Genesis 40:11-21

11 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."
12 Then Joseph said to him, 1"This is its interpretation: 2the three branches are three days.
13 In three days Pharaoh will 3lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer.
14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.
15 For 4I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and 5here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit."
16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, "I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head,
17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head."
18 And Joseph answered and said, 6"This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days.
19 7In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head--from you!--and 8hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you."
20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh's 9birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and 10lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.
21 11He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and 12he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.

Genesis 40:11-21 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 12

  • 1. ver. 18; Genesis 41:12; [Daniel 2:36]
  • 2. [Genesis 41:26, 27]
  • 3. 2 Kings 25:27; Jeremiah 52:31; [ver. 19, 20, 22; Psalms 3:3]
  • 4. Genesis 37:28
  • 5. Genesis 39:20
  • 6. See ver. 12
  • 7. ver. 13
  • 8. ver. 22
  • 9. Matthew 14:6; Mark 6:21
  • 10. ver. 13, 19
  • 11. ver. 13
  • 12. Nehemiah 2:1
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.