Genesis40
New King James Version
1It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
2And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker.
3So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined.
4And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.
5Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation.
6And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad.
7So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”
8And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”
9Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me,
10and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes.
11Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”
12And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days.
13Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler.
14But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.
15For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”
16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and there were three white baskets on my head.
17In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”
18So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days.
19Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”
20Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
21Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.
22But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but 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.