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39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be in charge of my household, and all my people will obey your command. Only in respect to the throne will I outrank you.”(A) 41 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Look, I put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 With that, Pharaoh took off his signet ring[a] and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He then had him ride in his second chariot, and they shouted “Abrek!”[b] before him.

Thus was Joseph installed over the whole land of Egypt.

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Footnotes

  1. 41:42 Signet ring: a finger ring in which was set a stamp seal, different from the cylinder seal such as Judah wore; see note on 38:18. By receiving Pharaoh’s signet ring, Joseph was made vizier of Egypt (v. 43); the vizier was known as “seal-bearer of the king of Lower Egypt.” The gold chain was a symbol of high office in ancient Egypt.
  2. 41:43 Abrek: apparently a cry of homage, though the word’s derivation and actual meaning are uncertain.

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(A) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(B) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(C) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(D) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(E)

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(F) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(G) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(H) of fine linen(I) and put a gold chain around his neck.(J) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(K) as his second-in-command,[a](L) and people shouted before him, “Make way[b]!”(M) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot
  2. Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down