Genesis 40

In Genesis 40, Joseph is still imprisoned after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. During his time in prison, two high-ranking officials from Pharaoh's court, the chief butler (cupbearer) and the chief baker, are imprisoned alongside him. Both officials have troubling dreams that Joseph interprets, which eventually set in motion events that will change Joseph's life. This chapter showcases Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams, a gift that will later bring him before Pharaoh.

Genesis 40:1-3 (NKJV)
1 It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker.
3 So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined.

In these verses, we see two officials of Pharaoh, the chief butler and the chief baker, offending the king. These officials held significant positions, especially the butler, who was responsible for tasting and serving Pharaoh’s wine. As a result of their offense, Pharaoh becomes angry and orders their imprisonment. These men are placed in the same prison where Joseph is being held, under the authority of the captain of the guard. This sets the stage for the crucial meeting between Joseph and these two men.

Genesis 40:4-5 (NKJV)
4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.
5 Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation.

Joseph, though a prisoner himself, is entrusted with the care of the butler and baker. This shows the level of trust the captain of the guard had in Joseph. While they are in custody, both the butler and the baker experience troubling dreams on the same night, and each dream has a unique meaning. This mention of dreams is significant, as it highlights a recurring theme in Joseph’s life—the role of dreams in his destiny. Joseph’s gift for interpreting dreams will soon be displayed, setting the stage for his rise to prominence.

Genesis 40:6-8 (NKJV)
6 And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad.
7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”
8 And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

Joseph notices that the butler and the baker are visibly distressed and inquires about their sadness. They explain that they have had dreams but have no one to interpret them, which adds to their anxiety. Joseph responds by pointing out that the interpretation of dreams belongs to God, offering himself as a channel through which God might reveal the meanings of their dreams. This statement reflects Joseph’s unwavering faith in God, even in the midst of his own unjust imprisonment, and his belief that God is the ultimate source of wisdom and revelation.

Genesis 40:9-11 (NKJV)
9 Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before 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 Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

In the butler’s dream, he sees a vine with three branches that rapidly grow, blossom, and produce ripe grapes. He then takes the grapes, presses them into Pharaoh’s cup, and hands it to him. This dream is full of symbolic imagery, especially in light of the butler’s profession as Pharaoh’s cupbearer. The three branches and the action of serving the king indicate something significant about the butler’s role and future. The vine’s quick production of fruit suggests the possibility of a near future event.

Genesis 40:12-13 (NKJV)
12 And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days.
13 Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler."

Joseph interprets the butler’s dream, revealing that the three branches symbolize three days. He tells the butler that within three days, Pharaoh will restore him to his position, and he will once again serve Pharaoh as he did before. This positive interpretation demonstrates Joseph’s confidence in the accuracy of his interpretation, as it aligns with the symbols in the dream. Joseph’s interpretation also hints at his understanding that God is guiding the process, as he speaks with certainty about the outcome.

Genesis 40:14-15 (NKJV)
14 But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.
15 For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon."

After providing the positive interpretation of the dream, Joseph pleads with the butler to remember him once he is restored to his position. He asks the butler to speak to Pharaoh on his behalf, explaining that he was unjustly taken from his homeland and wrongfully imprisoned. Joseph’s request highlights his desire for justice and freedom, and his hope that the butler, once in a position of influence, might help him. His statement also reveals the deep injustice he has suffered, both from his brothers and from Potiphar’s wife.

Genesis 40:16-17 (NKJV)
16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and there were three white baskets on my head.
17 In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head."

Encouraged by the favorable interpretation of the butler’s dream, the chief baker shares his own dream with Joseph. In his dream, he is carrying three baskets on his head, filled with baked goods for Pharaoh, but birds come and eat the food from the top basket. This dream contains troubling imagery, especially with the birds eating the bread, which could symbolize something negative. The baker likely hopes for a similarly positive interpretation, but the symbols in his dream are more ominous, foreshadowing an unfortunate outcome.

Genesis 40:18-19 (NKJV)
18 So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days.
19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you."

Joseph delivers a harsh interpretation of the baker’s dream, revealing that the three baskets represent three days, just as the three branches in the butler’s dream did. However, instead of a positive outcome, Joseph tells the baker that within three days, Pharaoh will execute him by hanging, and birds will eat his flesh. This interpretation is grim and contrasts starkly with the butler’s favorable interpretation. Joseph does not shy away from telling the truth, even when the news is bad, showing his integrity and commitment to accurately conveying God’s messages.

Genesis 40:20-22 (NKJV)
20 Now it came to pass on 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 butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
21 Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.
22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.

These verses confirm the accuracy of Joseph’s interpretations. On Pharaoh’s birthday, he holds a feast and orders the butler and baker to be brought before him. As Joseph had foretold, Pharaoh restores the butler to his position, allowing him to serve the king once more. However, the baker is executed, just as Joseph had predicted. The fulfillment of these interpretations highlights Joseph’s gift from God and foreshadows how this gift will later bring him before Pharaoh for an even greater purpose.

Genesis 40:23 (NKJV)
23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Despite Joseph’s accurate interpretation and his plea for help, the chief butler forgets Joseph once he is restored to his position. This moment reflects a painful delay in Joseph’s hope for freedom and justice. Even though he had been faithful in using his God-given gift to help the butler, Joseph is left in prison for a time longer. This apparent setback serves as a reminder that God’s timing is different from human expectations, and that Joseph’s ultimate rise will occur according to God’s plan, not the plans of man.