the Third Week after Easter
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Literal Standard Version
Genesis 41:3
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Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river.
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt, and they stood beside those cows on the bank of the Nile.
Then seven more cows came up out of the river, but they were thin and ugly. They stood beside the seven beautiful cows on the bank of the Nile.
Then seven bad-looking, thin cows were coming up after them from the Nile, and they stood beside the other cows at the edge of the river.
Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the Nile, ugly and gaunt and raw-boned, and stood by the fat cows on the bank of the Nile.
Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and thin, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.
And loe, seuen other kine came vp after the out of the riuer, euill fauoured & leane fleshed, and stoode by the other kine vpon the brinke of the riuer.
Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and thin, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.
Then seven ugly, skinny cows came up out of the river and
After them, there came up out of the river seven more cows, miserable-looking and lean; and they stood by the other cows at the edge of the river.
And behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, bad-looking and lean-fleshed, and stood by the kine on the bank of the river.
Then seven more cows came out of the river and stood on the bank of the river by the healthy cows. But these cows were thin and looked sick.
And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.
And, behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean; and stood beside the other cows on the bank of the river.
Then seven other cows came up; they were thin and bony. They came and stood by the other cows on the riverbank,
After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile.
And, behold, seven other cows were going up after them from the River, evil of appearance and lean of flesh. And they were standing beside the cows on the lip of the River.
After these he sawe other seuen kyne come out of the water, which were euell fauoured and leane fleshed, and wente by the kyne vpon ye water syde:
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
And after them seven other cows came out of the Nile, poor-looking and thin; and they were by the side of the other cows.
And seuen other kyne came vp after them out of the ryuer, euyll fauoured, and leane fleshed, & stoode by the other kyne vpon the brynke of the ryuer.
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
And behold, seuen other kine came vp after them out of the riuer, ill fauoured and leane fleshed, and stood by the other kine, vpon the brinke of the riuer.
And other seven cows came up after these out of the river, ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, and fed by the other cows on the bank of the river.
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the other cows on the bank of the river.
and othere seuene, foule and leene, camen out of the flood, and weren fed in thilk brenke of the watir, in grene places;
and lo, seven other kine are coming up after them out of the River, of bad appearance, and lean [in] flesh, and they stand near the kine on the edge of the River,
And, look, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other kine on the brink of the river.
And behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed; and stood by the [other] cows upon the brink of the river.
Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river.
Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river.
Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank.
Then he saw seven other cows coming out of the Nile after them. They looked bad and were thin. They stood by the other cows beside the Nile.
Then seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.
And lo! seven heifers more coming up after them out of the river, uncomely in appearance and lean in flesh, - and they came and stood beside the heifers, by the lip of the river.
Other seven also came up out of the river, ill favoured, and lean fleshed: and they fed on the very bank of the river, in green places:
And behold, seven other cows, gaunt and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.
Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
ill favoured: Genesis 41:4, Genesis 41:20, Genesis 41:21
Reciprocal: Genesis 41:54 - the seven Deuteronomy 17:1 - sheep
Cross-References
and the cows of bad appearance and lean [in] flesh eat up the seven cows of beautiful appearance, and fat—and Pharaoh awakens.
And the lean and the bad cows eat up the first seven fat cows,
and they come in to their midst, and it has not been known that they have come in to their midst, and their appearance [is] bad as at the commencement; and I awake.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured, and leanfleshed,.... Thin and haggard, their bones stuck out, having scarce any flesh upon them, and made a wretched figure:
and stood by the [other] kine; and looked so much the worse, when compared with them:
upon the brink of the river; it not being overflowed, so that there was no grass to be had, but just upon the bank, where these kept for that purpose; for the fruitfulness of Egypt was owing to the river Nile; as that overflowed or did not, there was plenty or famine; hence both these sorts of creatures came up out of that.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
- Joseph Was Exalted
1. ××ר ye'or, âriver, canal,â mostly applied to the Nile. Some suppose the word to be Coptic.
2. ×××Ö¼ 'aÌchuÌ, âsedge, reed-grass, marsh-grass.â This word is probably Coptic.
8. ×ר×××× chartÌ£umıÌym, εÌξηγηÏÎ±Î¹Ì exeÌgeÌtai, ιÌεÏογÏαμμαÏειÍÏ hierogrammateis, âsacred scribes, hieroglyphs.â ××¨× cheretÌ£ âstylus,â a graving tool.
43. ×××¨× 'abreÌk âbend the knee.â In this sense it is put for ×××¨× habreÌk imperative hiphil of ××¨× baÌrak. Those who take the word to be Coptic render it variously - âbow all, bow the head, cast thyself down.â
45. ×¤×¢× × <×¦×¤× ×ª tsaÌpenat-paâneÌach, Tsaphenath-paâneach, in the Septuagint Ïονθομ-ÏανηÌÏ Psonthom-FaneÌch. âRevelator occulti,â Kimchi. This is founded on an attempted Hebrew derivation. ΣÏÏηÌÏ ÎºÎ¿ÌÏÎ¼Î¿Ï SoÌteÌr kosmou in Oxford MS., âservator mundi,â Jerome. These point to a Coptic origin. Recent Egyptologists give P-sont-em-ph-anh, âthe-salvation-of-the-life or world.â This is a high-flowing title, in keeping with Eastern phraseology. ××¡× ×ª 'aÌsnath, Asenath, perhaps belonging to Neith, or worshipper of Neith, a goddess corresponding to Athene of the Greeks. פ××× ×¤×¨×¢ poÌṭıÌy-peraâ, Potipheraâ, seems to be a variation of פ×××פר PoÌṭıÌyphar, Potiphar Genesis 37:36. ×× 'oÌn or ××× 'oÌn, On =Oein, âlight, sun;â on the monuments TA-RA, âhouse of the sun.â ××תש×××©× beÌyth shemesh, Jeremiah 43:13, Heliopolis, north of Memphis, on the east bank of the Nile.
51. ×× ×©×× menasheh, Menasheh, âcausing to forget.â
52. ×פר×× 'epraÌyıÌm Ephraim, âdouble fruit.â
Here we have the double dream of Pharaoh interpreted by Joseph, in consequence of which he is elevated over all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:1-8
The dreams are recited. âBy the river.â In the dream Pharaoh supposes himself on the banks of the Nile. âOn rite green.â The original word denotes the reed, or marsh grass, on the banks of the Nile. The cow is a very significant emblem of fruitful nature among the Egyptians, the hieroglyphic symbol of the earth and of agriculture; and the form in which Isis the goddess of the earth was adored. âDreamed a second time.â The repetition is designed to confirm the warning given, as Joseph afterward explains Genesis 41:32. Corn (grain) is the natural emblem of fertility and nurture. âBlasted with the east wind The east windâ. The east wind is any wind coming from the east of the meridian, and may be a southeast or a northeast, as well as a direct east. The Hebrews were accustomed to speak only of the four winds, and, therefore, must have used the name of each with great latitude. The blasting wind in Egypt is said to be usually from the southeast. âAnd, behold, it was a dream.â The impression was so distinct as to be taken for the reality, until he awoke and perceived that it was only a dream. âHis spirit was troubled.â Like the officers in the prison Genesis 40:6, he could not get rid of the feeling that the twofold dream portended some momentous event. âThe scribesâ - the hieroglyphs, who belonged to the priestly caste, and whose primary business was to make hieroglyphic and other inscriptions; while they were accustomed to consult the stars, interpret dreams, practise soothsaying, and pursue the other occult arts. The sages; whose chief business was the cultivation of the various arts above mentioned, while the engraving or inscribing department strictly belonged to the hieroglyphs or scribes. âHis dream;â the twofold dream. âInterpreted themâ - the two dreams.
Genesis 41:9-13
The chief butler now calls Joseph to mind, and mentions his gift to Pharaoh. âMy sins.â His offence against Pharaoh. His ingratitude in forgetting Joseph for two years does not perhaps occur to him as a sin. âA Hebrew lad.â The Egyptians were evidently well acquainted with the Hebrew race, at a time when Israel had only a family. âHim he hanged.â The phrase is worthy of note, as a specimen of pithy brevioquence. Him he declared that the dream foreboded that Pharaoh would hang.
Genesis 41:14-24
Pharaoh sends for Joseph, who is hastily brought from the prison. âHe shaved.â The Egyptians were accustomed to shave the head and beard, except in times of mourning (Herod. 2:32). âCanst hear a dream to interpret itâ - needest only to hear in order to interpret it. âNot I God shall answer.â According to his uniform habit Joseph ascribes the gift that is in him to God. âTo the peace of Pharaohâ - so that Pharaoh may reap the advantage. In form. This takes the place of âin look,â in the former account. Other slight variations in the terms occur. âAnd they went into themâ - into their stomachs.
Genesis 41:25-36
Joseph now proceeds to interpret the dream, and offer counsel suitable to the emergency. âWhat the God is about to do.â The God, the one true, living, eternal God, in opposition to all false gods. âAnd because the dream was repeated.â This is explained to denote the certainty and immediateness of the event. The beautiful elucidation of the dream needs no comment. Joseph now naturally passes from the interpreter to the adviser. He is all himself on this critical occasion. His presence of mind never forsakes him. The openness of heart and readiness of speech, for which he was early distinguished, now stand him in good stead. His thorough self-command arises from spontaneously throwing himself, with all his heart, into the great national emergency which is before his mind. And his native simplicity of heart, practical good sense, anti force of character break forth into unasked, but not unaccepted counsel. âA man discreetâ - intelligent, capable of understanding the occasion; wise, prudent, capable of acting accordingly. âLet Pharaoh proceedâ - take the following steps: âTake the fifthâ of the produce of the land. âUnder the hand of Pharaoh.â Under his supreme control.
The measures here suggested to Pharaoh were, we must suppose in conformity with the civil institutions of the country. Thee exaction of a fifth, or two tithes, during the period of plenty, may have been an extraordinary measure, which the absolute power of the monarch enabled him to enforce for the public safety. The sovereign was probably dependent for his revenues on the produce of the crown lands, certain taxes on exports or imports, and occasional gifts or forced contributions from his subjects. This extraordinary fifth was, probably, of the last description, and was fully warranted by the coming emergency. The âgathering up of all the foodâ may imply that, in addition to the fifth, large purchases of corn were made by the government out of the surplus produce of the country.
Genesis 41:37-46
Pharaoh approves of his counsel, and selects him as âthe discreet and wise manâ for carrying it into effect. âIn whom is the Spirit of God.â He acknowledges the gift that is in Joseph to be from God. âAll my people behaveâ - dispose or order their conduct, a special meaning of this word, which usually signifies to kiss. âHis ring.â His signet-ring gave Joseph the delegated power of the sovereign, and constituted him his prime minister or grand vizier. âVestures of fine linen.â Egypt was celebrated for its flax, and for the fineness of its textures. The priests were arrayed in official robes of linen, and no man was allowed to enter a temple in a woolen garment (Herodotus ii. 37, 81). âA gold chain about his neck.â This was a badge of office worn in Egypt by the judge and the prime minister. It had a similar use in Persia and Babylonia Daniel 5:7. âThe second chariot.â Egypt was noted for chariots, both for peaceful and for warlike purposes (Herodotus ii. 108). The second in the public procession was assigned to Joseph. âBow the knee.â The various explications of this proclamation agree in denoting a form of obeisance, with which Joseph was to be honored. I am Pharaoh, the king Genesis 12:15. âWithout thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot.â Thou art next to me, and without thee no man shall act or move. âZaphenath-paneah.â Pharaoh designates him the preserver of life, as the interpreter of the dream and the proposer of the plan by which the country was saved from famine. He thus naturalizes him so far as to render his civil status compatible with his official rank. âAsenath.â The priests were the highest and most privileged class in Egypt. Intermarriage with this caste at once determined the social position of the wonderous foreigner. His father-in-law was priest of On, a city dedicated to the worship of the sun.
With our Western and modern habit we may at the first glance be surprised to find a stranger of a despised race suddenly elevated to the second place in the kingdom. But in ancient and Eastern governments, which were of a despotic character, such changes, depending on the will of the sovereign, were by no means unusual. Secondly, the conviction that âthe Spirit of God was inâ the mysterious stranger, was sufficient to overbear all opposing feelings or customs. And, lastly, it was assumed and acted on, as a self-evident fact, that the illustrious stranger could have no possible objection to be incorporated into the most ancient of nations, and allied with its noblest families. We may imagine that Joseph would find an insuperable difficulty in becoming a citizen of Egypt or a son-in-law of the priest of the sun. But we should not forget that the world was yet too young to have arrived at the rigid and sharplydefined systems of polytheism or allotheism to which we are accustomed. Some gray streaks of a pure monotheism, of the knowledge of the one true God, still gleamed across the sky of human memory. Some faint traces of one common brotherhood among mankind still lingered in the recollections of the past. The Pharaoh of Abrahamâs day feels the power of him whose name is Yahweh Genesis 12:17. Abimelek acknowledges the God of Abraham and Isaac Genesis 20:3-7; Genesis 21:22-23; Genesis 26:28-29. And while Joseph is frank and faithful in acknowledging the true God before the king of Egypt, Pharaoh himself is not slow to recognize the man in whom the Spirit of God is. Having experienced the omniscience and omnipotence of Josephâs God, he was prepared, no doubt, not only himself to offer him such adoration as he was accustomed to pay to his national gods, but also to allow Joseph full liberty to worship the God of his fathers, and to bring up his family in that faith.
Joseph was now in his thirtieth year, and had consequently been thirteen years in Egypt, most part of which interval he had probably spent in prison. This was the age for manly service Numbers 4:3. He immediately enters upon his office.
Genesis 41:47-49
The fulfillment of the dream here commences. âBy handfuls.â Not in single stalks or grains, but in handfuls compared with the former yield. It is probable that a fifth of the present unprecedented yield was sufficient for the sustenance of the inhabitants. Another fifth was rendered to the government, and the remaining three fifths were stored up or sold to the state or the foreign broker at a low price. âHe left numbering because there was no number.â This denotes that the store was immense, and not perhaps that modes of expressing the number failed.
Genesis 41:50-52
Two sons were born to Joseph during the seven years of plenty. âMenasseh.â God made him forget his toil and his fatherâs house. Neither absolutely. He remembered his toils in the very utterance of this sentence. And he tenderly and intensely remembered his fatherâs house. But he is grateful to God, who builds him a home, with all its soothing joys, even in the land of his exile. His heart again responds to long untasted joys. âFruitful in the land of my affliction.â It is still, we perceive, the land of his affliction. But why does no message go from Joseph to his mourning father? For many reasons. First, he does not know the state of things at home. Secondly, he may not wish to open up the dark and bloody treachery of his brothers to his aged parent. But, thirdly, he bears in mind those early dreams of his childhood. All his subsequent experience has confirmed him in the belief that they will one day be fulfilled. But that fulfillment implies the submission not only of his brothers, but of his father. This is too delicate a matter for him to interfere in. He will leave it entirely to the all-wise providence of his God to bring about that strange issue. Joseph, therefore, is true to his life-long character. He leaves all in the hand of God, and awaits in anxious, but silent hope, the days when he will see his father and his brethren.
Genesis 41:53-57
The commencement and the extent of the famine are now noted. âAs Joseph had said.â The fulfillment is as perfect in the one part as in the other. âIn all the landsâ - all the lands adjacent to Egypt; such as Arabia and Palestine. The word all in popular discourse is taken in a relative sense, to be ascertained by the context. We are not aware that this famine was felt beyond the distance of Hebron. âGo unto Josephâ Pharaoh has had reason to trust Joseph more and more, and now he adheres to his purpose of sending his people to him. âAll the face of the land of Egypt.â âAnd Joseph opened all places in which there was foodâ - all the stores in every city. âAnd sold unto Mizaim.â The stores under Pharaohâs hand were public property, obtained either by lawful taxation or by purchase. It was a great public benefit to sell this grain, that had been providently kept in store, at a moderate price, and thus preserve the lives of a nation during a seven yearsâ famine. âAll the land.â This is to be understood of the countries in the neighborhood of Egypt. Famines in these countries were not unusual. We have read already of two famines in Palestine that did not extend to Egypt Genesis 12:10; Genesis 26:1.
The fertility of Egypt depends on the rise of the waters of the Nile to a certain point, at which they will reach all the country. If it fall short of that point, there will be a deficiency in the crops proportioned to the deficiency in the rise. The rise of the Nile depends on the tropical rains by which the lake is supplied from which it flows. These rains depend on the clouds wafted by the winds from the basin of the Mediterranean Sea. The amount of these piles of vapor will depend on the access and strength of the solar heat producing evaporation from the surface of that inland sea. The same cause, therefore, may withhold rain from central Africa, and from all the lands that are watered from the Mediterranean. The duration of the extraordinary plenty was indeed wonderful. But such periods of excess are generally followed by corresponding periods of deficiency over the same area. This prepares the way for the arrival of Josephâs kindred in Egypt.
