The Meaning of Genesis 41:24 Explained

Genesis 41:24

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.

YLT: and the thin ears swallow the seven good ears; and I tell unto the scribes, and there is none declaring to me.'

Darby: and the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. And I told it to the scribes; but there was none to make it known to me.

ASV: and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears: and I told it unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 41:24 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 41:14-36 - Pharaoh's Dreams Interpreted
Notwithstanding the great urgency of the royal summons, and the speed with which the great events of his life crowded on one another, Joseph was kept in perfect peace. He found time to shave, and to change his raiment. Let us be at rest in God. He that believeth does not make needless haste. One of the loveliest traits in Joseph's character was his humility. He did not take on airs, nor assume superiority, nor pose as a superior and injured person. He said simply, "It is not in me; God will give." These words might have been uttered by our Lord; they are so perfectly in harmony with the tenor of his life. Surely we should appropriate them. At the best we are but God's almoners, passing on to others the good things of which He has made us the stewards. Joseph was set on using all he had, not for himself, but for others; therefore he had more and more to give. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 41

1  Pharaoh has two dreams
9  Joseph interprets them
33  He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced, and married
46  The seven years of plenty
50  He begets children
53  The famine begins

What do the individual words in Genesis 41:24 mean?

And devoured heads the thin - seven the heads good So I told [this] to the magicians but [there was] no one who could explain [it] to me
וַתִּבְלַ֙עְןָ֙ הָשִׁבֳּלִ֣ים‪‬ הַדַּקֹּ֔ת אֵ֛ת שֶׁ֥בַע הַֽשִׁבֳּלִ֖ים הַטֹּב֑וֹת וָֽאֹמַר֙ אֶל־ הַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֔ים וְאֵ֥ין מַגִּ֖יד לִֽי

וַתִּבְלַ֙עְןָ֙  And  devoured 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: בָּלַע 
Sense: to swallow down, swallow up, engulf, eat up.
הָשִׁבֳּלִ֣ים‪‬  heads 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: שִׁבֹּלֶת 
Sense: flowing stream.
הַדַּקֹּ֔ת  the  thin 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine plural
Root: דַּק  
Sense: thin, small, fine, gaunt.
אֵ֛ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שֶׁ֥בַע  seven 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
הַֽשִׁבֳּלִ֖ים  the  heads 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: שִׁבֹּלֶת 
Sense: flowing stream.
הַטֹּב֑וֹת  good 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine plural
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
וָֽאֹמַר֙  So  I  told  [this] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֔ים  the  magicians 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַרְטֹם  
Sense: diviner, magician, astrologer.
וְאֵ֥ין  but  [there  was]  no  one 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
מַגִּ֖יד  who  could  explain  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לִֽי  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 41:24?

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