In Joseph’s interpretation of the dreams of the butler and the baker in 40.12, three objects represented three days. Here in the king’s dreams seven objects represent seven years. Joseph explains in verse 29 what will happen during these seven years.

Seven years may need to be expressed as “seven years with plenty of food,” to contrast with the “seven years of famine.”

For the translation of this verse, see 40.12, 18.

The dream is one: that is, “Your dreams both have the same meaning,” or “they both [the seven cows and the seven ears] stand for the same thing.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .