Genesis 41:24

ESV and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me."
NIV The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me."
NASB and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Then I told it to the soothsayer priests, but there was no one who could explain it to me.'
CSB The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good ones. I told this to the magicians, but no one can tell me what it means."
NLT And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads. I told these dreams to the magicians, but no one could tell me what they mean.'
KJV And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.
NKJV And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

What does Genesis 41:24 mean?

This concludes Pharaoh's description of his two dreams (Genesis 41:17–23). These are being related to Joseph, summoned from prison to interpret them for the Egyptian king (Genesis 41:14–16). The first dream involved seven healthy cows being eaten by seven skeletal cows; the second seven healthy ears of grain being consumed by seven scorched ones. When Pharaoh awoke from these dreams, none of his court officials could explain them (Genesis 41:1–8). Only a cupbearer's memory of Joseph brought him to this moment (Genesis 41:9–13).

Joseph humbly noted that only God had the knowledge required to interpret the dreams (Genesis 41:16), yet promised to pass that information along. In the next verses, he will do just that. The news is not good. Egypt will experience seven years of fertility and abundance, followed by seven years of horrible famine. This shortage will be so harsh that people will forget that the seven good years even happened (Genesis 41:25–31). And yet, there is hope—since Pharaoh now knows about the famine in advance, he can prepare. Joseph offers such advice along with his explanation of the dreams (Genesis 41:33–36).
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