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Genesis 41:21

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 41:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
Genesis 41:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 41

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18and, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and well-favored: and they fed in the reed-grass:
19and, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
20and the lean and ill-favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
21and when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
22And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up upon one stalk, full and good:
23and, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, [and] blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:
24and 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.
← Genesis 41:20Genesis 41:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when they had eaten them up, etc.] Or “were come into their bowels” f1710, into their inward parts, their bellies, being swallowed and devoured by them: it could not be known that they had eaten them: or were in their bellies, they seemed never the fuller nor the fatter for them: but they [were] still ill favoured as at the beginning; looked as thin and as meagre as they did when they first came out of the river, or were first seen by Pharaoh: so I awoke; surprised at what he had seen; this was his first dream.”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification