Genesis 41:18

16 “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

19 After them, seven other cows—sickly, ugly, and thin—came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt!

20 Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
KJV
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
WEB
and behold, seven fat and sleek cattle came up out of the river. They fed in the marsh grass;
ASV
and, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and well-favored: and they fed in the reed-grass:
DARBY
And behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and of fine form, and they fed in the reed-grass.
BLB
and behold, out of the River came up seven cows fat of flesh and beautiful of appearance, and they grazed among the reeds.
ÅB
Og se, av elven steg det opp syv kyr, fete og vakre av skikkelse, og de gikk og beitet i elvegresset.
OTB
da sju kyr, fete og fine, kom opp av elven og beitet i sivet.
B1930
Og se, av elven steg det op syv kyr, fete og vakre av skikkelse, og de gikk og beitet i elvegresset.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 24:1–3

    After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, as well as the officials of Judah and the craftsmen and metalsmiths from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 24:5

    “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, so I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 24:8

    But like the bad figs, so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt.

    Read in context