Genesis 40

Joseph Interprets Two Prisoners' Dreams

1 Some time after this, the ¹cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt.

2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,

3 ²and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined.

4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.

5 And one night they both dreamed--the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison--each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation.

6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled.

7 So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, ³"Why are your faces downcast today?"

8 They said to him, ⁴"We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them." And Joseph said to them, ⁵"Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me."

9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, "In my dream there was a vine before me,

10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes.

11 Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand."

12 Then Joseph said to him, ⁶"This is its interpretation: ⁷the three branches are three days.

13 In three days Pharaoh will ⁸lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer.

14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.

15 For ⁹I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and ¹⁰here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit."

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, "I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head,

17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head."

18 And Joseph answered and said, ¹¹"This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days.

19 ¹²In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head--from you!--and ¹³hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you."

20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh's ¹⁴birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and ¹⁵lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.

21 ¹⁶He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and ¹⁷he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.

22 But he ¹⁸hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.

23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Genesis 40 Commentary

Chapter 40

The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh in prison, Their dreams interpreted by Joseph. (1-19) The ingratitude of the chief butler. (20-23)

Verses 1-19 It was not so much the prison that made the butler and baker sad, as their dreams. God has more ways than one to sadden the spirits. Joseph had compassion towards them. Let us be concerned for the sadness of our brethren's countenances. It is often a relief to those that are in trouble to be noticed. Also learn to look into the causes of our own sorrow. Is there a good reason? Is there not comfort sufficient to balance it, whatever it is? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Joseph was careful to ascribe the glory to God. The chief butler's dream foretold his advancement. The chief baker's dream his death. It was not Joseph's fault that he brought the baker no better tidings. And thus ministers are but interpreters; they cannot make the thing otherwise than it is: if they deal faithfully, and their message prove unpleasing, it is not their fault. Joseph does not reflect upon his brethren that sold him; nor does he reflect on the wrong done him by his mistress and his master, but mildly states his own innocence. When we are called on to clear ourselves, we should carefully avoid, as much as may be, speaking ill of others. Let us be content to prove ourselves innocent, and not upbraid others with their guilt.

Verses 20-23 Joseph's interpretation of the dreams came to pass on the very day fixed. On Pharaoh's birth-day, all his servants attended him, and then the cases of these two came to be looked into. We may all profitably take notice of our birth-days, with thankfulness for the mercies of our birth, sorrow for the sinfulness of our lives, and expectation of the day of our death, as better than the day of our birth. But it seems strange that worldly people, who are so fond of living here, should rejoice at the end of one year after another of their short span of life. A Christian has cause to rejoice that he was born, also that he comes nearer to the end of his sin and sorrow, and nearer to his everlasting happiness. The chief butler remembered not Joseph, but forgot him. Joseph had deserved well at his hands, yet he forgot him. We must not think it strange, if in this world we have hatred shown us for our love, and slights for our kindness. See how apt those who are themselves at ease are to forget others in distress. Joseph learned by his disappointment to trust in God only. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. Let us not forget the sufferings, promises, and love of our Redeemer. We blame the chief butler's ingratitude to Joseph, yet we ourselves act much more ungratefully to the Lord Jesus. Joseph had but foretold the chief butler's enlargement, but Christ wrought out ours; he mediated with the King of Kings for us; yet we forget him, though often reminded of him, and though we have promised never to forget him. Thus ill do we requite Him, like foolish people and unwise.

Cross References

• 1. Nehemiah 1:11
• 2. [Genesis 39:20]
• 3. [Nehemiah 2:2]
• 4. Genesis 41:15
• 5. Genesis 41:16; Daniel 2:28, 47
• 6. ver. 18; Genesis 41:12; [Daniel 2:36]
• 7. [Genesis 41:26, 27]
• 8. 2 Kings 25:27; Jeremiah 52:31; [ver. 19, 20, 22; Psalms 3:3]
• 9. Genesis 37:28
• 10. Genesis 39:20
• 11. See ver. 12
• 12. ver. 13
• 13. ver. 22
• 14. Matthew 14:6; Mark 6:21
• 15. ver. 13, 19
• 16. ver. 13
• 17. Nehemiah 2:1
• 18. ver. 19

Chapter Summary

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.