Genesis 41 27

Genesis 41:27 kjv

And the seven thin and ill favored 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.

Genesis 41:27 nkjv

And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine.

Genesis 41:27 niv

The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

Genesis 41:27 esv

The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine.

Genesis 41:27 nlt

The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine.

Genesis 41 verses

Genesis 41 27 meaning

Genesis 41:27 states Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's second dream. It reveals that the seven gaunt and unappealing cows seen in the dream represent seven forthcoming years of severe famine. Correspondingly, the seven withered and thin heads of grain, scorched by the harsh east wind, also symbolize this identical period of seven years of intense scarcity and hunger. This verse directly articulates God's precise revelation of an impending extended period of widespread destitution.

Genesis 41 27 Context

This verse is the pinnacle of Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's troubling dreams. After the magicians and wise men of Egypt failed to provide an explanation, Joseph, summoned from prison, attributed the ability to interpret dreams solely to God (Gen 41:16). He had previously explained that the two dreams were one, emphasizing that "God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do" (Gen 41:25). Verse 27 specifically breaks down the negative aspects of Pharaoh's vision: the ugly, lean cows and the scorched, thin grain stalks. Historically, Egypt's prosperity was entirely dependent on the annual flooding of the Nile. Any deviation in the flood cycle could lead to crop failure and widespread famine. The "east wind" was a known destructive force in the ancient Near East, capable of drying out crops and causing immense damage. Joseph's interpretation directly confronted the reliance on human magic and divination prevalent in Egypt, asserting the sovereign revelation of the one true God over future events and natural forces. This divinely-given insight then led to a practical plan that would preserve not only Egypt but also the nascent nation of Israel.

Genesis 41 27 Word analysis

• The seven lean, ugly cows (פָּרוֹת דַּקּוֹת רָעוֹת מַרְאֶה - parot daqqot ra'ot mar'eh):
  • Seven (שֶׁבַע - shevaʿ): This number signifies completion and a divine decree, emphasizing the fixed and certain duration of the impending disaster.
  • Lean (דַּקּוֹת - daqqot): Means "thin," "meager," "emaciated." It vividly describes the physical state of the cows, illustrating a severe lack of nourishment and vitality. This foreshadows extreme privation for the land and its people.
  • Ugly (רָעוֹת מַרְאֶה - ra'ot mar'eh): Literally "ill-favored in appearance." This implies not just thinness, but a repulsive, emaciated state. It underscores the severity and distress that the coming famine would inflict, depicting an environment of widespread suffering.
• that came up after them (אֲחֲרֵיהֶן - ’aḥărêhen): This phrase establishes the temporal sequence. The period of hardship will follow, rather than precede, the years of abundance, making it a direct consequence and contrasting state.
• are seven years: This direct identification immediately assigns a clear duration to the symbolic cows, leaving no room for ambiguity about the time frame of the famine.
• and the seven thin heads of grain (שִׁבֳּלִים דַּקּוֹת - shibbəlim daqqot):
  • Thin (דַּקּוֹת - daqqot): The same Hebrew word for "lean" applied to the cows, reinforcing the unified message of severe lack and shriveled output in agriculture.
• scorched by the east wind (שְׁדֻפוֹת קָדִים - shəḏufot qāḏim):
  • Scorched (שְׁדֻפוֹת - shəḏufot): Means "blighted," "withered," or "dried up by heat." This imagery conveys total crop destruction.
  • East wind (קָדִים - qāḏim): In this region, the east wind from the desert was notoriously hot and dry, capable of quickly desiccating vegetation and bringing desolation. Its mention implies an intense, widespread, and potentially supernatural agency behind the crop failure, indicating not just a natural shortage but a devastating plague-like force.
• are seven years of famine (שֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי רָעָב - sheva‘ shnēy ra‘āv): This phrase is the definitive conclusion, clearly articulating that both sets of symbols (cows and grain) signify an extended, intense period of food shortage. The reiteration of "seven years" emphasizes the certainty and comprehensive nature of the decreed period.
• Word-groups Analysis:
  • "seven lean, ugly cows... are seven years" & "seven thin heads of grain... are seven years": The deliberate parallelism and repeated use of "seven years" powerfully underscore that both dreams convey an identical, divinely determined message. It signifies an irrefutable prophecy.
  • "ugly cows" and "scorched by the east wind": These strong descriptors amplify the intensity and destructive nature of the coming famine. It communicates that this would not be a mild downturn but a calamitous and destructive event for the land.

Genesis 41 27 Bonus section

The precision of Joseph's interpretation, detailing both the period of abundance and the subsequent famine, demonstrates God's perfect foreknowledge. This certainty allows for preventative action, showcasing that divine warnings are given not for condemnation but for preparation and preservation. The repeated "seven years" across two distinct sets of imagery (livestock and crops) powerfully emphasizes the comprehensiveness of God's foretold famine, indicating its reach across diverse aspects of the Egyptian economy and daily life. This period of intense hardship also served a larger redemptive purpose in God's plan, creating the circumstances for Jacob's family to move to Egypt, grow into a great nation, and be preserved from the very famine that threatened the wider world.

Genesis 41 27 Commentary

Genesis 41:27 is a pivotal declaration, translating complex symbolism into an immediate, alarming reality. It asserts God's ultimate authority over nature and time, revealing an exact and challenging future not decipherable by human wisdom alone. The specific imagery of "ugly cows" and "scorched grain" communicates a famine of unparalleled severity and devastation. This was not a subtle warning but a stark pronouncement requiring urgent, divine intervention and preparation. Joseph's ability to offer this clear interpretation, contrasting sharply with the confused pronouncements of Pharaoh's own diviners, powerfully elevates the God of Israel as the true source of all wisdom and knowledge. This divinely-given insight highlights the importance of spiritual discernment for effective governance and responsible stewardship, enabling a nation to navigate potential disaster and ensure survival through foresight and obedience to God's revealed will.