
Pharaoh, interpreted by JosephUndated; told in the Book of Genesis
Pharaoh's cows and ears of grain
Perhaps the best-known dream interpretation in world literature, and a window into how the ancient world thought about dreams.
DraftAn editor has not reviewed this page yet.
The dream
Retold in our own words from the sources below, not quoted.
In the story, Pharaoh dreams that he is standing by the river. Seven healthy, well-fed cows come up out of the water, followed by seven thin, starved cows, and the thin cows eat the fat ones. He wakes, sleeps again and dreams of seven full ears of grain on one stalk, swallowed by seven thin ears scorched by the east wind.
None of Pharaoh's advisers can explain the dreams. His chief butler remembers a young Hebrew prisoner, Joseph, who once explained the butler's own dream correctly. Joseph is brought from prison and says the two dreams are one: seven years of plenty are coming, followed by seven years of famine.
- Genesis 1611
Where the story comes from
The story sits in Genesis 41, part of the longer Joseph narrative (Genesis 37 to 50), in which dreams drive the plot from the start. Joseph advises Pharaoh to store part of each good harvest, and Pharaoh puts him in charge of the preparations.
In the text, the interpretation is presented as coming from God, not from Joseph's own skill. The account is scripture and literature, not a historical record we can date.
How it has been read
Scripture
Within the story, the dream is a divine message about the future, and its meaning depends on an inspired interpreter. That view of dreams, as messages sent to rulers and prophets, was widespread in the ancient Near East and the classical world.
- Genesis 1611
History
We include this story because it shaped how many people still think about dreams, not as a model for our readings. Pillowtea does not treat dreams as predictions. What the story does show well is the pull of a vivid, repeated image: Pharaoh dreamed the same idea twice, and could not stop thinking about it.
Questions for your own dreams
- Have you had two different dreams that seemed to say the same thing?
- What are you preparing for right now, in good times or hard ones?
- Who in your life do you turn to when something you saw or felt will not leave you?
Symbols in this dream
Had a dream that stayed with you?
Tell us your dreamSources
Every reading on this page comes from these works. Page references have not all been checked yet; those still waiting are marked.
Hebrew Bible (1611). Genesis, in The Holy Bible (King James Version).
public domain
- Cited at: Genesis 41:1-36 (reference not yet checked)
- Cited at: Genesis 41:16, 41:25-32 (reference not yet checked)
Quoted from the public-domain King James Version.