Genesis 41:3

3 And, behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other cows upon the brink of the river.

Genesis 41:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:3

And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the
river, ill favoured, and leanfleshed
Thin and haggard, their bones stuck out, having scarce any flesh upon them, and made a wretched figure: and stood by the [other] kine;
and looked so much the worse, when compared with them: upon the brink of the river;
it not being overflowed, so that there was no grass to be had, but just upon the bank, where these kept for that purpose; for the fruitfulness of Egypt was owing to the river Nile; as that overflowed or did not, there was plenty or famine; hence both these sorts of creatures came up out of that.

Genesis 41:3 In-Context

1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven beautiful cows and very fat, and they fed in a meadow.

3 And, behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other cows upon the brink of the river.

4 And the ugly and lean-fleshed cows ate up the seven beautiful and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.

5 And he slept and dreamed the second time; and, behold, seven heads of wheat came up upon one stalk, full and beautiful.