God’s Word Translation
Genesis 41:2
2Suddenly, seven nice-looking, well-fed cows came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
Genesis 41:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
- New International Version (NIV)when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow.
Context of Genesis 41:2
1After two full years Pharaoh had a dream. He dreamed he was standing by the Nile River. Suddenly, seven nice-looking, well-fed cows came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. 3Seven other cows came up from the river behind them. These cows were sickly and skinny. They stood behind the first seven cows on the riverbank. 4The cows that were sickly and skinny ate the seven nice-looking, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
Read all of Genesis 41Genesis 41:2 word by word
וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִן־הַיְאֹ֗ר עֹלֹת֙ שֶׁ֣בַע פָּר֔וֹת יְפ֥וֹת מַרְאֶ֖ה וּבְרִיאֹ֣ת בָּשָׂ֑ר וַתִּרְעֶ֖ינָה בָּאָֽחוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And, behold, there came upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- out of the riverיְאֹרye'ôr · NileH2975
- sevenשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
- wellיָפֶהyâpheh · beautifulH3303
- favouredמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
- kineפָּרָהpârâh · heiferH6510
- and fatfleshedבָּשָׂרbâώâr · fleshH1320
- and fatfleshedבָּרִיאbârîy' · fatH1277
- and they fedרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
- in a meadowאָחוּ'âchû · meadowH260
Cross-references for Genesis 41:2
Commentaries on Genesis 41:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2There came up out of the river seven well-favored kine - This must certainly refer to the hippopotamus or river horse, as the circumstances of coming up out of the river and feeding in the field characterize that animal alone. The hippopotamus is the well-known inhabitant of the Nile, and frequently by night comes out of the river to feed in the fields, or in the sedge by the river side.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-57Verses 1-57 - Joseph Was Exalted 1. יאר ye'or “river, canal,” mostly applied to the Nile. Some suppose the word to be Coptic. 2. אחוּ 'āchû “sedge, reed-grass, marsh-grass.” This word is probably Coptic. 8. חרטמים charṭumı̂ym ̓̀ exēgētai ̔͂ hierogrammateis “sacred scribes, hieroglyphs.” חרט chereṭ “stylus,” a graving tool. 43. אברך 'abrēk “bend the knee.” In this sense it is put for הברך habrēk imperative hiphil of ברך bārak Those who take the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4Pharaoh's first dream was about cows. Cows often stood half-submerged in the Nile River's reeds to escape the heat and flies. They would leave the water to find grass. The second group of cows worried Pharaoh because they were thin but were able to swallow the fat cows.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-241. at the end of two full years--It is not certain whether these years are reckoned from the beginning of Joseph's imprisonment, or from the events described in the preceding chapter--most likely the latter. What a long time for Joseph to experience the sickness of hope deferred! But the time of his enlargement came when he had sufficiently learned the lessons of God designed for him; and the plans of Providence were matured. Pharaoh dreamed--"Pharaoh,"…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 41:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 41
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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