Keraia
Genesis 41

Genesis 41:3

The Dreams of Pharaoh · Genesis 41:1–13
Read Genesis 41

Translations

Modern
After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river.
Traditional
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
Literal
And behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the River, ugly of appearance and thin of flesh, and they stood beside the cows on the edge of the River.
Latin
Aliæ quoque septem emergebant de flumine, fœdæ confectæque macie: et pascebantur in ipsa amnis ripa in locis virentibus:

Original

Hebrew
English
After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river.

Notes

Genesis 41:1–4

Pharaoh's first dream was about cows. Cows often stood half-submerged in the Nile River's reeds to escape the heat and flies. They would leave the water to find grass.

The second group of cows worried Pharaoh because they were thin but were able to swallow the fat cows.

Genesis 41:1–46

God had used two dreams to identify Joseph as a leader among his brothers (37:5–11). He used two dreams to test Joseph’s faith in prison (40:5–14). Now God used two more dreams to raise Joseph from prison to a place of high honor and authority.

Joseph had shown that he was faithful in small tasks. Now God would give him responsibility over greater things.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Joseph Pharaoh Symbolic Numbers Visions

Events

Places

Nile: The major river of Egypt, mentioned in various contexts

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Butler Dreams Famine Genesis, Book of Jacob Nile River Patriarchs, Period of the Prophecy

Topics

Dream: Pharaoh Dreams: Mentioned in Scripture of Pharaoh Egypt: Watered by the Nile Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to Pharaoh Joseph: Son of Jacob of Pharaoh Kine (Bovine): Pharaoh's Dream of Prisoners: Joseph Promotion: Joseph, from Imprisoned Slave to Prince Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Cows and Seven Ears of Grain in Pharaoh's Vision Seven: Years of Abundance For Seven: Years: A Famine Lasted in Egypt For The Ox: Kine: (Lean) of Years of Scarcity the River Nile: Called: The River