and heaven, by those perfect anatomies he had made of them all. Briefly, such a heart so well headed, nor such a head better hearted, he had never met with. Wherefore he resolves to set him at the head of the state; there being not anything that makes a man so good a patriot, as true religion; which admits not of that distinction between a good man and a good citizen.
a Val. Max., lib. ix. cap. 5.
b Dan., Hist. of England, contin. by Trussel, 207.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 41:16, Gen 41:25, Gen 41:28, Gen 41:33
Reciprocal: Gen 45:8 – father Exo 7:11 – wise men 2Ki 8:10 – the Lord Job 32:8 – the inspiration Pro 6:32 – lacketh Pro 12:8 – commended Pro 22:11 – the king Ecc 8:1 – who knoweth Isa 19:11 – I am Isa 28:6 – for a spirit Dan 2:11 – and there Dan 2:47 – a revealer Dan 2:48 – a great Act 6:3 – full Act 27:10 – I perceive 1Co 12:8 – is given Eph 1:17 – the spirit 2Ti 2:7 – and Jam 1:17 – good Jam 3:17 – the wisdom