1Some time later, the king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant.

After they had been in custody for some time, 5both of these men—the Egyptian king’s cupbearer and baker, who were being held in the prison—had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning.

6When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were distraught. 7So he asked the officials of Pharaoh who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so downcast today?”

8“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

9So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream: “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10and on the vine were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms opened and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into his cup, and placed the cup in his hand.”

12Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days. 13Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer. 14But when it goes well for you, please remember me and show me kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh, that he might bring me out of this prison. 15For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for which they should have put me in this dungeon.”

16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: There were three baskets of white bread on my head. 17In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

18Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days. 19Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree.#40:19 Or and impale you on a pole; similarly in verse 22 Then the birds will eat the flesh of your body.”

20On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. 21Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had described to them in his interpretation.#40:22 Literally had interpreted to them

23The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot all about him.

Learn More

Genesis 40

Joseph Interprets Dreams

1#Ge 40:13Sometime after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2#Pr 16:14Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, with the chief of the cupbearers and with the chief of the bakers. 3#Ge 39:20So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. 4The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he attended to them.

They continued to be in confinement for some time. 5#Ge 41:11Then the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its own interpretation.

6Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them and realized they were sad. 7#Ne 2:2So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were with him in the care of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”

8#Ge 41:15–16; Da 2:28And they said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

9The chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream, a vine was in front of me. 10And in the vine there were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms shot forth and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. 11Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.”

12#Ge 41:12; Jdg 7:14Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it. The three branches are three days. 13#2Ki 25:27; Ps 3:3Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand in the same way you did before when you were his cupbearer. 14#Jos 2:12; 1Ki 2:7But remember me when it is well with you, and show kindness, I pray you, to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. 15#Ge 39:20For I was indeed kidnapped out of the land of the Hebrews, and I have done nothing that they should put me in the dungeon.”

16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and I had three white baskets on my head. 17In the uppermost basket there was all manner of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”

18#Ge 40:12Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days. 19#Ge 40:22Within three days Pharaoh will lift your head from off you and will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”

20#Ge 40:13; 40:19It happened on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker among his servants. 21#Ge 40:13; Ne 2:1He restored the chief cupbearer to his position again, and he put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. 22#Ge 40:19However, he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them.

23#Job 19:14; Ps 31:12Yet, the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Military Bible Association

Learn More

Choose your language

Genesis 40

Genesis 40