Self-interpreting Bible

« back to list of books

« back to list of chapters

Genesis 40

1Pharaoh's butler and baker in prison are committed to Joseph's charge. 5He interpreteth their dreams, 20which come to pass according to Joseph's interpretation. 23The ingratitude of the butler.


1 AND ait came to pass after these things, that bthe *butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.

2 And Pharaoh cwas *wroth against two of his dofficers, against the chief of the *butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

3 And he put them *in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the eprison, the place where Joseph was bound.

4 And the fcaptain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season *in ward.

5 ¶And they gdreamed 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.

6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were hsad.

7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him *in the ward of his lord's house, saying, iWherefore 1look ye so sadly to day?

8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations jbelong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

9 And the chief *butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a kvine was before me;

10 And 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:

    11 And 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 And Joseph said unto him, lThis is the interpretation of it: The three branches mare three days:

      13 Yet nwithin three days shall Pharaoh 2lift 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.

      14 But 3think 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:

      15 For indeed I was ostolen away out of pthe land of the Hebrews: and here also have qI done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

      16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three 4white baskets on my head:

      • 4: Or, full of holes.

      17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all *manner of 5*bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

      • *: manner-kinds. , bakemeats-cooked food.
      • 5: Heb. meat of Pharaoh, the work of a baker, or cook.

      18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

        19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh 6lift up thy head from off thee, and shall rhang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

        20 ¶And it came to pass sthe third day, which was Pharaoh's tbirthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he 7lifted up the head of the chief *butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

        21 And he restored the chief *butler unto his *butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:

        • *: butler-cup bearer. , butlership-office of cup bearer.

        22 But he hanged the chief baker: uas Joseph had interpreted to them.

        23 Yet did not the chief *butler remember Joseph, but vforgat him.