Genesis 40:1-7

1 Later the king's cupbearer and his baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.

2 Pharaoh was angry with his chief cupbearer and his chief baker.

3 He put them in the prison of the captain of the guard, the same place where Joseph was a prisoner.

4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. After they had been confined for some time,

5 both prisoners--the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt--had dreams one night. Each man had a dream with its own special meaning.

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

7 So he asked these officials of Pharaoh who were with him in his master's prison, "Why do you look so unhappy today?"

Genesis 40:1-7 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.