“Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
Parallel translations
- KJV Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
- BSB Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man 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 41:39Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you.
- Acts 6:3Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
- Deut 1:13Take wise men of understanding and well known according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.”
- Dan 4:27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
- Exod 18:19–22Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.
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.