Genesis 41:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

Complete Jewish Bible:

and there came up out of the river seven cows, sleek and fat; and they began feeding in swamp grass.

Berean Standard Bible:

when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, 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, well-favored and fat-fleshed; 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} well{H3303} favoured{H4758} kine{H6510} and fatfleshed{H1277}{H1320}; and they fed{H7462} in a meadow{H260}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Isaiah 19:6

  • And they shall turn the rivers far away; [and] the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Genesis 41:2

Genesis 41:2 is part of the account of Pharaoh's dreams, which Joseph later interprets. The historical context is set in ancient Egypt during the period when Joseph, a Hebrew slave, has risen to prominence in the house of Potiphar and then finds himself in prison after being falsely accused of a crime.

Themes present in this verse include:

1. **Divine Communication**: Pharaoh's dreams are a means through which God communicates a future event. In the ancient world, dreams were often considered messages from the divine.

2. **Famine and Providence**: The dream foreshadows a period of plenty followed by famine, a common pattern in agricultural societies. God's providence is at work, setting the stage for Joseph's rise and the eventual migration of the Hebrews to Egypt.

3. **Interpretation of Signs**: The dream's imagery requires interpretation, which at the time was a skill attributed to wise men or those with divine insight. Joseph's gift for interpretation will later be highlighted.

4. **Economic Cycles**: The dream reflects the economic reality of the time, where societies could experience times of abundance as well as scarcity, often in cycles related to agricultural productivity.

5. **Rise to Power**: This verse is part of the narrative that leads to Joseph's release from prison and his elevation to a position of power in Egypt, which is crucial for the survival of his family during the famine.

6. **God's Sovereignty**: The dream and its interpretation underscore the theme of God's sovereignty over nations and nature, guiding events to fulfill His purposes.

In summary, Genesis 41:2 is part of a pivotal moment in the narrative of Joseph, highlighting themes of divine communication, God's providence, the interpretation of signs, economic cycles, Joseph's rise to power, and God's sovereignty over human affairs.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Strong's Number: H4758
    There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַרְאֶה
    Transliteration: marʼeh
    Pronunciation: mar-eh'
    Description: from רָאָה; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision; [idiom] apparently, appearance(-reth), [idiom] as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.