7
He askedוַיִּשְׁאַלPharaoh’sפַרְעֹהofficialsאֶת סְרִיסֵיwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with himאִתּוֹin custodyבְמִשְׁמַרin his lord’sאֲדֹנָיוhouse,בֵּיתsaying,לֵאמֹר“Whyמַדּוּעַare your facesפְּנֵיכֶםsadרָעִיםtoday?”הַיּוֹם
Genesis 40:7
Study it in the app“He asked Pharaoh’s officials who were with him in custody in his lord’s house, saying, “Why are your faces sad today?””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 40:7, word by word
- He askedיִּשְׁאַלyishal
ask
To ask a question.
Where else “yishal” appears- Pharaoh’sפַרְעֹהfaro
Pharaoh
Pharaoh: the title of the kings of Egypt, not a personal name.
Where else “faro” appears- officialsסְרִיסֵיserise
official, eunuch
Court official. The word can also mean eunuch.
Where else “serise” appears- in custodyמִשְׁמַרmishmar
custody
A place where a prisoner is kept.
Where else “mishmar” appears- in his lord’sאֲדֹנָיadonay
lord
The one with authority over another; or a respectful title.
Where else “adonay” appears- houseבֵּיתbet
house
A building to live in, or an enclosed place to keep something or someone.
Where else “bet” appears- sayingאמֹרmor
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “mor” appears- “Whyמַדּוּעַmadua
why?
Why? For what reason?
Where else “madua” appears- are your facesפְּנֵיpene
face
The front of the head, of someone or of God.
Where else “pene” appears- sadרָעִיםraim
bad
Poor in quality, unpleasant to look at, or downcast.
Where else “raim” appears- todayיּוֹםyom
today
This very day in which one speaks, the present moment.
Where else “yom” appears
The context
6Joseph came to them in the morning and saw them, and look, they were downcast.
7 · This verse (above)
8They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it.” Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to Elohim? Please tell them to me.”
To study Genesis 40 in a group
1. What it says
What did Joseph interpret for the two officials, and what happened to the cupbearer (vv. 12-23)?
2. What it means
What does Joseph say about himself when he says interpretations belong to Elohim (v. 8)?
3. How I live it
How can you serve others even in your own difficult times?