And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
The seven skinny and ugly cows that came up after the fat ones represent seven years of famine. And the seven empty grain stalks that were scorched by the hot desert wind also represent seven years of famine.
Joseph is explaining that both parts of Pharaoh's dream point to the same thing: seven years of severe famine coming after seven years of plenty.
📚 Historical Context
This is part of Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's troubling dreams while Joseph was still a prisoner in Egypt. Ancient Egypt depended entirely on the annual flooding of the Nile River for successful crops, so famine was always a real threat. Dreams were considered divine messages in ancient Egyptian culture, and Pharaoh desperately needed someone who could interpret what his dreams meant.
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