TRV
Translation
King James Version
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
Complete Jewish Bible
After them, there came up out of the river seven more cows, poor, miserable-looking and lean -I've never seen such bad-looking cows in all the land of Egypt!
Berean Standard Bible
After them, seven other cows—sickly, ugly, and thin—came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt!
American Standard Version
and, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
World English Bible Messianic
and behold, seven other cattle came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for ugliness.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Also loe, seuen other kine came vp after them, poore and very euilfauoured, and leanefleshed: I neuer sawe the like in all the lande of Egypt, for euilfauoured.
Young's Literal Translation
and lo, seven other kine are coming up after them, thin, and of very bad form, and lean in flesh; I have not seen like these in all the land of Egypt for badness.
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In the KJVVerse 1,215 of 31,102
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Commentary on Genesis 41 verses 17–32
17 ¶ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:
18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
20 And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:
23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:
24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
Here, I. Pharaoh relates his dream. He dreamt that he stood upon the bank of the river Nile, and saw the kine, both the fat ones and the lean ones, come out of the river. For the kingdom of Egypt had no rain, as appears, Zac 14:18, but the plenty of the year depended upon the overflowing of the river, and it was about one certain time of the year that it overflowed. If it rose to fifteen or sixteen cubits, there was plenty; if to twelve or thirteen only, or under, there was scarcity. See how many ways Providence has of dispensing its gifts; yet, whatever the second causes are, our dependence is still the same upon the first Cause, who makes every creature that to us that it is, be it rain or river.
II. Joseph interprets his dream, and tells him that it signified seven years of plenty now immediately to ensue, which should be succeeded by as many years of famine. Observe, 1. The two dreams signified the same thing, but the repetition was to denote the certainty, the nearness, and the importance, of the event, Gen 41:32. Thus God has often shown the immutability of his counsel by two immutable things, Heb 6:17, Heb 6:18. The covenant is sealed with two sacraments; and in the one of them there are both bread and wine, wherein the dream is one, and yet it is doubled, for the thing is certain. 2. Yet the two dreams had a distinct reference to the two things wherein we most experience plenty and scarcity, namely, grass and corn. The plenty and scarcity of grass for the cattle were signified by the fat kine and the lean ones; the plenty and scarcity of herb for the service of man by the full ears and the thin ones. 3. See what changes the comforts of this life are subject to. After great plenty may come great scarcity; how strong soever we may think our mountain stands, if God speak the word, it will soon be moved. We cannot be sure that tomorrow shall be as this day, next year as this, and much more abundant, Isa 56:12. We must learn how to want, as well as how to abound. 4. See the goodness of God in sending the seven years of plenty before those of famine, that provision might be made accordingly. Thus he sets the one over-against the other, Ecc 7:14. With what wonderful wisdom has Providence, that great housekeeper, ordered the affairs of this numerous family from the beginning hitherto! Great variety of seasons there have been, and the product of the earth is sometimes more and sometimes less; yet, take one time with another, what was miraculous concerning the manna is ordinarily verified in the common course of Providence, He that gathers much has nothing over, and he that gathers little has no lack, Exo 16:18. 5. See the perishing nature of our worldly enjoyments. The great increase of the years of plenty was quite lost and swallowed up in the years of famine; and the overplus of it, which seemed very much, yet did but just serve to keep men alive, Gen 41:29-31. Meat for the belly, and the belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them, Co1 6:13. There is bread which endures to everlasting life, which shall not be forgotten, and which it is worth while to labour for, Joh 6:27. Those that make the things of this world their good things will find but little pleasure in remembering that they have received them, Luk 16:25. 6. Observe, God revealed this beforehand to Pharaoh, who, as king of Egypt, was to be the father of his country, and to make prudent provision for them. Magistrates are called shepherds, whose care it must be, not only to rule, but to feed.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 17–32. Public domain.
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SUMMARY
Genesis 41:19 presents the second part of Pharaoh's prophetic dream, vividly depicting seven emaciated, unsightly, and lean-fleshed cows emerging from the Nile, following the previously seen healthy ones. This stark and unsettling imagery serves as a divine warning, signaling an unprecedented period of severe hardship and famine for Egypt, sharply contrasting with a preceding time of abundance and prosperity.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 41:19 offers a powerful and disturbing image within Pharaoh's dream, emphasizing the severity of the impending crisis through the description of the seven cows.
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The description in Genesis 41:19 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. Symbolism is central, with the "seven other kine" serving as powerful symbols of the seven years of severe famine that would follow the seven years of abundance. The cows' physical state—"poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed"—is a vivid metaphor for the desolation and hardship that would afflict the land. The phrase "such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness" utilizes hyperbole, an intentional exaggeration, to underscore the unprecedented and catastrophic nature of the impending famine. This hyperbole not only emphasizes the dream's gravity but also serves to heighten the dramatic tension, ensuring Pharaoh (and the reader) fully grasps the dire warning. The strong contrast between the healthy cows of Genesis 41:2 and these emaciated ones creates a powerful visual and thematic juxtaposition, making the dream's meaning unmistakably clear.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 41:19 profoundly illustrates God's sovereign control over creation and history, communicating a crucial warning through a pagan king's dream. The extreme degradation of the cows emphasizes the unparalleled severity of the coming famine, demonstrating God's foreknowledge and His ability to reveal future events to humanity. This divine foresight, while alarming, is ultimately an act of grace and providence, providing an opportunity for preparation and preservation. The stark contrast between the two sets of cows highlights the cyclical nature of prosperity and adversity, reminding us that all earthly conditions are ultimately under God's watchful eye and serve His greater purposes, often to draw people to Himself or to prepare His people for His plans.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 41:19 serves as a potent reminder of God's active involvement in human affairs and His capacity to warn us of impending challenges. Just as Pharaoh received a vivid and unsettling sign of future famine, we are called to cultivate spiritual discernment and practical wisdom to prepare for difficult seasons in our own lives, whether personal, communal, or global. The subsequent narrative of Joseph's divinely inspired interpretation and strategic administration in Egypt (see Genesis 41:33-36 and Genesis 41:48-49) provides a powerful blueprint for how to respond to such warnings: with prudent planning, diligent stewardship, and reliance on God's wisdom. This passage encourages us to be proactive, not complacent, in times of abundance, understanding that resources are a gift from God to be managed wisely. Ultimately, it points to God's overarching providence, assuring us that even in the face of severe hardship, He is at work to preserve His people and fulfill His redemptive purposes, as Joseph himself later affirmed in Genesis 45:7-8.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did God use dreams to communicate with Pharaoh?
Answer: God often employed dreams as a common and culturally significant medium of divine communication in the ancient Near East, even with non-believers, to reveal His sovereign plans and purposes. For Pharaoh, a powerful pagan ruler, a dream was a culturally recognizable and impactful way for God to convey a crucial message about the future of his kingdom, demonstrating God's authority over all nations and His ability to work outside the covenant people to achieve His will. This method ensured the message would be taken seriously and acted upon within the Egyptian context.
What is the significance of the "badness" of the cows being unprecedented?
Answer: Pharaoh's emphatic statement, "such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness," underscores the extreme severity and unique nature of the coming famine. It signals that this would not be a typical period of scarcity but a catastrophic event, far exceeding any previous hardship Egypt had experienced. This detail highlights the urgency and gravity of God's warning, emphasizing that extraordinary measures would be required for survival and setting the stage for Joseph's unprecedented administrative plan.
How does this dream relate to God's providence?
Answer: This dream is a prime example of God's providence, His active and benevolent involvement in human history. By giving Pharaoh this warning, God set in motion a chain of events that would lead to Joseph's elevation from imprisonment to a position of immense power, the preservation of Egypt from devastating famine, and most significantly, the salvation and growth of Jacob's family (Israel) during a critical period. God's foresight allowed for preparation and deliverance, ensuring the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come, demonstrating His meticulous care for His covenant promises and His people.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Pharaoh's dream and the subsequent famine, interpreted and masterfully managed by Joseph, serves as a profound type or foreshadowing of Christ. Just as Joseph, a divinely chosen deliverer, was elevated from imprisonment and obscurity to save a nation from a devastating physical famine through God-given wisdom and foresight (see Genesis 41:38-40), so too is Christ the ultimate Deliverer who rescues humanity from spiritual famine and eternal death. The abundance of the seven good years, followed by the desolation of the seven lean years, illustrates the temporal and insufficient nature of earthly provision and the ultimate, desperate need for spiritual sustenance found only in Christ. He is the true "bread of life" (as declared in John 6:35), who provides eternal nourishment and salvation, ensuring that those who come to Him will "never hunger" and "never thirst." Furthermore, like Joseph, who gathered and stored grain for the world's salvation (see Genesis 41:48-49), Christ has gathered and stored up eternal life through His sacrifice, offering it freely to all who believe, so that no one who trusts in Him will perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). He is the one who prepares His people not just for physical hardship, but for an eternal reality of abundant life in Him (John 10:10).