batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l20403-l20499
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l20403-l20499
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER XI. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. / CHAPTER XII. / IN THE
NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 20403-20499
start: '20403'
end: '20499'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an)
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage includes notes on the Joseph narrative, including Zoleikha,
invited women, knives, and Joseph's imprisonment, followed by Joseph interpreting
the fates of two fellow-prisoners. One will serve wine to his lord and the other
will be crucified. Joseph asks the one expected to be released to remember him,
but he is forgotten and remains in prison for years. The king of Egypt dreams
of seven fat kine devoured by seven lean kine and seven green ears of corn with
seven withered ears. Court nobles cannot interpret the dream. The released fellow-prisoner
remembers Joseph, seeks him in prison, and Joseph interprets the dream as seven
years of sowing and storage, followed by seven years of famine, then a year of
rain and abundance in which wine and oil are pressed.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A note says forty women were invited, including five previously mentioned
ladies.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: A note explains that Zoleikha put knives into the women's hands so that, in
their surprise at Joseph's beauty, they would cut themselves.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: 'A note gives explanations for Joseph''s imprisonment: either suspicion despite
proofs of innocence, or Zoleikha''s desire to remove him from sight while actually
seeking to force compliance.'
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Joseph tells his fellow-prisoners that one will serve wine to his lord and
the other will be crucified, with birds eating from his head.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Joseph asks the prisoner whom he expects to escape to remember him before
his lord.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The devil causes the released prisoner to forget to mention Joseph, and Joseph
remains in prison for some years.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: The king of Egypt reports a dream of seven fat kine devoured by seven lean
kine, and seven green ears of corn with seven withered ears.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: The nobles answer that the king's dream is confused and that they are not
skilled in such interpretation.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: The delivered fellow-prisoner remembers Joseph after a span of time and goes
to him in prison for an interpretation.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Joseph instructs that seven years of sowing will occur and that harvested
corn should be left in its ear except for a little to eat.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: Joseph says seven grievous years of famine will follow and will consume what
has been stored, except a little kept back.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: Joseph says a later year will bring rain and the pressing of wine and oil.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Joseph
description: Imprisoned man called truthful or veracious, who interprets dreams
and gives instructions about storing grain before famine.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Zoleikha
description: A woman mentioned in notes as foreseeing the women's surprise at Joseph's
beauty and putting knives in their hands; another note says she may have desired
Joseph's imprisonment to force compliance.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Invited women
description: Forty invited women who, according to the note, cut themselves from
surprise at Joseph's beauty.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Released fellow-prisoner / butler
description: One of Joseph's fellow-prisoners, identified in a note as the chief
butler, who is predicted to serve wine again and later remembers Joseph.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Condemned fellow-prisoner / baker
description: One of Joseph's fellow-prisoners, identified in a note as the chief
baker, who is predicted to be crucified and eaten from by birds.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Devil
description: The figure said to cause the released prisoner to forget to mention
Joseph.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: King of Egypt
description: The ruler who dreams of seven fat kine, seven lean kine, green ears
of corn, and withered ears, and asks his nobles for interpretation.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Nobles
description: The king's nobles, who say they cannot interpret the dream.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Birds
description: Birds in Joseph's prediction that will eat from the head of the crucified
prisoner.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: imprisoned dream interpreter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Joseph is in prison and is asked to interpret dreams, including the king's
dream.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: provider of famine counsel
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Joseph gives instructions about sowing, storing corn, and surviving famine.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:3
label: desiring instigator
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Notes attribute to Zoleikha both the distribution of knives and, possibly,
a design connected with Joseph's imprisonment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: astonished witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The women are described as surprised by Joseph's beauty and cutting themselves.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: released prisoner
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Joseph judges him to be the one who will escape, and he later is described
as delivered.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: intermediary to Joseph
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: After remembering Joseph, he goes to the prison to ask for the dream interpretation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: condemned prisoner
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Joseph predicts that this prisoner will be crucified and that birds will
eat from his head.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: agent of forgetfulness
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The devil is said to cause the released prisoner to forget to mention Joseph.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: royal dreamer
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The king reports the dream and asks his nobles to expound it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:10
label: failed interpreters
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The nobles say the dreams are confused and that they cannot interpret them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:11
label: creatures in execution omen
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Birds are part of Joseph's prediction concerning the crucified prisoner.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: knives and self-cutting
literal_form: Knives placed in the hands of invited women, who cut themselves in
surprise at Joseph's beauty.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: serving wine
literal_form: The predicted return of one prisoner to serving wine to his lord.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: crucifixion and birds eating from the head
literal_form: The predicted crucifixion of one prisoner and birds eating from his
head.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: seven fat and seven lean kine
literal_form: Seven fat kine devoured by seven lean kine in the king's dream.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: green and withered ears of corn
literal_form: Seven green ears of corn and seven withered ears in the king's dream.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: grain left in the ear
literal_form: Corn to be left in its ear after seven years of sowing, except a little
for eating.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: seven years of famine
literal_form: Seven grievous years that consume stored provision except a little
kept back.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:8
label: rain and renewed abundance
literal_form: A year in which people have plenty of rain and press wine and oil.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: sym:9
label: number seven
literal_form: 'Repeated groups of seven: seven fat kine, seven lean kine, seven
green ears, seven withered ears, seven years of sowing, and seven years of famine.'
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Women cut themselves at the sight of Joseph
summary: A note describes Zoleikha arranging knives for invited women, who cut themselves
in surprise at Joseph's beauty.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Explanations for Joseph's imprisonment
summary: A note presents possible reasons for Joseph's imprisonment, including suspicion
despite evidence of innocence or Zoleikha's plan to force compliance.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Joseph predicts the fates of two prisoners
summary: Joseph tells one fellow-prisoner he will again serve wine and the other
that he will be crucified and eaten from by birds.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Joseph is forgotten in prison
summary: Joseph asks the prisoner expected to escape to remember him, but the devil
causes forgetfulness and Joseph remains imprisoned for years.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: The king's dream and the nobles' failure
summary: The king reports a dream involving kine and ears of corn, but his nobles
cannot interpret it.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: The released prisoner seeks Joseph's interpretation
summary: The delivered fellow-prisoner remembers Joseph, goes to him in prison,
calls him truthful, and asks for an interpretation of the king's dream.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:7
label: Joseph interprets abundance, famine, and renewal
summary: Joseph interprets the dream as seven years of sowing and storage, followed
by seven years of famine, and then a year of rain and pressing wine and oil.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:8
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: truthful imprisoned sage interprets dreams
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Joseph, while imprisoned, interprets the fates of prisoners and the king's
dream, and is explicitly addressed as a man of veracity.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents interpretation and counsel, but does not elaborate
a broader wisdom teaching beyond these events.
- id: motif:2
label: dream symbols foretell collective abundance and famine
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The king's dream of kine and corn is interpreted as seven years of sowing,
seven years of famine, and a later year of rain and production.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The cycle is a specific prophetic interpretation of famine and plenty,
not necessarily a recurring seasonal myth in the passage itself.
- id: motif:3
label: stored grain preserves life through famine
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Joseph instructs that corn be left in its ear during seven productive years
so that it can serve as provision during seven famine years.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The preservation of life is implied by the storage plan, but detailed
outcomes after the famine are outside this passage.
- id: motif:4
label: forgotten intercession delays release
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Joseph asks the prisoner who will escape to remember him, but forgetfulness
prevents mention of him and he remains imprisoned for years.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives the delay but not the later full release sequence.
- id: motif:5
label: beauty causing involuntary self-wounding
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A note states that the women cut themselves because of extreme surprise at
Joseph's beauty, after Zoleikha put knives in their hands.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: This item comes from explanatory notes rather than the main translated
verse in this excerpt.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 20403-20422
quote_or_summary: Notes state that forty women were invited; Zoleikha put knives
in their hands, foreseeing that surprise at Joseph's beauty would cause them to
cut themselves.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 20423-20428
quote_or_summary: A note explains Joseph's imprisonment as either suspicion despite
signs of innocence or Zoleikha's request to remove him while intending to force
compliance.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 20429-20431
quote_or_summary: A note identifies Joseph's two fellow-prisoners as the chief butler
and baker, accused of a design to poison the king.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: lines 20439-20442
quote_or_summary: Joseph says one prisoner will serve wine to his lord, while the
other will be crucified and birds will eat from his head.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 20443-20446
quote_or_summary: Joseph asks the one expected to escape to remember him before
his lord; the devil causes forgetfulness, and Joseph remains in prison for years.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 20447-20453
quote_or_summary: The king dreams of seven fat kine devoured by seven lean kine,
and seven green ears of corn with seven withered ears; the nobles cannot interpret
it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 20454-20461
quote_or_summary: The delivered fellow-prisoner remembers Joseph, goes to the prison,
calls Joseph a man of veracity, and asks for the dream's interpretation.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 20462-20464
quote_or_summary: Joseph says they will sow seven years as usual and should leave
harvested corn in its ear except for a little to eat.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 20465-20467
quote_or_summary: Joseph says seven grievous famine years will follow, consuming
stored provisions except a little kept back.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 20468-20470
quote_or_summary: Joseph says a later year will bring plenty of rain and the pressing
of wine and oil.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 20487-20499
quote_or_summary: A note discusses rain in Egypt and links rainfall or the swelling
Nile with fertility in Egypt and nearby famine-stricken regions.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The main Joseph dream-interpretation sequence is clear. Some items, especially
Zoleikha and the self-cutting women, come from translator notes embedded in the
supplied range rather than the main translated verse, so they should be reviewed
separately.
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: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
No comparison claims were added because the supplied passage does not itself make an explicit comparison to another tradition or corpus.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l20403-l20499
passage_sha256=df4380f8cdb12b598af870e341ab2a358b73e36ea9945bc8a8532a6f6ff7bbf2