Genesis 41:1-13 ▼

1 After two full years had passed, Pharaoh (great house) had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,

2 when 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.

4 And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh (great house) woke up,

5 but he fell back asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, came up on one stalk.

6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind.

7 And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh (great house) awoke and realized it was a dream.

8 In the morning his spirit {ruachow} was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt (land of bondage). Pharaoh (great house) told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh (great house), “Today I recall my failures.

10 Pharaoh (great house) was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard.

11 One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning.

12 Now a young Hebrew (one from beyond) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us individually.

13 And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”