batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l13437-l13566
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l13437-l13566
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
passage_locator:
label: PUBLIC SERVICES, / AND EMINENT LITERARY ATTAINMENTS, / THE TRANSLATOR. /
PREFACE; lines 13437-13566
start: '13437'
end: '13566'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an), Rodwell translation
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'The passage recounts episodes from Joseph''s story: the Prince''s wife
is reproved, city women see Joseph and cut their hands, Joseph chooses prison
over yielding to solicitation, he interprets prison dreams, later interprets the
King''s dream of seven fat and seven lean cattle and seven green and withered
ears, is vindicated by the women, is appointed over the granaries, and later receives
his brothers without their recognizing him.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Joseph is told to leave the affair, and the Prince's wife is told to ask pardon
for her crime.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Women in the city say that the Prince's wife solicited her servant and that
he filled her with love.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The Prince's wife prepares a banquet, gives each woman a knife, summons Joseph,
and the women cut their hands when they see him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The women describe Joseph as not a man but a noble angel.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The Prince's wife says Joseph will be imprisoned and despised if he does not
obey her command.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Joseph prays that prison is preferable to complying with their bidding, and
his Lord turns their snares away from him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Joseph is imprisoned for a time after signs of his innocence have been seen.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: Two youths enter prison with Joseph and ask him to interpret dreams involving
grapes, bread, birds, and food.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Joseph states that his Lord has taught him and that he follows the religion
of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Joseph interprets one prisoner's dream as serving wine to his lord and the
other's as crucifixion with birds eating from his head.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: Joseph asks the prisoner judged to be set free to remember him with his lord,
but Satan causes him to forget, and Joseph remains in prison for years.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: The King reports a dream of seven fat cattle devoured by seven lean cattle,
and seven green ears with other withered ears.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:13
text: Joseph interprets the King's dream as seven years of sowing, followed by seven
grievous years, followed by a year of rain and grape pressing.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:14
text: When summoned by the King, Joseph asks that the women who cut their hands
be questioned about their purpose.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:15
text: The women say they know no ill of Joseph, and the Prince's wife confesses
that she sought to lead him into unlawful love.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:16
text: The King appoints Joseph to a place of trust, and Joseph asks to be set over
the granaries of the land.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:17
text: Joseph's brothers come to him; he recognizes them, but they do not recognize
him.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:18
text: Joseph gives his brothers provisions, requires them to bring their brother,
and orders their money placed in their camel-packs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Joseph
description: A virtuous and truthful man who resists solicitation, is imprisoned,
interprets dreams, is vindicated, and is appointed over the granaries.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: wife of the Prince
description: A woman who solicits Joseph, threatens prison, and later confesses
that Joseph is truthful.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: women of the city
description: Women who speak about the Prince's wife, attend her banquet, cut their
hands after seeing Joseph, and later deny knowing ill of him.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Prince
description: A figure associated with the wife and with the questioning of the women.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Joseph's Lord / God
description: The deity whom Joseph invokes, who turns snares aside, teaches Joseph,
alone possesses judgment, and rewards the righteous.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:9
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: two youths / fellow prisoners
description: Two young prisoners who ask Joseph to interpret their dreams.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Satan
description: A figure said to cause the freed prisoner to forget Joseph's request.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: King
description: A ruler who dreams of cattle and ears of grain, summons Joseph, and
appoints him to special service.
role_refs:
- role:14
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: nobles
description: The King's nobles are asked to interpret the dream and call it confused
dreams.
role_refs:
- role:16
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: freed prisoner
description: One of the two former prisoners who later remembers Joseph and seeks
the interpretation of the King's dream.
role_refs:
- role:17
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: messenger
description: A messenger sent to bring Joseph to the King.
role_refs:
- role:18
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Joseph's servants
description: Servants ordered by Joseph to put his brothers' money into their camel-packs.
role_refs:
- role:19
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Joseph's brethren
description: Brothers who come to Joseph for provisions, do not recognize him, and
return to their father requesting that their brother be sent with them.
role_refs:
- role:20
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Joseph's father
description: The father to whom Joseph's brothers return and from whom they seek
permission to bring their brother.
role_refs:
- role:21
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: brother from the father
description: A brother whom Joseph requires his brothers to bring in order to receive
further corn.
role_refs:
- role:22
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: resister of solicitation
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Joseph says he prefers prison to complying with the women's bidding.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: prisoner
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Joseph is imprisoned for a time and remains there for years.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: dream interpreter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Joseph interprets the dreams of the prisoners and the King's dream.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: vindicated truthful man
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The women deny ill of him, and the Prince's wife says he is truthful.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:5
label: keeper of granaries
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Joseph asks to be set over the granaries and calls himself their prudent
keeper.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:6
label: solicitor and accuser by threat
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She admits wishing Joseph to yield to her desires and threatens him with
prison if he does not obey.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: confessor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She later says she would have led Joseph into unlawful love and that he is
truthful.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: public witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The city women see Joseph, cut their hands, and later testify that they know
no ill of him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: gossiping observers
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: They speak in the city about the Prince's wife soliciting her servant.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:10
label: husband / questioner
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The wife is identified as the Prince's wife, and the Prince questions the
women about their purpose.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- id: role:11
label: divine teacher and protector
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Joseph says his Lord taught him, and the passage says his Lord turned aside
the snares.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:12
label: dream-bearing prisoners
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Two youths enter prison with Joseph and each reports a dream.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:13
label: cause of forgetfulness
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Satan causes the freed prisoner to forget the remembrance of Joseph's Lord.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:14
label: royal dreamer
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The King reports a dream of seven fat cattle, seven lean cattle, and ears
of grain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:15
label: royal patron
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The King summons Joseph and appoints him to place and trust.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:16
label: unable interpreters
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The nobles say the King's dream is confused and they do not know its interpretation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:17
label: remembering intermediary
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The freed prisoner says he will tell the interpretation and goes to Joseph.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:18
label: royal messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: A messenger comes to Joseph when the King commands that Joseph be brought.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:19
label: agents of concealed return
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Joseph orders his servants to put his brothers' money into their camel-packs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:20
label: unrecognizing brothers seeking provisions
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: They come to Joseph for provisions and do not recognize him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:21
label: father asked to send a son
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: The brothers return to their father and ask him to send their brother with
them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:22
label: required brother
assigned_to:
- fig:15
basis: Joseph requires the brothers to bring their brother from their father to
receive further measure.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: knives and cut hands
literal_form: Knives given at a banquet; the women cut their hands when Joseph appears.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: prison
literal_form: A place Joseph prefers to compliance and where he is confined for
years.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: grapes pressed in a dream
literal_form: A prisoner's dream of pressing grapes, interpreted as serving wine
to his lord.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: bread on the head eaten by birds
literal_form: A prisoner's dream of carrying bread on his head, with birds eating
from it.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: seven fat and seven lean cattle
literal_form: Seven fat cattle devoured by seven lean cattle in the King's dream.
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: seven green and withered ears
literal_form: Seven green ears and other withered ears in the King's dream.
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: stored corn and granaries
literal_form: Corn left in its ear during seven years and granaries placed under
Joseph's care.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: sym:8
label: rain year
literal_form: A year after the grievous years in which people have rain and press
grapes.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:9
label: money in camel-packs
literal_form: Money secretly placed into the brothers' camel-packs so they may find
it after returning home.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:12
- fig:13
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: banquet and public amazement at Joseph
summary: After city women gossip about the Prince's wife, she invites them to a
banquet, gives them knives, and summons Joseph; they cut their hands and call
him a noble angel.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Joseph chooses prison over solicitation
summary: The Prince's wife threatens Joseph with imprisonment, and Joseph prays
that prison is preferable to complying with their bidding; his Lord turns the
snares aside, but Joseph is imprisoned for a time.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: dreams in prison
summary: Two fellow prisoners report dreams, and Joseph links his interpretive knowledge
to his Lord before giving each interpretation.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: the King's dream and Joseph's agricultural interpretation
summary: The King dreams of seven fat cattle devoured by seven lean cattle and green
and withered ears; after the nobles fail, the freed prisoner brings Joseph's interpretation
of seven productive years, seven grievous years, and a later year of rain and
grape pressing.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: vindication before royal appointment
summary: When summoned, Joseph asks for investigation of the women who cut their
hands; the women clear him, the Prince's wife confesses, and the King appoints
Joseph to a trusted position.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:8
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:6
label: Joseph and his unrecognizing brothers
summary: Joseph's brothers come for provisions; Joseph recognizes them while they
do not recognize him, requires them to bring their brother, and has their money
returned in their camel-packs.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: temptation resisted followed by imprisonment
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Joseph refuses the demands made of him, prays for prison rather than compliance,
and is imprisoned despite signs of innocence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states a moral trial and imprisonment, but the taxonomy label
'initiation' is an interpretive grouping rather than an explicit term in the text.
- id: motif:2
label: divinely taught dream interpretation
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Joseph says his Lord taught him, interprets the prisoners' dreams, and later
interprets the King's dream when others cannot.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The wisdom is specifically framed in the passage as knowledge from Joseph's
Lord.
- id: motif:3
label: seven-year abundance and famine cycle
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
- wisdom
basis: Joseph interprets the King's dream as seven years of sowing and storing,
followed by seven grievous years, and then a year of rain and grape pressing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The cycle is a seven-year agricultural crisis sequence, not a simple annual
seasonal cycle.
- id: motif:4
label: vindication and elevation from prison to royal office
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: After investigation clears Joseph, the King appoints him to special service
and Joseph becomes keeper of the granaries.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents social elevation; 'ascent' is used broadly rather
than as a literal upward journey.
- id: motif:5
label: God alone as judge and object of worship
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Joseph tells the prisoners that judgment belongs to God alone and that they
should worship none but Him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: This is a theological speech embedded in the narrative rather than a courtroom
judgment scene.
- id: motif:6
label: recognition withheld between separated kin
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Joseph recognizes his brothers when they come to him, but they do not recognize
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly matches concealed recognition
or family reunion.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly places Joseph's religion in continuity with the religion
of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, supporting a cautious comparison with the patriarchal
monotheistic tradition named in the passage.
claim_level: common_inheritance
target: Abraham-Isaac-Jacob patriarchal monotheistic lineage
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The claim is limited to the lineage and religious continuity stated
in the passage; it does not infer external textual dependence beyond the supplied
wording.
- id: claim:2
claim: The prison dreams and royal dream share the same narrative function of requiring
interpretation that only Joseph can provide.
claim_level: same_function
target: dream-interpretation pattern within the passage
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an internal functional comparison within the passage, not a
claim about historical contact or external parallels.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 13437-13438
quote_or_summary: Joseph is told to leave the matter, and the wife is told to ask
pardon for her sin.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source metadata; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 13440-13451
quote_or_summary: City women gossip about the Prince's wife; she holds a banquet,
gives knives, summons Joseph, and the women cut their hands and call him a noble
angel.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source metadata; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 13453-13466
quote_or_summary: The wife threatens Joseph with prison; Joseph prays that prison
is preferable to compliance; his Lord turns snares aside, but Joseph is later
imprisoned for a time.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source metadata; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 13468-13487
quote_or_summary: Two youths in prison report dreams; Joseph says his Lord taught
him, speaks of the religion of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and says judgment belongs
to God alone.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source metadata; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 13489-13496
quote_or_summary: Joseph interprets one prisoner's dream as serving wine and the
other's as crucifixion with birds eating from his head; a freed prisoner forgets
Joseph, and Joseph remains in prison for years.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source metadata; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 13498-13503
quote_or_summary: The King dreams of seven fat cattle devoured by seven lean cattle
and of green and withered ears; the nobles say the dreams are confused.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source metadata; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 13505-13518
quote_or_summary: The freed prisoner asks Joseph for the King's interpretation;
Joseph explains seven years of sowing and storing, seven grievous years, and a
later year of rain and grape pressing.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source metadata; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 13520-13532
quote_or_summary: The King summons Joseph; Joseph requests inquiry about the women
who cut their hands; the women clear him, and the Prince's wife confesses that
Joseph is truthful.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source metadata; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 13534-13545
quote_or_summary: The King appoints Joseph to a trusted place; Joseph asks to oversee
the granaries; the passage says Joseph is established in the land and the righteous
are rewarded.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source metadata; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 13547-13566
quote_or_summary: Joseph's brothers come for provisions; he recognizes them though
they do not recognize him, requires them to bring their brother, and has their
money placed in camel-packs before they return to their father.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source metadata; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal narrative extraction is strong. Motif labels using the supplied taxonomy
are partly interpretive, especially initiation, ascent, and seasonal_cycle.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-29'
notes: |-
All observations and motif candidates are limited to the supplied passage and metadata.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg__l13437-l13566
passage_sha256=72e72d89c0fbf0f134c0fb281d2419d86ea91934beec1588863748f7ec666b5c