Bereshis 41:9

9 Then the sar hamashkim spoke unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day.

Bereshis 41:9 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:9

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh
When the magicians and wise men could not interpret his dreams, he was in distress of mind on that account: saying, I do remember my faults this day;
which some interpret of his forgetfulness of Joseph and his afflictions, and of his ingratitude to him, and breach of promise in not making mention of him to Pharaoh before this time; but they seem rather to be faults he had committed against Pharaoh, and were the reason of his being wroth with him, as in ( Genesis 41:10 ) ; and these were either real faults, which the king had pardoned, or however such as he had been charged with, and cleared from; and which he now in a courtly manner takes to himself, and owns them, that the king's goodness and clemency to him might appear, and lest he should seem to charge the king with injustice in casting him into prison; which circumstance he could not avoid relating in the story he was about to tell.

Bereshis 41:9 In-Context

7 And the seven thin heads of grain devoured the seven fat and mele’ot (full) heads of grain. And Pharaoh awoke; and, hinei, it was a chalom!

8 And it came to pass in the boker that his ruach was troubled; and he sent and called for all the chartummei Mitzrayim (magicians of Egypt), and all the chachamim thereof; and Pharaoh told them his chalom; but there was no poter (interpreter) for Pharaoh.

9 Then the sar hamashkim spoke unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day.

10 Pharaoh was in wrath with his avadim, and put me b’mishmar (in custody) in the bais sar hatabbachim, both me and the sar ha’ofim;

11 And we dreamed a chalom in the same lailah, I and he; and each chalom we dreamed had its own pitron (interpretation).