Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. New Living Translation 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. English Standard Version 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. Berean Standard Bible After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river. Berean Literal Bible And behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the River, ugly of appearance and thin of flesh, and they stood beside the cows on the edge of the River. King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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. New American Standard Bible 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. NASB 1995 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. NASB 1977 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. Legacy Standard Bible 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. Amplified Bible 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. Berean Annotated Bible After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river. Christian Standard Bible After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile. Holman Christian Standard Bible After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile. American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version Then seven ugly, skinny cows came up out of the river and English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation Seven 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. Good News Translation Then seven other cows came up; they were thin and bony. They came and stood by the other cows on the riverbank, International Standard Version Right after that, seven more cows came up out of the Nile. Ugly and gaunt, they stood next to the other cows on the bank of the Nile River. NET Bible 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. New Heart English Bible And look, seven other cows came up after them out of the Nile, miserable-looking and thin, and stood by the other cows at the edge of the Nile. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAfter them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river. World English Bible Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand behold, seven other cows are coming up after them out of the River, of bad appearance, and lean [in] flesh, and they stand near the cows on the edge of the River, Berean Literal Bible And behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the River, ugly of appearance and thin of flesh, and they stood beside the cows on the edge of the River. Young's Literal Translation 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, Smith's Literal Translation Behold, seven other heifers coming up after them out of the river, evil of look, thin in flesh; and they will stand by the heifers by the lip of the river. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleOther seven also came up out of the river, ill favoured, and leanfleshed: and they fed on the very bank of the river, in green places: Catholic Public Domain Version Likewise, another seven emerged from the river, filthy and thoroughly emaciated. And they pastured on the same bank of the river, in green places. New American Bible Behind them seven other cows, poor-looking and gaunt, came up out of the Nile; and standing on the bank of the Nile beside the others, New Revised Standard Version 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. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd, 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. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And behold seven other cows came up after them from the river, bad in their appearance and skinny in their flesh, and the cows stood on the side on the edge of the river. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And, 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation 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. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Dreams of Pharaoh…2when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river. 4And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up,… Cross References After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, Ezekiel 34:20 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says to them: ‘Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Job 33:21 His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. Isaiah 17:4 “In that day the splendor of Jacob will fade, and the fat of his body will waste away, came up from the Nile Jeremiah 46:7-8 Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn? / Egypt rises like the Nile, and its waters churn like rivers, boasting, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy the cities and their people.’ Ezekiel 29:3-4 Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’ / But I will put hooks in your jaws and cause the fish of your streams to cling to your scales. I will haul you up out of your rivers, and all the fish of your streams will cling to your scales. Isaiah 19:5-6 The waters of the Nile will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and empty. / The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither. and stood beside the well-fed cows Amos 4:1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us more to drink.” Amos 6:4 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. Isaiah 30:23-24 Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures. / The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and pitchfork. on the bank of the river. Ezekiel 47:7 When I arrived, I saw a great number of trees along both banks of the river. Exodus 2:3-5 But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. / And his sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. / Soon the daughter of Pharaoh went down to bathe in the Nile, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. And when she saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maidservant to retrieve it. Daniel 12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 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 8:6-7 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. / But the magicians did the same thing by their magic arts, and they also brought frogs up onto the land of Egypt. Exodus 9:3-6 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. Treasury of Scripture And, behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill favored and skinney; and stood by the other cows on the brink of the river. ill favoured. Genesis 41:4,20,21 And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke… Jump to Previous Appearance Bad Bank Brink Cattle Cows Edge Favored Favoured Flesh Gaunt Ill Ill-Favored Kine Leanfleshed Nile Poor-Looking River Seven Side Stand Stood Thin UglyJump to Next Appearance Bad Bank Brink Cattle Cows Edge Favored Favoured Flesh Gaunt Ill Ill-Favored Kine Leanfleshed Nile Poor-Looking River Seven Side Stand Stood Thin UglyGenesis 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. After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, This phrase introduces the second set of cows in Pharaoh's dream, which are described as "sickly and thin." In the context of ancient Egypt, cattle were a symbol of wealth and prosperity. The appearance of sickly and thin cows would have been alarming, indicating a potential threat to the nation's resources. This imagery foreshadows the coming famine, as interpreted by Joseph later in the chapter. The number seven is significant in biblical numerology, often representing completeness or divine perfection, suggesting a complete period of hardship. came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river. Persons / Places / Events 1. PharaohThe ruler of Egypt who experiences troubling dreams that require interpretation. 2. Joseph A Hebrew man, known for his ability to interpret dreams, who is eventually called upon to explain Pharaoh's dreams. 3. Nile River The major river in Egypt, symbolizing life and sustenance, from which the cows emerge in Pharaoh's dream. 4. Seven Ugly and Gaunt Cows Represent a period of famine and hardship, contrasting with the well-fed cows. 5. Seven Well-Fed Cows Symbolize a period of abundance and prosperity. Teaching Points Divine Revelation and InterpretationGod communicates through dreams and visions, requiring discernment and interpretation. Believers should seek wisdom and understanding from God, as Joseph did. Preparation for Future Challenges The dream serves as a warning to prepare for future hardships. Christians are encouraged to be prudent and wise stewards of their resources, anticipating both times of plenty and scarcity. God's Sovereignty Over Nations The dream illustrates God's control over the natural and political realms. Believers can trust in God's overarching plan, even when nations face turmoil. Contrast Between Abundance and Famine The imagery of the cows highlights the stark difference between prosperity and adversity. This serves as a reminder to remain faithful and reliant on God in all circumstances. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 41:3?2. How does Genesis 41:3 illustrate God's sovereignty over natural events and human affairs? 3. What can we learn from Pharaoh's dream about God's communication methods? 4. How does Genesis 41:3 connect with Joseph's earlier dreams in Genesis 37? 5. In what ways can we seek God's wisdom in interpreting life's challenges today? 6. How should believers respond when facing situations beyond their understanding, like Pharaoh's dream? 7. How does Genesis 41:3 relate to God's sovereignty in human affairs? 8. What is the significance of the seven cows in Genesis 41:3? 9. How does Genesis 41:3 reflect the theme of divine revelation? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 41? 11. If Joseph became a high-ranking Egyptian official, why is there no Egyptian record of him? 12. Genesis 41:1-7: How is it scientifically or naturally possible for seven emaciated cows to devour seven healthy cows? 13. In Genesis 26:1, how could there be a famine severe enough to threaten Isaac in a land often praised for its fertility? 14. Job 40:17: If 'Behemoth' truly has a tail like a cedar, why do some translations or commentators equate it with a hippopotamus or elephant, which clearly have short tails? What Does Genesis 41:3 Mean After themGenesis 41:3 begins, “After them….” • The phrase looks back to the seven beautiful, fat cows that had just emerged in Pharaoh’s first dream (Genesis 41:2). • By placing the sickly animals “after” the healthy ones, God is foreshadowing a reversal—from abundance to hardship—just as Leviticus 26:19–20 warns that plenty can be followed by scarcity when the Lord withholds His blessing. • The orderly sequence underscores divine intentionality; nothing is random in God’s revelation (Isaiah 46:9-10). seven other cows • The repetition of the number seven highlights completeness, echoing the seven-day creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and signaling a full, measured period under God’s control. • “Other” points to contrast, preparing the reader for a stark difference in appearance and outcome (Ecclesiastes 3:1). • Joseph later confirms the symbolism: seven cows = seven years (Genesis 41:26), affirming Scripture’s literal self-interpretation. sickly and thin • These adjectives paint a vivid picture of malnutrition and impending famine, paralleling Deuteronomy 28:47-48 where a curse of hunger falls on a nation. • Egypt, though agriculturally rich, is not immune to God’s sovereign dealings (Psalm 33:18-19). • The physical weakness of the cattle foreshadows human suffering during the coming lean years (Acts 11:28). came up from the Nile • The Nile was Egypt’s life source; its annual flooding meant food and security (Genesis 41:17-18). • God uses the very river Egypt trusted to signal impending judgment, much like He later turns the Nile to blood in Exodus 7:17-18. • The verse reminds believers that true provision rests in the Lord, not in natural resources (Jeremiah 17:5-8). and stood beside the well-fed cows • The coexistence of fat and thin cows highlights how seasons of plenty and want can overlap before the change is felt (Proverbs 27:1). • It visually dramatizes the coming displacement: scarcity will consume abundance (Genesis 41:20-21). • The scene encourages stewardship during prosperity (Proverbs 6:6-8), a principle Joseph later applies by storing grain. on the bank of the river • The setting by the Nile’s edge stresses public visibility; Pharaoh cannot ignore the warning (Amos 3:7). • Banks are transition points between water and land, symbolizing a threshold between blessing and crisis (Joshua 3:15-17). • The dream’s location assures that the message concerns Egypt’s national life, not a private matter (Isaiah 14:24-27). summary Genesis 41:3 portrays a divinely orchestrated contrast: seven fragile cows emerge after seven healthy ones, rising from Egypt’s trusted Nile, and standing side-by-side on its bank. The scene previews a complete, God-appointed shift from prosperity to famine. By vividly juxtaposing abundance with want, the Lord urges wise preparation, humble reliance on His provision, and recognition that He governs every season of human history. Verse 3. - And, behold, seven other kind came up after them out of the river, ill. favored and lean-fleshed. The second seven cows, "evil to look upon," i.e. bad in appearance, and "thin (beaten small, dakoth, from dakak, to crush or beat small) of flesh," also proceeded from the river, since a failure in the periodical overflow of the Nile was the usual cause of scarcity and famine in Egypt. And stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. The use of the term lip, שָׂפָה, for brink, common enough in Hebrew (Genesis 22:17; Exodus 14:30; 1 Kings 5:9), occurs also in a papyrus of the nineteenth dynasty, "I sat down by the lip of the river," which appears to suggest the impression that the verse in the text was written by one who was equally familiar with both languages (Canon Cook in 'Speaker s Commentary,' p. 485).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew After them,אַחֲרֵיהֶן֙ (’a·ḥă·rê·hen) Preposition | third person feminine plural Strong's 310: The hind or following part seven שֶׁ֧בַע (še·ḇa‘) Number - feminine singular Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number other אֲחֵר֗וֹת (’ă·ḥê·rō·wṯ) Adjective - feminine plural Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other cows, פָּר֣וֹת (pā·rō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 6510: A heifer, cow sickly רָע֥וֹת (rā·‘ō·wṯ) Adjective - feminine plural construct Strong's 7451: Bad, evil and thin, וְדַקּ֣וֹת (wə·ḏaq·qō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine plural construct Strong's 1851: Crushed, small, thin came up עֹל֤וֹת (‘ō·lō·wṯ) Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively from מִן־ (min-) Preposition Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of the Nile הַיְאֹ֔ר (hay·’ōr) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 2975: Nile -- a channel, a fosse, canal, shaft, the Nile, the Tigris and stood וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֛דְנָה (wat·ta·‘ă·mō·ḏə·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations beside אֵ֥צֶל (’ê·ṣel) Preposition Strong's 681: A joining together, proximity the [other] cows הַפָּר֖וֹת (hap·pā·rō·wṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 6510: A heifer, cow on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the bank שְׂפַ֥ת (śə·p̄aṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin of the river. הַיְאֹֽר׃ (hay·’ōr) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 2975: Nile -- a channel, a fosse, canal, shaft, the Nile, the Tigris Links Genesis 41:3 NIVGenesis 41:3 NLT Genesis 41:3 ESV Genesis 41:3 NASB Genesis 41:3 KJV Genesis 41:3 BibleApps.com Genesis 41:3 Biblia Paralela Genesis 41:3 Chinese Bible Genesis 41:3 French Bible Genesis 41:3 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 41:3 Behold seven other cattle came up after (Gen. 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