Genesis 40:1-6

Joseph Interprets a Dream

1 Then it came about after these things, 1the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
2 Pharaoh was 2furious with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
3 So he put them in confinement in the house of the 3captain of the bodyguard, in the jail *, the same place where * Joseph was imprisoned.
4 The captain of the bodyguard put Joseph in charge of them, and he took care of them; and they were in confinement for some time.
5 Then the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt, who were confined in jail *, both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its own interpretation.
6 When Joseph came to them in the morning and observed them, behold, they were dejected.

Genesis 40:1-6 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 3

  • 1. Genesis 40:11, 13; Nehemiah 1:11
  • 2. Proverbs 16:14
  • 3. Genesis 39:1, 20

Footnotes 4

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