Genesis Chapter 40 — Joseph Interprets Dreams in Prison
While in prison, Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and baker, predicting their restoration and execution respectively.
1After 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.”
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.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Genesis 40:8
“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.””
This verse establishes Joseph's humility and his belief that his gift of interpretation comes directly from God.
Genesis 40:14
“But 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.”
It shows Joseph's human desire for justice and his hope for release from his wrongful imprisonment.
Genesis 40:23
“Yet the chief cup bearer didn’t remember Joseph, but forgot him.”
This concluding verse highlights the theme of human fallibility and the trial of Joseph's patience as his deliverance is delayed.
Chapter Summary
Genesis 40 describes Joseph's experiences while imprisoned in Egypt after being falsely accused by Potiphar's wife. During his confinement, he is put in charge of two high-ranking officials from Pharaoh's court: the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, both of whom had offended the king. One night, both officials have distinct and troubling dreams. Joseph, observing their distress the next morning, offers to interpret their dreams, stating that interpretations belong to God. The cupbearer dreams of a vine with three branches producing grapes that he presses into Pharaoh's cup; Joseph interprets this as restoration to his office in three days. The baker dreams of three baskets of baked goods on his head being eaten by birds; Joseph interprets this as his execution in three days. Both interpretations come true on Pharaoh's birthday. Despite Joseph's request for the cupbearer to mention him to Pharaoh, the official forgets Joseph after being restored to his position.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the text, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker had 'offended their lord,' the King of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry with these two officers and placed them in the custody of the captain of the guard in the same prison where Joseph was held.
Joseph interpreted the three branches in the cupbearer's dream as three days. He predicted that within three days, Pharaoh would restore the cupbearer to his position, where he would once again serve the king.
Joseph interpreted the baker's dream of three baskets as three days ending in his execution. As Joseph predicted, on Pharaoh's birthday three days later, the baker was hanged and the birds ate his flesh.
Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember him and show kindness by mentioning his situation to Pharaoh. Joseph explained that he had been stolen from the land of the Hebrews and had done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.
Study Note
The position of chief cupbearer was a high-status role in the Egyptian court, involving not only serving wine but also acting as a trusted advisor and protector against assassination attempts.
Related Chapters
Genesis 39
Explains how Joseph was wrongfully imprisoned before meeting the two officers.
Genesis 41
Continues the narrative where the cupbearer finally remembers Joseph to interpret Pharaoh's dreams.
Daniel 2
Another historical account of a Hebrew captive interpreting a pagan king's dreams through God's power.
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