Genesis40
New Living Translation
1Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master.
2Pharaoh became angry with these two officials,
3and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard.
4They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them.
5While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning.
6When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset.
7“Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them.
8And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.” “Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.”
9So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me.
10The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes.
11I was holding Pharaoh’s wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”
12“This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days.
13Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer.
14And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place.
15For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.”
16When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the first dream such a positive interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head.
17The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.”
18“This is what the dream means,” Joseph told him. “The three baskets also represent three days.
19Three days from now Pharaoh will lift you up and impale your body on a pole. Then birds will come and peck away at your flesh.”
20Pharaoh’s birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials.
21He then restored the chief cup-bearer to his former position, so he could again hand Pharaoh his cup.
22But Pharaoh impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had predicted when he interpreted his dream.
23Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.
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.