Genesis 41:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the book of Genesis, the term aehi appears twice. This term is neither derived from Greek nor Latin. The original Hebrew word is actually misrepresented here, as it should be articulated as ahu (אָֽחוּ), meaning ‘in the mire.’ However, due to the similarities in height between the Hebrew letters vau and iod, the Septuagint translators chose to render it as ashiv instead of ahu. Following their usual practice, they included the Greek letter χ to represent the unique aspiration found in the Hebrew letter heth.

Emerging from the River. The cows, symbolizing the seasons of abundance and scarcity, are depicted as rising from the river, reflecting the reliance of Egypt’s fertility on the Nile. By the grass (in the reeds). In Hebrew, the term is באחו. In the Septuagint, it is rendered as εν τω αχι or αχει. This is believed to be the original Hebrew term, adapted to Egyptian pronunciation, signifying grass that flourishes along the riverbanks and in moist areas (Job 8:11).