What Does Genesis 41:15 Mean in the King James?
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The one who can interpret the dream is first the one who can hear it.
THE MEANING
An experience that feels sealed is approached by attending to what it is already expressing. The Hebrew behind “understand” is the verb “hear,” and Pharaoh’s “I have heard” uses that same root: the verse links hearing a report about someone with hearing what is within a dream. Meaning opens as receptive attention before it becomes explanation.
THE ROOT
תִּשְׁמַע
tishmaʿ
GROWS FROM
שמע
sh-m-ʿ
Hear, listen, attend.
The Hebrew behind “understand” is תִּשְׁמַע (tishmaʿ, “you hear”). Just earlier, Pharaoh says שָׁמַעְתִּי (shamati, “I have heard”) about Joseph; the repeated root links hearing the report with hearing the dream.
ALSO GROWS
shamati: I have heard.
שָׁמַעְתִּי
This is the same root in Pharaoh’s report about Joseph, echoing the dream’s being heard.
shemuʿah: A report, something heard.
שְׁמוּעָה
It shows how the root can name not only listening, but also what reaches someone as a report.
לִפְתֹּר
liftor
GROWS FROM
פתר
p-t-r
Interpret or explain, especially a dream.
“interpret” in this verse is liftor. The פתר (p-t-r) family names both the interpreter Pharaoh says is missing and the act Joseph is said to perform. The repeated root makes the gap clear: a dream is present, but its solution has not yet been found.
ALSO GROWS
poter: Interpreter.
פּוֹתֵר
This is the form used for the interpreter Pharaoh says no one can provide.
pitron: Interpretation, solution.
פִּתְרוֹן
This noun names the meaning the dream still lacks in Pharaoh’s telling.
יוֹסֵף
Yosef
GROWS FROM
יסף
y-s-f
Add, increase.
Joseph’s name carries the root יסף (yasaf, “add”). Beside the claim that no interpreter is available, the name gives a quiet echo of something being added: the dream’s meaning can be opened, though the name itself does not determine what that meaning is.
ALSO GROWS
yasaf: He added, increased.
יָסַף
This verb carries the root meaning embedded in Joseph’s name.
lehosif: To add, increase.
לְהוֹסִיף
This form shows the root as the act of adding, echoing the name’s sense.
THE PATTERN
Understanding begins with attentive hearing before it becomes speech, response, or explanation.
I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:THE THREAD
And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.The Hebrew noun פִּתְרֹנִים (pitronim, “interpretations”) comes from the same פתר (p-t-r) root as Pharaoh’s “to interpret.” This earlier verse opens the current one further: Joseph is associated with hearing and giving a solution, while the source of interpretations lies beyond him.
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