King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
Complete Jewish Bible:
and there came up out of the river seven cows, fat and sleek; and they began feeding in the swamp grass.
Berean Standard Bible:
when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
American Standard Version:
and, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and well-favored: and they fed in the reed-grass:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And, behold, there came up{H5927} out of the river{H2975} seven{H7651} kine{H6510}, fatfleshed{H1277}{H1320} and well{H3303} favoured{H8389}; and they fed{H7462} in a meadow{H260}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 24:1
- ¶ The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs [were] set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
Jeremiah 24:3
- Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
Jeremiah 24:8
- And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:
Jeremiah 24:5
- Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for [their] good.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 41:18
1. **Themes**:
- **Divine Revelation**: The verse is part of Pharaoh's dream, which is a vehicle for divine communication. God is revealing future events to Pharaoh through symbolic imagery.
- **Providence and Predestination**: The dream suggests a providential plan for the nation of Egypt, with the events predestined by God.
- **Famine and Plenty**: The imagery of the well-fed kine (cows) represents years of plenty, contrasting with the subsequent part of the dream where lean kine appear, symbolizing famine.
2. **Historical Context**:
- **Pharaoh's Dream**: This verse is from the narrative of Joseph, who was sold into slavery in Egypt. Joseph's ability to interpret dreams comes to Pharaoh's attention after he successfully interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker while in prison.
- **Egypt's Role**: Egypt was a powerful and prosperous nation in the ancient Near East. The dream and its interpretation position Egypt as a future breadbasket that would sustain not only its own population but also surrounding nations during the coming famine.
- **Joseph's Ascendancy**: The interpretation of Pharaoh's dream by Joseph leads to his elevation to a position of power, second only to Pharaoh. This sets the stage for the fulfillment of Joseph's own earlier dreams, where his brothers bow down to him, and for the eventual migration of Jacob's family to Egypt, which has profound implications for the Israelite people.
In summary, Genesis 41:18 is a pivotal verse in the Joseph narrative, highlighting themes of divine revelation, providence, and the cyclical nature of famine and plenty. It occurs within the historical context of ancient Egypt, where Joseph's gift for interpreting dreams leads to his rise to power and sets in motion events that will shape the future of the Israelites.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - Strong's Number: H2975
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְאֹר
Transliteration: yᵉʼôr
Pronunciation: yeh-ore'
Description: of Egyptian origin; a channel, e.g. a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the Nile, as the one river of Egypt, including its collateral trenches; also the Tigris, as the main river of Assyria; brook, flood, river, stream. - Strong's Number: H7651
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׁבַע
Transliteration: shebaʻ
Pronunciation: sheh'-bah
Description: or (masculine) (שִׁבְעָה); from שָׁבַע; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number; ([phrase] by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare שִׁבְעָנָה. - Strong's Number: H6510
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּרָה
Transliteration: pârâh
Pronunciation: paw-raw'
Description: feminine of פַּר; a heifer; cow, heifer, kine. - Strong's Number: H1277
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּרִיא
Transliteration: bârîyʼ
Pronunciation: baw-ree'
Description: from בָּרָא (in the sense of בָּרָה); fatted or plump; fat ((fleshed), -ter), fed, firm, plenteous, rank. - Strong's Number: H1320
There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּשָׂר
Transliteration: bâsâr
Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. - Strong's Number: H3303
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָפֶה
Transliteration: yâpheh
Pronunciation: yaw-feh'
Description: from יָפָה; beautiful (literally or figuratively); [phrase] beautiful, beauty, comely, fair(-est, one), [phrase] goodly, pleasant, well. - Strong's Number: H8389
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תֹּאַר
Transliteration: tôʼar
Pronunciation: to'-ar
Description: from תָּאַר; outline, i.e. figure or appearance; [phrase] beautiful, [idiom] comely, countenance, [phrase] fair, [idiom] favoured, form, [idiom] goodly, [idiom] resemble, visage. - Strong's Number: H7462
There are 144 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָעָה
Transliteration: râʻâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend); [idiom] break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep) (-er), pastor, [phrase] shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste. - Strong's Number: H260
There are 167 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָחוּ
Transliteration: ʼâchûw
Pronunciation: aw'-khoo
Description: of uncertain (perhaps Egyptian) derivation; a bulrush or any marshy grass (particularly that along the Nile); flag, meadow.