Genesis 40:16-23

16 When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread.[a]
17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”
18 “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days.
19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale your body on a pole. And the birds will eat away your flesh.”
20 Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials:
21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand—
22 but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.
23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Genesis 40:16-23 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 18

  • 1. S ver 1
  • 2. S ver 12
  • 3. Amos 8:1-2
  • 4. ver 12
  • 5. ver 13
  • 6. S ver 13
  • 7. ver 22; Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Esther 2:23; Esther 7:10
  • 8. Deuteronomy 28:26; 1 Samuel 17:44; 2 Samuel 21:10; 1 Kings 14:11; 1 Kings 16:4; 1 Kings 21:24; Ezekiel 39:4
  • 9. S ver 13
  • 10. Matthew 14:6-10
  • 11. Esther 2:18; Mark 6:21
  • 12. S ver 1
  • 13. S ver 1
  • 14. 2 Kings 25:27; Jeremiah 52:31
  • 15. ver 13
  • 16. S ver 19
  • 17. Genesis 41:13; Psalms 105:19
  • 18. S ver 14; S Ecclesiastes 1:11; Job 19:14; Ecclesiastes 9:15

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "three wicker baskets"
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