Bible Strands
Genesis 41:16
“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joseph speaks to Pharaoh immediately after the king notes that no one could interpret his dream. He responds directly to the royal request for insight.
The words — The Hebrew verb יַעֲנֶה (ya'aneh) means "he will answer," paired with בִלְעָדָי (bil'adai), meaning "apart from me." These terms frame the interpretation as originating outside Joseph’s own ability.
The thread — This theme of divine competence rather than human ability appears in 2 Corinthians 3:5 and Daniel 2:47, where revelation and interpretation are attributed to God. Joseph’s statement also echoes the earlier dream interpretation in Genesis 40:8.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to acknowledge that interpretation and insight belong to God, not human skill. It directs attention away from personal merit and toward divine provision.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
- Genesis 40:8 “We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
- Daniel 2:47 The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
- Numbers 12:6 He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.
- Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
- Daniel 2:18 urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
- Daniel 4:2 I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
- Acts 3:7 Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
- Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these: