Genesis 40:8-18

8 "We had dreams," they said to him, "but there is no one to interpret them." Then Joseph said to them, "Don't interpretations belong to God? Tell me [your dreams]."[a]
9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: "In my dream there was a vine in front of me.
10 On the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms came out 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 placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand."
12 "This is its interpretation," Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days.
13 In just three days Pharaoh will lift up your head[b] and restore you to your position. You will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand the way you used to when you were his cupbearer.
14 But when all goes well for you, remember that I was with you. Please show kindness to me by mentioning me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison.
15 For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should put me in the dungeon."
16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was positive, he said to Joseph, "I also had a dream. Three baskets of white bread were on my head.
17 In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."
18 "This is its interpretation," Joseph replied. "The three baskets are three days.

Genesis 40:8-18 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.

Footnotes 2

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