Keraia
Genesis 41

Genesis 41:4

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

Translations

Modern
And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up,
Traditional
And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
Literal
And the cows that were ugly of appearance and thin of flesh ate the seven cows beautiful of appearance and fat. And Pharaoh awoke.
Latin
…devoraveruntque eas, quarum mira species et habitudo corporum erat. Expergefactus Pharao,

Original

Hebrew
English
And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up,

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

People

Pharaoh: Egyptian ruler during Joseph's time

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 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