The Meaning of Genesis 41:1 Explained

Genesis 41:1

KJV: And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

YLT: And it cometh to pass, at the end of two years of days that Pharaoh is dreaming, and lo, he is standing by the River,

Darby: And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river.

ASV: And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass at the end  of two full  years,  that Pharaoh  dreamed:  and, behold, he stood  by the river. 

What does Genesis 41:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 41:1-13 - Pharaoh Dreams Of Cattle And Of Ears Of Grain
This chapter tells of ascension and exaltation,"¦ and affords an inimitable type of the issue of our Lord's humiliation and death. Like Joseph, He went and preached to spirits in prison, and then God highly exalted Him, and gave him a Name above every name. Rejected by his brethren, refused by those to whom he was sent, falsely accused and condemned, classed with the wicked, thrust into prison, rescuing one of his poor associates, called to a throne, it would be possible in almost every particular to substitute the name of Jesus for that of Joseph. What a corroboration of those great words of Asaph, "Neither from the east, nor from the west, nor yet from the south cometh lifting up; but God is the judge," Psalms 75:6-7. When sorrow falls, how quickly the world remembers the child of God, and turns to him! Those that despise and forget will seek you out some day. [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 41:1 mean?

And it came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream and behold he stood by the Nile
וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ שְׁנָתַ֣יִם יָמִ֑ים וּפַרְעֹ֣ה חֹלֵ֔ם וְהִנֵּ֖ה עֹמֵ֥ד עַל־ הַיְאֹֽר

וַיְהִ֕י  And  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מִקֵּ֖ץ  at  the  end 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֵץ  
Sense: end.
שְׁנָתַ֣יִם  of  two 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
יָמִ֑ים  full  years 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וּפַרְעֹ֣ה  that  Pharaoh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
חֹלֵ֔ם  had  a  dream 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָלַם 
Sense: to dream.
וְהִנֵּ֖ה  and  behold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
עֹמֵ֥ד  he  stood 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
הַיְאֹֽר  the  Nile 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְאֹר  
Sense: river, stream, canal, Nile, Nile-canal.