KJV ORIGINAL
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I am Pharaoh, and without your permission, no one in all the land of Egypt will be allowed to do anything.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Pharaoh is giving Joseph complete authority over Egypt, making him second only to Pharaoh himself in power.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs after Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams about seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Impressed by Joseph's wisdom and believing God was with him, Pharaoh elevated the Hebrew slave to become his prime minister. The phrase 'lift up his hand or foot' was an Egyptian expression meaning to take any action at all.
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