Genesis 41:29

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Here it is: there will be seven years of abundance throughout the whole land of Egypt;

Berean Standard Bible:

Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,

American Standard Version:

Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Behold, there come^{H935} seven^{H7651} years^{H8141} of great^{H1419} plenty^{H7647} throughout all the land^{H776} of Egypt^{H4714}:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 41:29

Genesis 41:29 is part of the narrative concerning Joseph, one of the patriarchs of the Israelites, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and eventually rose to a position of power in Egypt. This verse is situated within the broader context of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's dreams. In these dreams, Pharaoh sees seven fat cows consumed by seven lean cows, and seven healthy ears of grain devoured by seven withered ones. Joseph, recognized for his God-given ability to interpret dreams, explains to Pharaoh that the dreams are prophetic visions of the future.

In verse 29, Joseph specifically forecasts seven years of bountiful harvests throughout Egypt, a period of unprecedented prosperity and abundance. This prediction is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates Joseph's wisdom and his reliance on divine insight to provide a meaning for what would otherwise be enigmatic dreams. Secondly, it sets the stage for a major theme in the narrative: divine providence and the preparation for future trials. Joseph advises Pharaoh to take advantage of the coming years of plenty to store surplus grain, which would be necessary to survive the subsequent seven years of famine that he also predicts, as detailed in the verses following 41:29.

Historically, this verse reflects the cyclical nature of life in an agrarian society, where periods of plenty could be suddenly followed by scarcity due to environmental factors like drought or flood. It also illustrates the ancient Egyptian practice of storing grain in state-controlled granaries during times of surplus to mitigate the effects of future crop failures. Theologically, this verse underscores the themes of God's sovereignty over nature, His ability to foretell the future, and His use of Joseph to preserve life during a regional crisis, ultimately positioning the Israelites within a foreign land that would later become the setting for their oppression and eventual exodus.

*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: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H8141
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁנֶה
   Transliteration: shâneh
   Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
   Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).
   
4. Strong's Number: H1419
   There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּדוֹל
   Transliteration: gâdôwl
   Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
   Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7647
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂבָע
   Transliteration: sâbâʻ
   Pronunciation: saw-baw'
   Description: from שָׂבַע; copiousness; abundance, plenteous(-ness, -ly).
   
6. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4714
   There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
   Transliteration: Mitsrayim
   Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
   Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.