Genesis 41:30

30 But there shall come seven years of famine after these, and they shall forget the plenty that shall be in all Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land.

Genesis 41:30 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:30

And there shall arise after them seven years of famine
Which might be occasioned by the river Nile not rising so high as to overflow its banks, as, when it did not rise to more than twelve cubits, a famine ensued, as the above writer says F14; and it must be owing to the overruling providence of God that this should be the case for seven years running: and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt;
the seven years of plenty being all spent, it should be as if it never was; the minds of men would be so intent upon their present distressed case and circumstances, that they should wholly forget how it had been with them in time past; or it would be as if they had never enjoyed it, or were never the better for it: this answers to and explains how it was with the ill favoured kine, when they had eaten up the fat kine; they seemed never the better, nor could it be known by their appearance that they had so done: and the famine shall consume the land:
the inhabitants of it, and all the fruits and increase of it the former years produced.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 Nat Hist. l. 5. c. 9.

Genesis 41:30 In-Context

28 And as for the word which I have told Pharao, whatsoever God intends to do, he has shewn to Pharao:
29 behold, for seven years there is coming great plenty in all the land of Egypt.
30 But there shall come seven years of famine after these, and they shall forget the plenty that shall be in all Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land.
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of the famine that shall be after this, for it shall be very grievous.
32 And concerning the repetition of the dream to Pharao twice, because the saying which is from God shall be true, and God will hasten to accomplish it.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.