What does Genesis 41:2 mean?
Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, is dreaming (Genesis 41:1). As he stands by the Nile River, he sees seven good-looking, plump, cows come up out of the water and begin to eat the grass along the bank. Ancient Egyptians were a very spiritual people who worshiped a variety of gods. Cows were symbolic of various deities in Egyptian religion, such as Isis and Osiris.Egyptians also placed great emphasis on the importance of dreams. The nature of this dream seems to have made an especially deep impression on Pharaoh (Genesis 41:8). He understood this dream was abnormal and held some important meaning.
The following verses will reveal the rest of his dream: seven gaunt, ugly-looking cows appearing and consuming the healthy ones (Genesis 41:3–4). The inability of diviners and court magicians to explain this dream will lead Pharaoh to seek additional help (Genesis 41:8).