Genesis 40
World English Bible
WEB1After these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cup bearer and the chief baker. 3He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days. 5They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the cup bearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison. 6Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw them, and saw that they were sad. 7He asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?” 8They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.” 9The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me, 10and in the vine were three branches. It was as though it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters produced ripe grapes. 11Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.” 12Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, the way you did when you were his cup bearer. 14But remember me when it is well with you. Please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. 15For indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.” 16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head. 17In the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.” 18Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days. 19Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off you.” 20On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cup bearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21He restored the chief cup bearer to his position again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand; 22but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23Yet the chief cup bearer didn’t remember Joseph, but forgot him.
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Genesis Chapter 40 recounts the story of Joseph while he is imprisoned in Egypt. This chapter introduces two significant characters: the chief cupbearer and the chief baker of Pharaoh, who have both offended their master and are thrown into the same prison as Joseph. While in prison, they each have troubling dreams that they cannot interpret. Joseph, who has been blessed by God with the ability to interpret dreams, notices their distress and offers to help them by interpreting their dreams in accordance with God's revelation. This highlights Joseph's faith and his reliance on God even in dire circumstances.
The chief cupbearer dreams of a vine with three branches that blossoms and produces grapes, which he presses into Pharaoh's cup. Joseph interprets this dream to mean that in three days, the cupbearer will be restored to his position. Conversely, the chief baker dreams of three baskets of bread on his head, but Joseph reveals that this dream signifies his impending execution in three days. Joseph asks the cupbearer to remember him and mention him to Pharaoh once he is restored, hoping to gain his freedom.
The chapter concludes with the fulfillment of the cupbearer's dream, as he is reinstated, but he forgets Joseph, leaving him in prison. This moment emphasizes the theme of divine timing and the importance of faithfulness, as Joseph continues to trust in God's plan despite his circumstances. The chapter serves as a reminder that God is sovereign and working behind the scenes, even when we cannot see it. #Joseph #Cupbearer #Baker #Dreams #DivineIntervention
Referenced by
- Judges 7:13-14v8In Judges 7:13-14, Gideon overhears a dream that confirms his victory, similar to how Joseph interprets dreams in Genesis 40:8-19, which also reveal God's plans and purposes.
Topics in this chapter
- Dreams
- Joseph
- Faithfulness
- Providence
- Hope
- Patience
- Dream Interpretation
- Faith
- Interpretation of Scripture
- Sovereignty of God
- Trust
- Adversity
- Baker
- Cupbearer
- Deliverance
- Divine Revelation
- Divine Wisdom
- Egypt
- God's Sovereignty
- God's Timing
- Integrity
- Judgment
- Remembrance
- Restoration
- Service
- Authority
- Biblical Art
- Divine Care
- Divine Guidance
- Divine Interpretation
- Divine Providence
- Divine Timing
- God's Plan
- Hymn
- Judgment Day
- Justice
- Literature in the Bible
- Perseverance
- Pharaoh
- Pharaoh's Prison
- Prayer
- Purpose
- Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
- Spiritual Gifts
- Spiritual Gifts
- Spirituals
- Stewardship
- Suffering and Redemption
- Testing
- Timing
- Trusting God
- Wisdom
Related chapters
- Genesis 41CupbearerDream InterpretationDreams
- Daniel 2Dream InterpretationDivine TimingDivine Wisdom
- Genesis 37DreamsJosephAdversity
- Genesis 39JosephAdversityDivine Providence
- Judges 7DreamsSermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)Testing
- Exodus 5SpiritualsAdversityPharaoh
- Hebrews 11Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)JosephTesting
- Psalms 105JosephRemembranceEgypt
- Exodus 2SpiritualsTimingGod's Timing
- Acts 2Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)Egypt
- Matthew 1JosephPatience
- Daniel 8Interpretation of ScriptureTimingDivine Revelation
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