Genesis 40:16-23

16 When the head baker saw how well Joseph's interpretation turned out, he spoke up: "My dream went like this: I saw three wicker baskets on my head;

17 the top basket had assorted pastries from the bakery and birds were picking at them from the basket on my head."

18 Joseph said, "This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days;

19 within three days Pharaoh will take off your head, impale you on a post, and the birds will pick your bones clean."

20 And sure enough, on the third day it was Pharaoh's birthday and he threw a feast for all his servants. He set the head cupbearer and the head baker in places of honor in the presence of all the guests.

21 Then he restored the head cupbearer to his cupbearing post; he handed Pharaoh his cup just as before.

22 And then he impaled the head baker on a post, following Joseph's interpretations exactly.

23 But the head cupbearer never gave Joseph another thought; he forgot all about 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.