Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Genesis 41:30 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 30. 30And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
After the abundance, seven years of famine will arise, and Egypt's earlier plenty will be forgotten because scarcity will consume the land. The sequence makes preparation urgent.
Read It With
- Genesis 41:1–36
Read verses 29–31. Verse 29 announces abundance, verse 30 gives the reversal, and verse 31 intensifies why the plenty will no longer be recognized.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The famine reverses the plenty and explains why action during abundance cannot be postponed.
Read Genesis 41:25–32 together
Why these verses belong together: Joseph unifies the dreams, identifies both symbol pairs, announces abundance and famine, and explains the duplication.
Verse 25. 25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
Verse 26. 26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
Verse 27. 27 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.
Verse 28. 28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
Verse 29. 29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
Verse 30. 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
Verse 31. 31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
Verse 32. 32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
What Remains True
A crisis can make earlier abundance practically inconsequential when resources are not preserved and distributed for the need.
How It Can Shape Life
- Plan for credible downside conditions while resources are available, and avoid policies that leave only the powerful able to survive scarcity.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 41:1–36 — Pharaoh Dreams, Joseph Interprets, and Egypt Is WarnedSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? very strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed text, delay, dreams, recollection, summons, interpretation, counsel, response, later grain movement, and later famine administration.
Exact location: Genesis 41:1–36; 40:20–23; 41:37–57; 42:1–9; 47:13–26 in the pinned standardized 1769 KJV
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Two-full-years phrase, Nile and dream wording, troubled spirit, hartummim, cupbearer faults, pit and clothing, bil'adai, shalom Pharaoh, dream duplication, discernment, fifth, reserve, and land-preservation wording.
Exact location: WLC Genesis 41:1–36, especially vv. 1, 8–9, 14–16, 24–36
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Chronology, Egyptian imagery, court specialists, sins, court preparation, Joseph's denial, welfare phrase, retelling, seven-year correspondence, repetition, fifth, authority, reserve, and preservation.
Exact location: NET Genesis 41 notes for vv. 1–36, especially vv. 1–8, 9, 14–16, 24–36
Open NET Genesis 41 ↗