Genesis 41:27
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
The seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine.

NASB 1995
“The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine.

NASB 1977
“And the seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven lean ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine.

Amplified Bible
The seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years; and also the seven thin ears, dried up and scorched by the east wind, they are seven years of famine and hunger.

Christian Standard Bible
The seven thin, sickly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind are seven years of famine.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless, scorched heads of grain are seven years of famine.”

American Standard Version
And the seven lean and ill-favored kine that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they shall be seven years of famine.

Contemporary English Version
The seven skinny, ugly cows that came up later also stand for seven years, as do the seven bad heads of grain that were scorched by the desert wind. The dreams mean there will be seven years when there won't be enough grain.

English Revised Version
And the seven lean and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they shall be seven years of famine.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The seven thin, sickly cows that came up behind them are seven years. The seven empty heads of grain scorched by the east wind are also seven years. Seven years of famine are coming.

Good News Translation
The seven thin cows which came up later and the seven thin heads of grain scorched by the desert wind are seven years of famine.

International Standard Version
The seven gaunt cows that arose after the healthy cows are seven years, as are the seven gaunt ears scorched by the east wind. There will be seven years of famine.

Majority Standard Bible
Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine.

NET Bible
The seven lean, bad-looking cows that came up after them represent seven years, as do the seven empty heads of grain burned with the east wind. They represent seven years of famine.

New Heart English Bible
And the seven thin and miserable-looking cows that came up after them represent seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted with the east wind. They are seven years of famine.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the seven thin and ill-favored cows that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind will be seven years of famine.

World English Bible
The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted with the east wind; they will be seven years of famine.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the seven thin and bad cows which are coming up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears, blasted with an east wind, are seven years of famine;

Young's Literal Translation
and the seven thin and bad kine which are coming up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears, blasted with an east wind, are seven years of famine;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the seven heifers, thin and evil, coming up after them, they are seven years; and the seven ears, thin, blasted by the east, shall be seven years of famine.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the seven lean and thin kine that came up after them, and the seven thin ears that were blasted with the burning wind, are seven years of famine to come:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Likewise, the seven thin and emaciated cows, which ascended after them, and the seven thin ears of grain, which were struck with the burning wind, are seven approaching years of famine.

New American Bible
The seven thin, bad cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind; they are seven years of famine.

New Revised Standard Version
The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind. They are seven years of famine.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the seven lean and ill-favored cows that came up after them are seven years; and the seven thin ears blasted by the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the seven sickly and ill cows that came up after them are seven years and the seven thin ears that were blasted with the hot wind, they will be seven years of famine.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the seven lean and ill-favoured kine that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they shall be seven years of famine.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the seven thin kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven thin and blasted ears are seven years; there shall be seven years of famine.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams
26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning. 27Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind— they are seven years of famine. 28It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.…

Cross References
Exodus 7:19-21
And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and all the reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.” / Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staff and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was turned to blood. / The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. And there was blood throughout the land of Egypt.

Exodus 9:3-7
then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks. / But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’” / The LORD set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land.” ...

Exodus 10:15
They covered the face of all the land until it was black, and they consumed all the plants on the ground and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left behind. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.

2 Kings 8:1-2
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.” / So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines.

2 Kings 25:1-3
So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year. / By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.

Jeremiah 14:1-6
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: / “Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. / The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. ...

Jeremiah 52:4-6
So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year. / By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.

Ezekiel 4:16-17
Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure. / So they will lack food and water; they will be appalled at the sight of one another wasting away in their iniquity.

Ezekiel 5:16-17
When I shower you with the deadly arrows of famine and destruction that I will send to destroy you, I will intensify the famine against you and cut off your supply of food. / I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring a sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

Joel 1:4-7
What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten. / Wake up, you drunkards, and weep; wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth. / For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness. ...

Amos 4:6-9
“I afflicted all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. / “I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered. / People staggered from city to city for water to drink, but they were not satisfied; yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. ...

Haggai 1:10-11
Therefore, on account of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth has withheld its crops. / I have summoned a drought on the fields and on the mountains, on the grain, new wine, and oil, and on whatever the ground yields, on man and beast, and on all the labor of your hands.”

Matthew 24:7
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Luke 4:25
But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.

Luke 21:11
There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.


Treasury of Scripture

And the seven thin and ill favored cows that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

seven years of famine.

2 Samuel 24:19
And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.

2 Kings 8:1
Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.

Jump to Previous
Afterward Bad Blasted Cattle Cows Dry Ears East Empty Famine Favored Food Gaunt Grain Heads Ill Ill-Favored Ill-Favoured Lean Parched Scorched Seven Thin Ugly Wasted Wind
Jump to Next
Afterward Bad Blasted Cattle Cows Dry Ears East Empty Famine Favored Food Gaunt Grain Heads Ill Ill-Favored Ill-Favoured Lean Parched Scorched Seven Thin Ugly Wasted Wind
Genesis 41
1. Pharaoh has two dreams.
9. Joseph interprets them.
33. He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced, and married.
46. The seven years of plenty.
50. He begets children.
53. The famine begins.














And the seven lean, ugly cows
The imagery of "seven lean, ugly cows" is vivid and symbolic. In the Hebrew context, cows were often seen as symbols of prosperity and sustenance, essential for agriculture and daily life. The description of these cows as "lean" and "ugly" suggests a stark contrast to the healthy and well-fed cows, symbolizing a period of deprivation and hardship. This imagery serves as a powerful metaphor for the impending famine, emphasizing the severity and harshness of the times to come.

that came up after them
The phrase "that came up after them" indicates a sequence and a consequence. In the narrative, these lean cows follow the healthy ones, symbolizing how the years of famine will follow the years of abundance. This sequence is crucial in understanding the cyclical nature of prosperity and hardship, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible. It serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly wealth and the importance of spiritual preparedness.

are seven years
The specification of "seven years" is significant in biblical numerology, where the number seven often represents completeness or divine perfection. In this context, the seven years of famine are a complete period of testing and trial. This period is divinely ordained, suggesting that God is sovereign over the cycles of abundance and scarcity. It calls believers to trust in God's providence and timing, even in times of difficulty.

and so are the seven worthless heads of grain
The "seven worthless heads of grain" further illustrate the barrenness and futility of the coming years. Grain, a staple of life, being described as "worthless" underscores the severity of the famine. In the agricultural society of ancient Egypt, grain was a primary source of sustenance and economic stability. The worthlessness of the grain highlights the totality of the famine's impact, affecting both physical sustenance and economic security.

scorched by the east wind
The "east wind" in the biblical context often symbolizes destruction and desolation. In the Middle East, the east wind, or "sirocco," is a hot, dry wind that can devastate crops. This imagery conveys the idea of an external force bringing about the famine, emphasizing the uncontrollable and overwhelming nature of the coming hardship. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of human endeavors in the face of divine will.

they are seven years of famine
The repetition of "seven years of famine" reinforces the certainty and inevitability of the prophecy. It serves as a divine warning to prepare for the coming hardship. In the broader biblical narrative, famine is often used as a tool for divine discipline and a call to repentance. This period of famine is not just a physical trial but a spiritual one, urging believers to rely on God's provision and to seek His guidance in times of need.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Moreover, the seven
וְשֶׁ֣בַע (wə·še·ḇa‘)
Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

thin,
הָֽרַקּ֨וֹת (hā·raq·qō·wṯ)
Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7534: Thin, only, altogether, surely

ugly
וְהָרָעֹ֜ת (wə·hā·rā·‘ōṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

cows
הַ֠פָּרוֹת (hap·pā·rō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6510: A heifer, cow

that came up
הָעֹלֹ֣ת (hā·‘ō·lōṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

after them
אַחֲרֵיהֶ֗ן (’a·ḥă·rê·hen)
Preposition | third person feminine plural
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

are seven
שֶׁ֤בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

years,
שָׁנִים֙ (šā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8141: A year

and so are
הֵ֔נָּה (hên·nāh)
Pronoun - third person feminine plural
Strong's 2007: Themselves

the seven
וְשֶׁ֤בַע (wə·še·ḇa‘)
Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

worthless
הָרֵק֔וֹת (hā·rê·qō·wṯ)
Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7386: Empty, worthless

heads of grain
הַֽשִׁבֳּלִים֙ (ha·šib·bo·lîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 7641: A stream, an ear of grain, a branch

scorched
שְׁדֻפ֖וֹת (šə·ḏu·p̄ō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine plural construct
Strong's 7710: To scorch, blight

by the east wind—
הַקָּדִ֑ים (haq·qā·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6921: The fore, front part, the East

they are
יִהְי֕וּ (yih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

seven
שֶׁ֖בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

years
שְׁנֵ֥י (šə·nê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 8141: A year

of famine.
רָעָֽב׃ (rā·‘āḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger


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OT Law: Genesis 41:27 The seven thin and ugly cattle that (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 41:26
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