New International Version when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. New Living Translation In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. English Standard Version and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. Berean Standard Bible when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. Berean Literal Bible And behold, out of the River came up seven cows, beautiful of appearance and fat of flesh, and they grazed among the reeds. King James Bible And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. New King James Version Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. New American Standard Bible And behold, from the Nile seven cows came up, fine-looking and fat; and they grazed in the marsh grass. NASB 1995 And lo, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the marsh grass. NASB 1977 And lo, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the marsh grass. Legacy Standard Bible And behold, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the reeds. Amplified Bible And lo, there came up out of the Nile seven [healthy] cows, sleek and handsome and fat; and they grazed in the reed grass [in a marshy pasture]. Berean Annotated Bible when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. Christian Standard Bible when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. Holman Christian Standard Bible when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. American Standard Version And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, well-favored and fat-fleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass. Contemporary English Version Suddenly, seven fat, healthy cows came up from the river and started eating grass along the bank. English Revised Version And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, well favoured and fatfleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass. GOD'S WORD® Translation Suddenly, seven nice-looking, well-fed cows came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. Good News Translation when seven cows, fat and sleek, came up out of the river and began to feed on the grass. International Standard Version when all of a sudden seven healthy, plump cows emerged from the Nile to graze in the grass that grew in the reeds that lined the bank. NET Bible seven fine-looking, fat cows were coming up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the reeds. New Heart English Bible And look, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. Webster's Bible Translation And behold, there came up out of the river seven well-favored cows and fat-fleshed; and they fed in a meadow. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblewhen seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. World English Bible Behold, seven cattle came up out of the river. They were sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand behold, from the River coming up are seven cows, of beautiful appearance, and fat [in] flesh, and they feed among the reeds; Berean Literal Bible And behold, out of the River came up seven cows, beautiful of appearance and fat of flesh, and they grazed among the reeds. Young's Literal Translation and lo, from the River coming up are seven kine, of fair appearance, and fat in flesh, and they feed among the reeds; Smith's Literal Translation And behold, from the river came up seven heifers, fair of look and fat in flesh; and they will feed in marsh grass. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleOut of which came up seven kine, very beautiful and fat: and they fed in marshy places. Catholic Public Domain Version from which ascended seven cows, exceedingly beautiful and stout. And they pastured in marshy places. New American Bible when up out of the Nile came seven cows, fine-looking and fat; they grazed in the reed grass. New Revised Standard Version and there came up out of the Nile seven sleek and fat cows, and they grazed in the reed grass. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd, behold, there came up out of the river seven beautiful and fat cows; and they fed in a meadow. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And behold, from the river seven oxen, excellent in their appearance and fat in their flesh, arose, and they fed in a meadow. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, well-favoured and fat-fleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass. Brenton Septuagint Translation And lo, there came up as it were out of the river seven cows, fair in appearance, and choice of flesh, and they fed on the sedge. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Dreams of Pharaoh1After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, 2 when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. 3After 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.… Cross References seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river Amos 4:1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us more to drink.” Exodus 7:20-21 Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staff and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was turned to blood. / The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. And there was blood throughout the land of Egypt. Ezekiel 29:3-5 Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’ / But I will put hooks in your jaws and cause the fish of your streams to cling to your scales. I will haul you up out of your rivers, and all the fish of your streams will cling to your scales. / I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish of your streams. You will fall on the open field and will not be taken away or gathered for burial. I have given you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air. and began to graze among the reeds. Job 40:21-23 He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh. / The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him. / Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth. Psalm 68:30 Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations, until it submits, bringing bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war. Isaiah 27:10 For the fortified city lies deserted—a homestead abandoned, a wilderness forsaken. There the calves graze, and there they lie down; they strip its branches bare. Exodus 7:19-21 And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and all the reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.” / Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staff and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was turned to blood. / The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. And there was blood throughout the land of Egypt. Daniel 2:1-3 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him. / So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king, / he said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to understand it.” Daniel 4:4-7 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. / I had a dream, and it frightened me; while I was in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me. / So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. … Acts 7:9-10 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household. Psalm 105:16-22 He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food. / He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. / They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons, … Job 33:14-18 For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. / In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, / He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings … 1 Kings 3:5 One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!” Matthew 2:13 When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” Matthew 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.” Acts 2:17 ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Treasury of Scripture And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favored cows and fat; and they fed in a meadow. there came. Genesis 41:17-27 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: … a meadow. Job 8:11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? Jump to Previous Appearance Cattle Cows Fair Fat Fatfleshed Fat-Fleshed Favored Fed Fine-Looking Flesh Food Good-Looking Grass Grazed Kine Marsh Meadow Nile Reed Reed-Grass Reeds River River-Grass Seven Sleek Well-Favored Well-FavouredJump to Next Appearance Cattle Cows Fair Fat Fatfleshed Fat-Fleshed Favored Fed Fine-Looking Flesh Food Good-Looking Grass Grazed Kine Marsh Meadow Nile Reed Reed-Grass Reeds River River-Grass Seven Sleek Well-Favored Well-FavouredGenesis 41 1. Pharaoh has two dreams.9. Joseph interprets them. 33. He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced, and married. 46. The seven years of plenty. 50. He begets children. 53. The famine begins. when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river The Nile sustained Egypt’s fields, livestock, and people, making it a fitting setting for Pharaoh’s dream. Healthy cattle represented wealth, security, and a plentiful food supply. The seven cows anticipated the seven years of abundance that would come upon Egypt under God’s providence. Amo 4:1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria… and began to graze among the reeds. The reeds along the Nile’s banks provided rich grazing land, portraying a season of peace and plenty. Egypt would enjoy full harvests and abundant pasture before the famine, though Pharaoh did not yet understand the warning contained in the dream. Job 40:21-23 He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds… Persons / Places / Events 1. PharaohThe ruler of Egypt who has a troubling dream involving cows and the Nile River. 2. The Nile River A significant geographical feature in Egypt, symbolizing life and fertility, as it was the primary water source for agriculture. 3. Seven Cows Representing abundance and prosperity, these cows are part of Pharaoh's dream, which Joseph later interprets. 4. Reeds Plants growing along the Nile, indicating the setting of the dream and symbolizing the natural environment of Egypt. 5. Joseph Although not directly mentioned in this verse, he is the key figure who interprets Pharaoh's dream, leading to his rise in power. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in DreamsGod can use dreams to communicate His plans and purposes, as seen in Pharaoh's dream and Joseph's interpretation. Preparation for the Future The seven well-fed cows symbolize a time of preparation. Believers are encouraged to be wise stewards of resources in times of abundance. Trust in God's Provision Just as God provided for Egypt through Joseph's wisdom, we can trust God to provide for our needs. The Role of Faithful Servants Joseph's faithfulness and integrity positioned him to be used by God for a greater purpose. Our faithfulness in small things can lead to greater responsibilities. Interpreting Life's Events Like Joseph, we should seek God's wisdom to understand and respond to the events in our lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 41:2?2. How does Genesis 41:2 illustrate God's sovereignty in Joseph's life journey? 3. What lessons can we learn from Pharaoh's dream about divine revelation? 4. How does Genesis 41:2 connect to God's provision in Genesis 22:14? 5. How can we discern God's messages in our lives like Pharaoh's dream? 6. What role does patience play in understanding God's timing, as seen in Genesis 41? 7. What is the significance of Pharaoh's dream in Genesis 41:2 for understanding divine revelation? 8. How does Genesis 41:2 illustrate God's sovereignty over nations and leaders? 9. What do the seven cows in Genesis 41:2 symbolize in the broader biblical narrative? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 41? (2) Kine.--The cow was regarded by the Egyptians as the symbol of the earth, and of agriculture; and naturally both the kine and the ears of wheat rose out of the river, because as no rain falls in Egypt, its fertility entirely depends upon the overflow of the Nile. The cows sacred to Isis were seven in number, and in a copy of the Ritual of the Dead, Mr. Malan (p. 192) found a picture of the seven sacred cows with the divine bull. In a meadow.--Heb., in the marsh-grass. The word occurs only in this chapter and in Job 8:11, where it is translated flag. It is the name of the rank herbage which grows luxuriantly along the banks of the Nile; or, as some think, of one special kind of marsh-grass, called by botanists cyperus esculentus. Verse 2. - And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well-favored kine and fat-fleshed. According to Plutarch and Clement of Alexandria, the heifer was regarded by the ancient Egyptians as a symbol of the earth, agriculture, and the nourishment derived therefrom. It was therefore natural that the succession of seven prosperous years should be represented by seven thriving cows. That they appeared ascending from the river is explained by the circumstance that the Nile by its annual inundations is the cause of Egypt's fertility (cf. Havernick, 'Introd.,' 21). A hymn to the Nile, composed by Euna (according to the generality of Egyptologers a contemporary of Moses), and translated from a papyrus in the British Museum by Canon Cook (who ascribes to it an earlier date than the nineteenth dynasty), describes the Nile as "overflowing the gardens created by Ra giving life to all animals....watering the land without ceasing... Lover of food, bestower of corn... Bringer of food! Great Lord of provisions! Creator of all good things!" (vide 'Records of the Past,' vol. 4. pp. 107, 108); And they fed in a meadow - בָּאָחוּ, ἐν τῷ Αχει, (LXX.), literally, in the Nile or reed grass. The word XXX appears to be an Egyptian term descriptive of any herbage growing in a stream. It occurs only here and in ver. 18, and Job 8:11. Genesis 41:2 opens Pharaoh’s dream with a vivid snapshot of perfect prosperity: seven healthy cows emerge from the life-giving Nile and graze contentedly along its reeds. In literal history those cows stand for seven actual years of overflowing harvests. In unfolding prophecy they remind us that God rules over every economy, warns before He judges, and generously supplies before He asks us to steward. Trust the Giver, prepare as He directs, and never mistake temporary plenty for permanent security.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew when sevenשֶׁ֣בַע (še·ḇa‘) Number - feminine singular Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number cows, פָּר֔וֹת (pā·rō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 6510: A heifer, cow sleek יְפ֥וֹת (yə·p̄ō·wṯ) Adjective - feminine plural construct Strong's 3303: Fair, beautiful and well-fed, וּבְרִיאֹ֣ת (ū·ḇə·rî·’ōṯ) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine plural construct Strong's 1277: Fatted, plump came up עֹלֹת֙ (‘ō·lōṯ) Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively from מִן־ (min-) Preposition Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of the river הַיְאֹ֗ר (hay·’ōr) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 2975: Nile -- a channel, a fosse, canal, shaft, the Nile, the Tigris and began to graze וַתִּרְעֶ֖ינָה (wat·tir·‘e·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with among the reeds. בָּאָֽחוּ׃ (bā·’ā·ḥū) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 260: A bulrush, any marshy grass Additonal Resources Genesis 41:2 Blue Letter BibleGenesis 41:2 Bible Gateway Genesis 41:2 Bible.com Genesis 41:2 NIV |
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