Genesis 41 18

Genesis 41:18 kjv

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

Genesis 41:18 nkjv

Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow.

Genesis 41:18 niv

when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.

Genesis 41:18 esv

Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass.

Genesis 41:18 nlt

and I saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass.

Genesis 41 verses

Genesis 41 18 meaning

Genesis 41:18 records Pharaoh recounting his second dream to Joseph. In this dream, Pharaoh saw seven healthy, well-formed ears of grain growing abundantly on a single stalk, signaling a period of remarkable prosperity and agricultural yield. This vision from God served as a divine warning and revelation, highlighting forthcoming years of plenteous harvest as part of a larger, sovereign plan for the land and its inhabitants.

Genesis 41 18 Context

Genesis chapter 41 is pivotal, detailing Pharaoh's two disturbing dreams that none of Egypt's wise men or magicians could interpret. Joseph, after languishing in prison, is brought before Pharaoh on the recommendation of the chief cupbearer (who had forgotten him for two years). Pharaoh, desperate for understanding, describes his dreams. Verse 18 is part of Pharaoh's detailed recollection of his second dream, featuring ears of grain. The historical and cultural context is ancient Egypt, a highly advanced civilization deeply dependent on the Nile River for its agricultural fertility. Dreams were considered significant, often believed to be messages from deities, and dream interpretation was a recognized, though often unreliable, profession. The inability of Pharaoh's own diviners to interpret the dreams served as an indirect polemic against their efficacy and the gods they served, highlighting the unique revelation given by the one true God through His servant Joseph.

Genesis 41 18 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An emphatic interjection. It calls attention to what is about to be said, signaling something significant, important, or noteworthy is about to be presented. In this context, it underscores Pharaoh's vivid recollection and the impact the dream had on him.
• seven (שֶׁ֫בַע - sheva‘): A number repeatedly used in this narrative. In biblical symbolism, seven often represents completeness or perfection. Here, it specifies the duration and nature of the coming period (seven years of plenty, then seven years of famine), indicating a divinely ordained completeness of these cycles.
• ears of grain (שִׁבֳּלִים - shibbŏlîm): The mature head of a cereal plant, especially wheat or barley. This imagery connects directly to agriculture, the primary economic foundation of ancient Egypt. The abundance of 'ears' implies a harvest. The term can also, less commonly, refer to a "stream" or "flood" (like the "shebboleth" in Judg 12:6), subtly linking to the Nile's role in Egypt's prosperity.
• full (מְלֵאֹת - məlē’ōṯ): This adjective describes the ears as being packed with grain. It signifies abundance, health, and a fruitful yield, contrasting sharply with the later description of withered ears. It points to a time of complete sufficiency and overflow.
• and good (טֹבוֹת - ṭōḇôṯ): This adjective conveys quality and favor. The ears were not only full but also excellent. "Good" in the biblical sense (e.g., Gen 1:31 "very good") often denotes not just aesthetic appeal but functional fitness, moral rectitude, and blessing. Here, it reinforces the idea of blessed prosperity.
• grew (עֹלֹת - ‘ōlōṯ): From the verb עָלָה (‘ālāh), meaning "to go up," "ascend," or "grow." It implies a natural, strong, and visible emergence, emphasizing the organic nature of the harvest and its abundance rising from the ground.
• on one stalk (בְּקָנֶה אֶחָד - bəqāneh ’eḥāḏ): Qaneh refers to a stalk or reed. The phrase emphasizes an unusually high yield or a miraculous unity from a single source. It implies extraordinary fertility, perhaps beyond normal agricultural expectation, pointing to divine intervention or exceptional conditions, which aligns with the dream's prophetic nature.
• as I saw (כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי - ka’ăsher rā’îṯî): Pharaoh's personal affirmation. This phrase emphasizes the vividness and personal impact of the dream on Pharaoh. It highlights his direct experience of the divine communication, lending credibility to the dream's reality and the urgent need for its interpretation.

Words-group Analysis

• seven ears of grain, full and good: This phrase combines numerical and descriptive elements to convey an unmistakable vision of extreme agricultural bounty. It immediately signals a period of prosperity and God's abundant provision, making the subsequent contrast with the withered ears all the more stark. The specific agricultural imagery would resonate deeply with an Egyptian audience, whose existence was tied to the fertility of the Nile.
• grew on one stalk: This imagery amplifies the idea of exceptional fertility. While multiple ears might grow on a single plant, seeing multiple full and good ears on a single stalk emphasizes a yield far beyond the norm, hinting at supernatural or extraordinary abundance, signifying the blessing and divine hand behind the coming prosperity.
• as I saw: This personal affirmation from Pharaoh grounds the dream in his direct experience, underscoring its impact and his need for an accurate interpretation. It confirms the dream's authenticity from Pharaoh's perspective and serves to convey its vividness to Joseph.

Genesis 41 18 Bonus section

The distinction between the ears of grain (second dream) and the cows (first dream) highlights God's holistic oversight over creation and human livelihood. While the cows symbolize sustenance from livestock, the grain represents direct agricultural provision, signifying that both primary sources of food would be impacted. The consistent use of "seven" in both dreams not only emphasizes a perfect cycle but also likely signifies completeness, both in the years of plenty and the years of famine. The description of the 'full and good' ears also carries an implied spiritual lesson for believers to appreciate periods of prosperity as God's blessing, requiring stewardship and preparedness, just as leaner times necessitate faith and resourcefulness. Pharaoh's inability to interpret these dreams points to the exclusive nature of true divine revelation, accessible only through God's chosen vessels, underscoring Joseph's unique anointing and the Lord's supremacy over all other deities and human wisdom.

Genesis 41 18 Commentary

Genesis 41:18 is a detailed component of Pharaoh's recounting of his second, crucial dream. It specifically portrays a vision of extraordinary agricultural prosperity: seven full, healthy ears of grain emerging from a single stalk. This seemingly simple agricultural imagery carries profound prophetic weight. It speaks directly to Egypt's sustenance, highlighting an impending period of remarkable abundance, sovereignly ordained by God. This detail sets the stage for Joseph's divine interpretation, confirming that God's plan involves not just an impending famine, but also a preceding period of significant plenty for which preparation is necessary. The meticulous detail in Pharaoh's retelling emphasizes the dream's vividness and significance, leading him to seek divine revelation rather than human insight, thereby magnifying God's power over false wisdom. This foresight provided the opportunity for Egypt and the wider region to survive a catastrophic famine through wise stewardship.