1 It happened after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. 3 He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days. 5 They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison. 6 Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw them, and saw that they were sad. 7 He asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, saying, "Why do you look so sad today?" 8 They 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." 9 The chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me, 10 and in the vine were three branches. It was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. 11 Pharaoh'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." 12 Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 Within 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 cupbearer. 14 But remember me when it will be well with you, and please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. 15 For indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon." 16 When 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. 17 In the uppermost basket there was all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head." 18 Joseph answered, "This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days. 19 Within 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." 20 It happened the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand; 22 but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer didn't remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Pharaoh's chief butler and his chief baker, having offended their lord, are put in prison, Genesis 40:1-3. The captain of the guard gives them into the care of Joseph, Genesis 40:4. Each of them has a dream, Genesis 40:5. Joseph, seeing them sad, questions them on the subject, Genesis 40:6, Genesis 40:7. Their answer, Genesis 40:8. The chief butler tells his dream, Genesis 40:9-11. Joseph interprets it, Genesis 40:12, Genesis 40:13. Gives a slight sketch of his history to the chief butler, and begs him to think upon him when restored to his office, Genesis 40:14, Genesis 40:15. The chief baker tells his dream, Genesis 40:16, Genesis 40:17. Joseph interprets this also, Genesis 40:18, Genesis 40:19. Both dreams are fulfilled according to the interpretation, the chief butler being restored to his office, and the chief baker hanged, Genesis 40:20-22. The chief butler makes no interest for Joseph, Genesis 40:23.
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, Genesis 40:1; 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, Genesis 40:5; 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, Genesis 40:9; 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, Genesis 40:16; and the events answered to the interpretation, but Joseph was forgot by the chief butler, Genesis 40:20.
(v. 1-19) The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh in prison, Their dreams interpreted by Joseph.
(Genesis 40:20-23) The ingratitude of the chief butler.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.