EXTRA · Parashas Mikeitz · Passuk 41:15

EXTRA on Mikeitz 41:15

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר פַּרְעֹה֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף חֲל֣וֹם חָלַ֔מְתִּי וּפֹתֵ֖ר אֵ֣ין אֹת֑וֹ וַאֲנִ֗י שָׁמַ֤עְתִּי עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר תִּשְׁמַ֥ע חֲל֖וֹם לִפְתֹּ֥ר אֹתֽוֹ׃

And Pharaoh said unto Yosef, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it; and I have heard say of thee, that when thou hearest a dream thou canst interpret it.”

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical midrash on Pharaoh’s expectation and Yosef’s immediate disclaimer (next verse).

Sefaria · Bereshit Rabbah 89

Core Text of Chazal

תִּשְׁמַע חֲלוֹם לִפְתֹּר אֹתוֹ. פַּרְעֹה סָבוּר שֶׁהַכֹּחַ בְּיוֹסֵף, וְיוֹסֵף מַעֲבִיר אֶת הַכֹּחַ לַשָּׁמַיִם.

English of Core Text: “When thou hearest a dream thou canst interpret it.” Pharaoh assumes the power is in Yosef; Yosef immediately transfers the power to Heaven.

On the daf / in context: The midrash contrasts Pharaoh’s attribution of skill to Yosef with Yosef’s refusal (in the following verse) to claim any independent ability.

Type of Learning: Derash on the verse (classic midrash) — not a formal named middah of the 13.

What Is Learned: The moment before the interpretation is already a test of character: Pharaoh offers credit, and Yosef declines it in advance.