Translating Genesis: Joseph's Rise to Power

The set text: Joseph in Egypt

For Component 2, Section A, you study a set text: Genesis chapters 41 to 43, the story of Joseph's rise to power in Egypt. This module helps you learn its key Hebrew vocabulary and follow the story, so you can translate it. The Hebrew is ancient and public domain; the English here is a plain retelling.

Names and words in the Joseph narrative

Learn these words from the story:

Match each Hebrew word to its English meaning

The Hebrew word for Pharaoh

Which Hebrew word means 'Pharaoh'?

• פַּרְעֹה (Par'oh)
• יוֹסֵף (Yosef)
• חֲלוֹם (chalom)
• רָעָב (ra'av)

Reading Biblical Hebrew

Biblical Hebrew is read from right to left. The small dots and lines around the letters are called niqqud: they are vowel points that show how to say each word. For example, מֶלֶךְ (melekh) means king. Use the transliteration in brackets to sound each word out.

Words in the story

Select the TWO words that name something central to the story of Joseph.

• חֲלוֹם (chalom)
• רָעָב (ra'av)
• בַּיִת (bayit)
• יוֹם (yom)

Joseph's rise, in order

Put the main events of the story in the order they happen.

• Pharaoh has dreams that trouble him
• Joseph explains them: seven good years, then seven of famine
• Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of Egypt
• The famine comes, and Egypt has stored grain
• Joseph's brothers come from Canaan to buy food

Match each Hebrew word to its English meaning

The story in brief

Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, dreams of seven fat cows and seven thin ones, and of seven full ears of grain and seven withered ones. No one can explain the dreams. Joseph, a young Hebrew brought from prison, says they mean seven years of plenty, then seven of famine. Pharaoh makes Joseph ruler over Egypt to prepare. When the famine comes, Joseph's brothers travel from Canaan to buy grain.

The story summary

In the story, _____ explains the dreams of Pharaoh. He warns of a coming _____. Pharaoh makes him ruler of _____. Later, his _____ come to buy food.

Understand the story

Why do Joseph's brothers travel to Egypt?

• To buy food during the famine
• To crown Joseph as king
• To interpret Pharaoh's dreams
• To build the pyramids

Reading a whole clause

The set text is built out of clauses, and they follow one shape. Both of these are from Genesis 41, the passage you are translating:

Which reading is right?

Genesis puts the verb before its subject. In וַיְסַפֵּר פַּרְעֹה לָהֶם אֶת־חֲלֹמוֹ, who is doing the telling?

• Pharaoh - the noun straight after the verb is the subject
• The dream
• The people he told
• Nobody - the clause has no subject

How do you say it?

Say each Hebrew word: יוֹסֵף is said _____, פַּרְעֹה is said _____, חֲלוֹם is said _____, and מִצְרַיִם is said _____.

Show what you know

Show what you understand about the set text.

• Joseph says the dreams mean seven years of plenty, then seven years of...
• The Hebrew word חֲלוֹם (chalom) means...
• Joseph is made ruler over which land?

Retell the story

In your own words, explain how Joseph rises to power in Egypt, and why his brothers come to him.

• Say what Pharaoh dreams and what it means
• Say how Joseph becomes ruler of Egypt
• Explain why the brothers travel to Egypt