Genesis 41:7
New International Version
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.

New Living Translation
And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads! Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream.

English Standard Version
And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.

Berean Standard Bible
And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.

King James Bible
And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

New King James Version
And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream.

New American Standard Bible
And the thin ears swallowed the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.

NASB 1995
The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.

NASB 1977
And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.

Amplified Bible
Then the thin ears swallowed the seven plump and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream.

Christian Standard Bible
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, full ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream.

American Standard Version
And the thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

Contemporary English Version
The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full heads. Again the king woke up, and it had only been a dream.

English Revised Version
And the thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full, healthy heads. Then Pharaoh woke up. It was only a dream.

Good News Translation
and the thin heads of grain swallowed the full ones. The king woke up and realized that he had been dreaming.

International Standard Version
and ate up the seven plump, fruit-filled ears. Then Pharaoh woke up a second time, and it had been a very vivid dream!

Majority Standard Bible
And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.

NET Bible
The thin heads swallowed up the seven healthy and full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up and realized it was a dream.

New Heart English Bible
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and look, it was a dream.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.

World English Bible
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the thin ears swallow the seven fat and full ears—and Pharaoh awakens, and behold, a dream.

Young's Literal Translation
and the thin ears swallow the seven fat and full ears -- and Pharaoh awaketh, and lo, a dream.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the thin ears will devour the seven ears fat and full. And Pharaoh will awake, and behold, a dream.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And devoured all the beauty of the former. Pharao awaked after his rest:

Catholic Public Domain Version
devouring all the beauty of the first. Pharaoh, when he awakened after his rest,

New American Bible
and the thin ears swallowed up the seven fat, healthy ears. Then Pharaoh woke up—it was a dream!

New Revised Standard Version
The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the thin ears devoured the seven fat and full ears; and Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the seven thin ears and blasted with the wind devoured the seven choice and full ears; and Pharao awoke, and it was a dream.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Dreams of Pharaoh
6After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind. 7And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream. 8In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.…

Cross References
Genesis 37:5-10
Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. / He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: / We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.” ...

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 4:5-9
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. / When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. ...

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.

Joel 2:28
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Matthew 2:12-13
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route. / 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.”

Job 33:14-16
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

Numbers 12:6
He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.

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!”

Acts 16:9-10
During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” / As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Judges 7:13-15
And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.” / His friend replied: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has delivered Midian and the whole camp into his hand.” / When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Get up, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.”

Daniel 7:1-2
In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account. / Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea.

Matthew 1:20
But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:10-16
He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. / He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. / It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

a dream.

Genesis 20:3
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

Genesis 37:5
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Jump to Previous
Awake Awaketh Awoke Devoured Dream Ears Fat Full Good Grain Heads Healthy Meal Pharaoh Plump Rank Seven Swallow Swallowed Thin Woke
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Awake Awaketh Awoke Devoured Dream Ears Fat Full Good Grain Heads Healthy Meal Pharaoh Plump Rank Seven Swallow Swallowed Thin Woke
Genesis 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.














And the thin heads of grain
This phrase refers to the continuation of Pharaoh's troubling dream. The "thin heads of grain" symbolize scarcity and famine. In the Hebrew text, the word for "thin" is "דַּקּוֹת" (dakkot), which conveys the idea of being lean or emaciated. This imagery is significant as it foreshadows the impending famine that will affect Egypt. Historically, grain was a staple in the Egyptian diet, and any threat to its abundance would have been a cause for great concern. The thin heads of grain represent a period of hardship and lack, contrasting sharply with the previous abundance.

swallowed up
The action of the thin heads of grain "swallowing up" the plump ones is a vivid depiction of how scarcity can overtake abundance. The Hebrew verb "בָּלַע" (bala) means to swallow or engulf, suggesting a complete and overwhelming consumption. This imagery is not only a literal part of the dream but also serves as a metaphor for how quickly and completely prosperity can be consumed by adversity. It is a reminder of the fragility of human wealth and the need for divine wisdom and foresight.

the seven plump, ripe ones
The "seven plump, ripe ones" refer to the healthy and abundant heads of grain that initially appeared in Pharaoh's dream. The Hebrew word for "plump" is "בְּרִיאוֹת" (beriot), which implies health and fullness. This symbolizes a period of prosperity and plenty. The number seven often represents completeness or perfection in the Bible, indicating a full cycle of abundance. This part of the dream highlights the natural cycle of seasons and the blessings of God in providing for His people.

Then Pharaoh woke up
Pharaoh's awakening marks the transition from the dream world to reality. The Hebrew verb "וַיִּיקַץ" (vayikatz) means to wake up or to come to consciousness. This moment is pivotal as it signifies the urgency and importance of the dream's message. In the ancient world, dreams were often seen as divine communications, and Pharaoh's reaction underscores the need for interpretation and understanding. It is a call to seek wisdom and guidance, recognizing that God can speak through dreams to reveal His plans and purposes.

and realized it was a dream
The realization that it was a dream brings Pharaoh back to the present, yet leaves him with a sense of unease and curiosity. The Hebrew phrase "וְהִנֵּה חֲלוֹם" (vehineh chalom) indicates an awareness and acknowledgment of the dream's nature. This moment of realization is crucial as it sets the stage for Joseph's interpretation, which will ultimately lead to the salvation of Egypt and surrounding nations. It serves as a reminder that God is sovereign over all events and that He can use even the dreams of a pagan king to fulfill His divine purposes.

Verse 7. - And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank (i.e. fat) and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream - manifestly of the same import as that which had preceded. The dream was doubled because of its certainty and nearness (ver. 32).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the thin
הַדַּקּ֔וֹת (had·daq·qō·wṯ)
Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1851: Crushed, small, thin

heads of grain
הַשִּׁבֳּלִ֣ים (haš·šib·bo·lîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 7641: A stream, an ear of grain, a branch

swallowed up
וַתִּבְלַ֙עְנָה֙ (wat·tiḇ·la‘·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 1104: To swallow down, swallow up, engulf

the seven
שֶׁ֣בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

plump,
הַבְּרִיא֖וֹת (hab·bə·rî·’ō·wṯ)
Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1277: Fatted, plump

ripe
וְהַמְּלֵא֑וֹת (wə·ham·mə·lê·’ō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 4392: Full, filling, fulness, fully

ones.
הַֽשִּׁבֳּלִ֔ים (haš·šib·bo·lîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 7641: A stream, an ear of grain, a branch

Then Pharaoh
פַּרְעֹ֖ה (par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

awoke
וַיִּיקַ֥ץ (way·yî·qaṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3364: To awake

and realized
וְהִנֵּ֥ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

it was a dream.
חֲלֽוֹם׃ (ḥă·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2472: A dream


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OT Law: Genesis 41:7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 41:6
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