This verse is Pharaoh's dream interpreted by Joseph. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The seven good cattle are seven years": This means the seven healthy, well-fed cows that Pharaoh saw in his dream represent a period of seven years of abundant harvest and agricultural prosperity.
"and the seven good heads of grain are seven years": Similarly, the seven full, healthy heads of grain also represent the same period of seven years of agricultural abundance.
"The dream is one": This is the key. Joseph emphasizes that despite the dream containing two different images (cattle and grain), they both represent the same thing: a single, unified period of seven years of plenty. The dream isn't two separate events, but a single, consistent message delivered in two visual forms to emphasize its importance and certainty.
In essence, Joseph is telling Pharaoh: "Your dream, though it appears to have two parts, is giving you the same message twice: you will have seven years of great abundance." This sets the stage for the second half of the dream, where Joseph interprets the seven lean cattle and blighted grain as seven years of famine that will follow the years of plenty.
This verse is Pharaoh's dream interpreted by Joseph. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The seven good cattle are seven years": This means the seven healthy, well-fed cows that Pharaoh saw in his dream represent a period of seven years of abundant harvest and agricultural prosperity.
"and the seven good heads of grain are seven years": Similarly, the seven full, healthy heads of grain also represent the same period of seven years of agricultural abundance.
"The dream is one": This is the key. Joseph emphasizes that despite the dream containing two different images (cattle and grain), they both represent the same thing: a single, unified period of seven years of plenty. The dream isn't two separate events, but a single, consistent message delivered in two visual forms to emphasize its importance and certainty.
In essence, Joseph is telling Pharaoh: "Your dream, though it appears to have two parts, is giving you the same message twice: you will have seven years of great abundance." This sets the stage for the second half of the dream, where Joseph interprets the seven lean cattle and blighted grain as seven years of famine that will follow the years of plenty.