Genesis 40:1-14

The Cupbearer and the Baker

1 Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt.
2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,
3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined.
4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time,
5 each 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.
6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected.
7 So 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.”
9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me,
10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes.
11 Pharaoh’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.
13 Within 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.
14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.

Genesis 40:1-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 40

The history of this chapter is, the imprisonment of two of Pharaoh's officers, his chief butler and chief baker, who by the captain of the guard were made the charge of Joseph, Ge 40:1-4; they both dreamed in prison, which made them sad; Joseph taking notice of their sadness, asked the reason of it, and encouraged them to tell him their dreams, Ge 40:5-8; the chief butler told his dream of the vine and three branches, which Joseph interpreted of his restoration to his office within three days, and desired him to remember him unto Pharaoh when he stood before him, telling him his case, Ge 40:9-15; then the chief baker told his dream of three white baskets of food on his head, which the birds ate, and this Joseph interpreted of his being hanged within three days, Ge 40:16-19; and the events answered to the interpretation, but Joseph was forgot by the chief butler, Ge 40:20-23.

Cross References 24

  • 1. ver 9,13,21; Nehemiah 1:11
  • 2. ver 16,20
  • 3. Proverbs 16:14,15; Proverbs 19:12
  • 4. Genesis 41:10; Esther 2:21
  • 5. S Genesis 37:36; S Genesis 39:20
  • 6. S Genesis 37:36
  • 7. S Genesis 39:4
  • 8. ver 7; Genesis 42:17
  • 9. S Genesis 20:3
  • 10. Genesis 41:11
  • 11. S ver 4
  • 12. Nehemiah 2:2
  • 13. Genesis 41:8,15
  • 14. Genesis 41:16,25,28,32">Genesis 41:16,25,28,32; Deuteronomy 29:29; Da 2:22,28,47">Da 2:22,28,47; Genesis 41:16; Da 2:22,28,47">Da 2:22,28,47
  • 15. S ver 1
  • 16. Isaiah 27:6; Isaiah 35:1-2; Hosea 14:7
  • 17. ver 16; Ge 41:12,15,25; Daniel 2:36; Daniel 4:19
  • 18. ver 18
  • 19. ver 19,20; Joshua 1:11; Joshua 3:2; Ezra 8:32; Nehemiah 2:11
  • 20. ver 19
  • 21. S ver 1
  • 22. 1 Samuel 25:31; Luke 23:42
  • 23. S Genesis 19:19; Joshua 2:12; 1 Samuel 20:14,42; 2 Samuel 9:1; 1 Kings 2:7
  • 24. ver 23; Genesis 41:9; Ecclesiastes 9:15
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