Genesis 40:17-23

17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked food for the king, but the birds were eating this food out of the basket on my head."

18 Joseph answered, "I will tell you what the dream means. The three baskets stand for three days.

19 Before the end of three days, the king will cut off your head! He will hang your body on a pole, and the birds will eat your flesh."

20 Three days later, on his birthday, the king gave a feast for all his officers. In front of his officers, he released from prison the chief officer who served his wine and the chief baker.

21 The king gave his chief officer who served wine his old position, and once again he put the king's cup of wine into the king's hand.

22 But the king hanged the baker on a pole. Everything happened just as Joseph had said it would,

23 but the officer who served wine did not remember Joseph. He forgot all about him.

Genesis 40:17-23 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.