The big picture
Joseph remains in prison after being sold into Egypt by his brothers and later jailed after a false accusation. Egypt is the kingdom where he now lives as a slave and prisoner. Two officials from Pharaoh's court are sent to the same prison. Pharaoh is Egypt's king. The chief butler handles the king's cup, while the chief baker oversees baked food for the court. Both men have troubling dreams on the same night. Joseph notices their sadness and asks what is wrong. Their answers give him a chance to explain what the dreams mean.
In this chapter
- Two Officials Dream in Prison Genesis 40:1-8
Pharaoh becomes angry with his chief butler and chief baker.
- Joseph Gives Opposite Interpretations Genesis 40:9-19
The chief butler describes a vine with three branches.
- The Butler Forgets Joseph Genesis 40:20-23
Three days later, Pharaoh celebrates his birthday with a feast for his servants.
Central truth
Joseph correctly explains two dreams, but the restored butler forgets him and leaves him in prison.
Scripture beside the summary
Genesis · King James Version · 23Genesis 40:1-8
Two Officials Dream in Prison
Pharaoh becomes angry with his chief butler and chief baker. He places both men in the prison where Joseph is held. The captain of the guard puts Joseph in charge of serving them. After they have been there for a time, both officials dream on the same night. Each dream has its own meaning, but neither man knows what it is. The next morning, Joseph sees that both men look sad and asks why. They tell him they have dreamed, but nobody is there to interpret the dreams. Joseph says interpretations belong to God. He then asks the men to tell him what they dreamed.
In everyday life
A hotel supervisor notices two suspended employees sitting quietly after breakfast. Both received confusing letters about their cases, and neither understands what will happen next. He asks why they look shaken and listens as each explains the problem. Unlike the supervisor, Joseph says the meaning of dreams belongs to God.
Notice
Genesis 40:6 Joseph notices their sadness before either man explains anything. He is paying close attention to the prisoners who have been placed under his care.
Genesis 40:1-8
King James Version1And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
2And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
3And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
4And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
5And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.
6And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.
7And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?
8And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
Genesis 40:9-19
Joseph Gives Opposite Interpretations
The chief butler describes a vine with three branches. It quickly buds, blossoms, and produces ripe grapes. He presses the grapes into Pharaoh's cup and serves the king. Joseph says the three branches mean three days. Pharaoh will restore the butler to his old position. Joseph asks him to remember his case and speak to Pharaoh after his release. He says he was taken from his homeland and has done nothing deserving prison. The chief baker then describes three baskets on his head. Birds eat the food in the top basket. Joseph says the three baskets also mean three days. This time the outcome is terrible. Pharaoh will execute the baker.
In everyday life
A clinic doctor sits with two patients after separate tests. One learns that treatment worked and normal routines can resume. The other hears that the disease has advanced and the outlook is grave. The doctor gives each person the result without changing the harder answer. Medical findings come from tests, while Joseph says his interpretations come from God.
Notice
Genesis 40:14 Joseph asks the butler to remember him after his release. He is not passive about prison and seeks a lawful way to bring his case before Pharaoh.
Genesis 40:9-19
King James Version9And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
10And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
11And 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.
12And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
13Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
14But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
15For 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.
16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
17And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.
18And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
19Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
Genesis 40:20-23
The Butler Forgets Joseph
Three days later, Pharaoh celebrates his birthday with a feast for his servants. He brings the chief butler and chief baker before his court. The butler is restored to his former job and again places Pharaoh's cup in the king's hand. The baker is executed, exactly as Joseph had said. Both outcomes happen on the third day, matching the explanations Joseph gave. Joseph had asked the butler to speak for him after returning to court. That help never comes. The butler does not remember Joseph. He forgets him, and Joseph remains in prison.
In everyday life
A storm volunteer helps a stranded city worker for several days and asks him to pass along an urgent request. Roads reopen, the worker returns to his job, and the request slips from his mind. The volunteer remains stuck with the same problem after helping him. Unlike Joseph, the volunteer is not being held in a royal prison.
Notice
Genesis 40:23 The final verse says the butler does not remember Joseph and then says he forgets him. That double description leaves Joseph's continued imprisonment as the final note.
Genesis 40:20-23
King James Version20And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
21And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:
22But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Genesis 40:1 begins with “And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.”
Where the chapter turns
Genesis 40:14 forms a natural hinge: “But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this…”
The final note
Genesis 40:23 leaves the reader with “Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Joseph, chief, butler, dream, Pharaoh’s, baker help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- butler
- A court official responsible for Pharaoh's cup, often called a cupbearer.
- wroth
- Very angry, an older English word for angry.
- ward
- Custody or confinement while being held as a prisoner.
- bakemeats
- Baked foods or pastries prepared for Pharaoh's table.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
