Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
- KJV Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
- NKJV “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
- NASB So now let Pharaoh look for a man discerning and wise, and appoint him over the land of Egypt.
- NLT “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joseph counsels Pharaoh to appoint a wise, discerning man to oversee Egypt.
Overview
Moving from interpretation to wise counsel, Joseph advises practical preparation under capable leadership. Faith in God's revelation leads naturally to prudent action. Joseph models how trusting God's word goes hand in hand with responsible stewardship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Gen 41:39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
- Acts 6:3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them
- Deut 1:13Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”
- Dan 4:27Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”
- Exod 18:19–22Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 41:33 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.