Genesis 41:12

12 It so happened that there was a young Hebrew slave there with us; he belonged to the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us, each dream separately.

Genesis 41:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:12

And [there was] there with us a young man
Who was in the prison with them, had the care of them, and waited upon them; he was then about twenty eight years of age; for it was two years ago he speaks of, and Joseph was thirty when he stood before Pharaoh, ( Genesis 41:46 ) : an Hebrew servant to the captain of the guard;
he first describes him by his age, a young man, then by his descent, an Hebrew, and by his state and condition, a servant; neither of them tended much to recommend him to the king: and we told him;
that is, their dreams: and he interpreted to us our dream, to each man according to his dream
did he interpret;
told them what their dreams presignified, what the events would be they portended; the interpretation was different according to their dreams.

Genesis 41:12 In-Context

10 Once when Pharaoh got angry with his servants, he locked me and the head baker in the house of the captain of the guard.
11 We both had dreams on the same night, each dream with its own meaning.
12 It so happened that there was a young Hebrew slave there with us; he belonged to the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us, each dream separately.
13 Things turned out just as he interpreted. I was returned to my position and the head baker was impaled."
14 Pharaoh at once sent for Joseph. They brought him on the run from the jail cell. He cut his hair, put on clean clothes, and came to Pharaoh.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.