Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 41:8

"And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh." — Genesis 41:8 (ASV)

Magicians. The word used here probably means the “sacred scribes,” who were skilled in writing and reading hieroglyphics. But in ancient times, the possession of real knowledge was generally accompanied by a claim to an occult and mysterious acquaintance with the secrets of the gods and of nature. And as the people regarded the knowledge that such scribes really possessed as more than human, the claim was easily maintained, or, rather, grew naturally out of the superstition of the multitude.

So, too, the “wise men” were men educated and trained, but it was probably the profession of magic, divination, and astrology that gained them wealth and honour, not the possession of whatever real science existed in Egypt at that time. We find, subsequently, even Joseph claiming the power of divination.

There was none that could interpret... Probably many of the wise men made the attempt, but in such an imperfect manner that they could not satisfy Pharaoh’s mind or allay the agitation of his spirit.