The Meaning of Genesis 41:16 Explained

Genesis 41:16

KJV: And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

YLT: and Joseph answereth Pharaoh, saying, 'Without me -- God doth answer Pharaoh with peace.'

Darby: And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

ASV: And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Joseph  answered  Pharaoh,  saying,  [It is] not in me:  God  shall give  Pharaoh  an answer  of peace. 

What does Genesis 41:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 41:14-36 - Pharaoh's Dreams Interpreted
Notwithstanding the great urgency of the royal summons, and the speed with which the great events of his life crowded on one another, Joseph was kept in perfect peace. He found time to shave, and to change his raiment. Let us be at rest in God. He that believeth does not make needless haste. One of the loveliest traits in Joseph's character was his humility. He did not take on airs, nor assume superiority, nor pose as a superior and injured person. He said simply, "It is not in me; God will give." These words might have been uttered by our Lord; they are so perfectly in harmony with the tenor of his life. Surely we should appropriate them. At the best we are but God's almoners, passing on to others the good things of which He has made us the stewards. Joseph was set on using all he had, not for himself, but for others; therefore he had more and more to give. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 41

1  Pharaoh has two dreams
9  Joseph interprets them
33  He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced, and married
46  The seven years of plenty
50  He begets children
53  The famine begins

What do the individual words in Genesis 41:16 mean?

So answered Joseph - Pharaoh saying [it is] not in me God will give an answer of peace Pharaoh
וַיַּ֨עַן יוֹסֵ֧ף אֶת־ פַּרְעֹ֛ה לֵאמֹ֖ר בִּלְעָדָ֑י אֱלֹהִ֕ים יַעֲנֶ֖ה שְׁל֥וֹם פַּרְעֹֽה

וַיַּ֨עַן  So  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
יוֹסֵ֧ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
פַּרְעֹ֛ה  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
לֵאמֹ֖ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בִּלְעָדָ֑י  [it  is]  not  in  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: בַּלְעֲדֵי  
Sense: apart from, except, without, besides.
אֱלֹהִ֕ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יַעֲנֶ֖ה  will  give  an  answer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
שְׁל֥וֹם  of  peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
פַּרְעֹֽה  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.