Genesis40
New International Version
1Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt.
2Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,
3and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined.
4The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time,
5each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.
6When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected.
7So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”
8“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
9So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me,
10and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes.
11Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”
12“This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.
13Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.
14But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.
15I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”
16When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread.
17In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”
18“This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days.
19Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale your body on a pole. And the birds will eat away your flesh.”
20Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials:
21He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand—
22but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.
23The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 40.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh in prison, Their dreams interpreted by Joseph. (1–19). The ingratitude of the chief butler. (20–23).
vv1-19
It was not so much the prison that made the butler and baker sad, as their dreams. God has more ways than one to sadden the spirits. Joseph had compassion towards them. Let us be concerned for the sadness of our brethren's countenances. It is often a relief to those that are in trouble to be noticed. Also learn to look into the causes of our own sorrow. Is there a good reason? Is there not comfort sufficient to balance it, whatever it is? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Joseph was careful to ascribe the glory to God. The chief butler's dream foretold his advancement. The chief baker's dream his death. It was not Joseph's fault that he brought the baker no better tidings. And thus ministers are but interpreters; they cannot make the thing otherwise than it is: if they deal faithfully, and their message prove unpleasing, it is not their fault. Joseph does not reflect upon his brethren that sold him; nor does he reflect on the wrong done him by his mistress and his master, but mildly states his own innocence. When we are called on to clear ourselves, we should carefully avoid, as much as may be, speaking ill of others. Let us be content to prove ourselves innocent, and not upbraid others with their guilt.
vv20-23
Joseph's interpretation of the dreams came to pass on the very day fixed. On Pharaoh's birth-day, all his servants attended him, and then the cases of these two came to be looked into. We may all profitably take notice of our birth-days, with thankfulness for the mercies of our birth, sorrow for the sinfulness of our lives, and expectation of the day of our death, as better than the day of our birth. But it seems strange that worldly people, who are so fond of living here, should rejoice at the end of one year after another of their short span of life. A Christian has cause to rejoice that he was born, also that he comes nearer to the end of his sin and sorrow, and nearer to his everlasting happiness. The chief butler remembered not Joseph, but forgot him. Joseph had deserved well at his hands, yet he forgot him. We must not think it strange, if in this world we have hatred shown us for our love, and slights for our kindness. See how apt those who are themselves at ease are to forget others in distress. Joseph learned by his disappointment to trust in God only. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. Let us not forget the sufferings, promises, and love of our Redeemer. We blame the chief butler's ingratitude to Joseph, yet we ourselves act much more ungratefully to the Lord Jesus. Joseph had but foretold the chief butler's enlargement, but Christ wrought out ours; he mediated with the King of Kings for us; yet we forget him, though often reminded of him, and though we have promised never to forget him. Thus ill do we requite Him, like foolish people and unwise.
Key Words
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
שָׁקָה: to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or furnish apotion to
מֶלֶךְ: a king
מִצְרַיִם: Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
אָפָה: to cook, especially to bake
חָטָא: properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
אָדוֹן: sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
פַּרְעֹה: Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
קָצַף: to crack off, i.e. (figuratively) burst out in rage
Cross References
Genesis 40Pharaoh's spirit is similarly troubled by dreams with no earthly interpreter found in Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Establishes the continuity of Joseph's confinement in the captain's house of ward.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Literal use of 'lift up the head' to denote restoration of a prisoner's dignity.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Joseph repeats his core conviction to Pharaoh that interpretations belong solely to God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Poetic confirmation of the physical severity of Joseph's initial binding in the dungeon.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Grounds Joseph's statement of being 'stolen' in the actual selling by his brothers.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Mosaic law regarding hanging the body on a tree, matching the Egyptian execution style.
Supported by JFB
Connects the theme of prophetic dreams, recalling Joseph's own dreams of future rule.
Supported by JFB
Parallels Pharaoh's birthday feast and execution of a prisoner with Herod's tragic birthday banquet.
Supported by JFB
Reflects the prolonged trial of Joseph's faith while he was forgotten in prison.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illuminates the high rank, access, and responsibility of the king's cupbearer.
Daniel, like Joseph, credits God in heaven with revealing mysteries to kings.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
An echo of Joseph's compassionate inquiry of sadness, mirroring Jesus' question to disciples.
Contrasts the butler forgetting Joseph with Ahasuerus discovering and remembering Mordecai's service.