Genesis 41:31
New International Version
The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.

New Living Translation
This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased.

English Standard Version
and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe.

Berean Standard Bible
The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.

King James Bible
And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

New King James Version
So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe.

New American Standard Bible
So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe.

NASB 1995
“So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe.

NASB 1977
“So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe.

Legacy Standard Bible
so that the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very heavy.

Amplified Bible
So the great abundance will become forgotten in the land because of that subsequent famine, for it will be very severe.

Christian Standard Bible
The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe.

American Standard Version
and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine which followeth; for it shall be very grievous.

Contemporary English Version
The famine will be so bad that no one will remember that once there had been plenty.

English Revised Version
and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine which followeth; for it shall be very grievous.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
People won't remember that there once was plenty of food in the land, because the coming famine will be so severe.

Good News Translation
The time of plenty will be entirely forgotten, because the famine which follows will be so terrible.

International Standard Version
there will be no surplus in the land due to the coming famine, because it will be very severe.

Majority Standard Bible
The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.

NET Bible
The previous abundance of the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows, for the famine will be very severe.

New Heart English Bible
and the abundance will not be remembered in the land because of the famine that follows it, for it will be very severe.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of the famine following: for it will be very grievous.

World English Bible
and the plenty will not be known in the land by reason of that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the plenty is not known in the land because of that famine afterward, for it [is] very grievous.

Young's Literal Translation
and the plenty is not known in the land because of that famine afterwards, for it is very grievous.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the plenty shall not be known in the land on account of the famine after this; for it shall be exceedingly heavy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the greatness of the scarcity shall destroy the greatness of the plenty.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and the greatness of this destitution will cause the greatness of the abundance to be lost.

New American Bible
no trace of the abundance will be found in the land because of the famine that follows it, for it will be very severe.

New Revised Standard Version
The plenty will no longer be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very grievous.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the plenty shall not be remembered in the land because of the famine which shall follow; for it shall be very severe.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the plenty will not be known in the land, because that famine afterward is very severe.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine which followeth; for it shall be very grievous.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of the famine that shall be after this, for it shall be very grievous.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams
30but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land. 31The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly.…

Cross References
Exodus 7:3-5
But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, / Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and by mighty acts of judgment I will bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. / And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”

Exodus 10:5-6
They will cover the face of the land so that no one can see it. They will devour whatever is left after the hail and eat every tree that grows in your fields. / They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and every Egyptian—something neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since the day they came into this land.’” Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh’s presence.

Exodus 10:14-15
The locusts swarmed across the land and settled over the entire territory of Egypt. Never before had there been so many locusts, and never again will there be. / 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.

Deuteronomy 28:23-24
The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron. / The LORD will turn the rain of your land into dust and powder; it will descend on you from the sky until you are destroyed.

1 Kings 17:1
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”

2 Kings 8:1
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.”

Psalm 105:16
He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food.

Isaiah 14:30
Then the firstborn of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety, but I will kill your root by famine, and your remnant will be slain.

Isaiah 41:17
The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

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. ...

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.

Joel 1:16-20
Has not the food been cut off before our very eyes—joy and gladness from the house of our God? / The seeds lie shriveled beneath the clods; the storehouses are in ruins; the granaries are broken down, for the grain has withered away. / How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. ...

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

the plenty.

Genesis 41:16
And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Genesis 41:12
And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

Genesis 41:13
And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.

Genesis 41:16
And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

grievous.

1 Samuel 5:6
But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

Isaiah 24:20
The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

Jump to Previous
Abundance Afterwards Bitter Famine Follow Followeth Following Follows Good Grievous Memory Need Plenty Reason Remembered Severe Subsequent Time Unknown
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Abundance Afterwards Bitter Famine Follow Followeth Following Follows Good Grievous Memory Need Plenty Reason Remembered Severe Subsequent Time Unknown
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.














The abundance in the land
This phrase refers to the period of prosperity that Egypt experienced under Joseph's administration. The Hebrew word for "abundance" is "שָׂבָע" (sava), which conveys a sense of fullness and satisfaction. Historically, Egypt was known for its fertile land, particularly the Nile Delta, which allowed for bountiful harvests. This abundance is a divine blessing, a period of preparation for the coming hardship. It serves as a reminder of God's provision and the importance of stewardship during times of plenty.

will not be remembered
The Hebrew root for "remembered" is "זָכַר" (zakar), which means to recall or bring to mind. In the context of this verse, it suggests that the severity of the upcoming famine will overshadow the years of plenty. This serves as a cautionary tale about human nature's tendency to forget past blessings when faced with present difficulties. It underscores the importance of gratitude and remembrance of God's past faithfulness, even in times of trial.

because the famine
The word "famine" in Hebrew is "רָעָב" (ra'av), indicating a severe shortage of food. Famines were not uncommon in the ancient Near East and often had devastating effects on societies. This particular famine is divinely revealed to Pharaoh through Joseph, highlighting God's sovereignty and foreknowledge. It also sets the stage for Joseph's rise to power and the eventual migration of Jacob's family to Egypt, which is pivotal in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

that follows it
This phrase indicates the sequence of events, emphasizing the inevitability of the famine after the years of abundance. It reflects the cyclical nature of life and the divine orchestration of events. The famine is not just a natural occurrence but part of God's plan to bring about His purposes, including the preservation of His chosen people.

will be so severe
The Hebrew word for "severe" is "כָּבֵד" (kaved), which can also mean heavy or grievous. This word choice conveys the intensity and weight of the famine's impact on the land and its people. It serves as a warning of the consequences of not heeding divine revelation and the importance of preparation and reliance on God's wisdom. The severity of the famine also highlights Joseph's role as a savior figure, prefiguring Christ's ultimate deliverance of humanity from spiritual famine.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The abundance
הַשָּׂבָע֙ (haś·śā·ḇā‘)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7647: Plenty, satiety

in the land
בָּאָ֔רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

will not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be remembered,
יִוָּדַ֤ע (yiw·wā·ḏa‘)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

since
מִפְּנֵ֛י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the
הַה֖וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

famine
הָרָעָ֥ב (hā·rā·‘āḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger

that follows
אַחֲרֵי־ (’a·ḥă·rê-)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

it
כֵ֑ן (ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

[will be] so
מְאֹֽד׃ (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

severe.
כָבֵ֥ד (ḵā·ḇêḏ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3515: Heavy


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OT Law: Genesis 41:31 And the plenty will not be known (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 41:30
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