Genesis 41 · Verse 38

Genesis 41:38

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
Genesis 41:38, King James Version

Genesis 41:38 in other translations

BSBSo Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”
WEBPharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
ASVAnd Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?
YLTand Pharaoh saith unto his servants, ‘Do we find like this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?'
DARBYAnd Pharaoh said to his bondmen, Shall we find one as this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
BBEThen Pharaoh said to his servants, Where may we get such a man as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God?
WebsterAnd Pharaoh said to his servants, Can we find such a man as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?

What does Genesis 41:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ge 41:37-57. Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt.

38. Pharaoh said unto his servants--The kings of ancient Egypt were assisted in the management of state affairs by the advice of the most distinguished members of the priestly order; and, accordingly, before admitting Joseph to the new and extraordinary office that was to be created, those ministers were consulted as to the expediency and propriety of the appointment. a man in whom the Spirit of God is--An acknowledgment of the being and power of the true God, though faint and feeble, continued to linger amongst the higher classes long after idolatry had come to prevail.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 38 In whom the Spirit of God is? - רוח אלהים ruach Elohim, the identical words used Gen 1:2; and certainly to be understood here as in the preceding place. If the Egyptians were idolaters, they acknowledged Joseph's God; and it is not to be supposed that they only became acquainted with him on this occasion. The knowledge of the true God was in Egypt long before; but it is very likely that though they acknowledged his influence with respect to Joseph, as they saw most clearly that he acted under an influence far beyond that of their magicians, for he interpreted dreams which they could not; yet they might, notwithstanding, have their gods many and their lords many at this time, for we know that in religious matters they were exceedingly corrupt afterwards.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 41:33-45

Joseph gave good advice to Pharaoh. Fair warning should always be followed by good counsel. God has in his word told us of a day of trial before us, when we shall need all the grace we can have. Now, therefore, provide accordingly. Pharaoh gave Joseph an honourable testimony. He is a man in whom the spirit of God is; and such men ought to be valued. Pharaoh puts upon Joseph marks of honour. He gave him such a name…

Read the full comment on Genesis 41:33-45 →

Genesis 41:38 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
פַּרְעֹ֖הpar.'OhPharaohH6547
אֶל\־'el-toH413
עֲבָדָ֑יו'a.va.Davservants hisH5650
הֲנִמְצָ֣אha.nim.Tza'¿ has he been foundH4672
כָזֶ֔הkha.Zehlike this oneH2088
אִ֕ישׁ'isha manH376
אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherwhomH834
ר֥וּחַRu.ach[the] spirit ofH7307
אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
בּֽוֹ\׃bo[is] in <the> him

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 41:38

  • Job 32:8

    But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

  • Daniel 5:14

    I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

  • Numbers 27:18

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

  • Daniel 5:11

    There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

  • Daniel 4:18

    This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

  • Daniel 4:8-9

    But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

  • Daniel 4:6

    Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

  • Daniel 6:3

    Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in whom.
Nu 27:18; Job 32:8; Da 4:6,8,18; 5:11,14; 6:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 41:37

    And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

  • Genesis 41:38

    And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

  • Genesis 41:39

    And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

Read all of Genesis 41

Genesis 41:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y dijo Faraón á sus siervos: ¿Hemos de hallar otro hombre como éste, en quien haya espíritu de Dios?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le Pharaon dit à ses serviteurs: Trouverons-nous un homme semblable à celui-ci, en qui est l’esprit des dieux?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und der Pharao sprach zu seinen Knechten: Werden wir einen finden wie diesen, einen Mann, in welchem der Geist Gottes ist?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		locutusque est ad eos: Num invenire poterimus talem virum, qui spiritu Dei plenus sit?