Genesis 41:4

4 And the {ugly and gaunt} cows ate the seven {well built and fat} cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.

Genesis 41:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:4

And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven
well favoured and fat kine
So it seemed in the dream as if this was done, was very strange and surprising that animals should devour one another; and especially that tame ones, cows or heifers, should eat those of their own species, which was never known to be done: so Pharaoh awoke;
through surprise at the strange sight he had in his dream.

Genesis 41:4 In-Context

2 And behold, seven cows, {well built and fat}, were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds.

3 And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, {ugly and gaunt}, and they stood beside those cows on the bank of the Nile.

4 And the {ugly and gaunt} cows ate the seven {well built and fat} cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.

5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time, and behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were coming out of one stalk.

6 And behold, seven thin ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "Poor of appearance and thin of flesh"
• [b]. Literally "beautiful of appearance and healthy of flesh"