Genesis 40

1-4a As time went on, it happened that the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt crossed their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the head cupbearer and the head baker, and put them in custody under the captain of the guard; it was the same jail where Joseph was held. The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to see to their needs.

4b-7 After they had been in custody for a while, the king’s cupbearer and baker, while being held in the jail, both had a dream on the same night, each dream having its own meaning. When Joseph arrived in the morning, he noticed that they were feeling low. So he asked them, the two officials of Pharaoh who had been thrown into jail with him, “What’s wrong? Why the long faces?”

8They said, “We dreamed dreams and there’s no one to interpret them.”

Joseph said, “Don’t interpretations come from God? Tell me the dreams.”

9-11First the head cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: “In my dream there was a vine in front of me with three branches on it: It budded, blossomed, and the clusters ripened into grapes. I was holding Pharaoh’s cup; I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and gave the cup to Pharaoh.”

12-15Joseph said, “Here’s the meaning. The three branches are three days. Within three days, Pharaoh will get you out of here and put you back to your old work—you’ll be giving Pharaoh his cup just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. Only remember me when things are going well with you again—tell Pharaoh about me and get me out of this place. I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. And since I’ve been here, I’ve done nothing to deserve being put in this hole.”

16-17When the head baker saw how well Joseph’s interpretation turned out, he spoke up: “My dream went like this: I saw three wicker baskets on my head; the top basket had assorted pastries from the bakery and birds were picking at them from the basket on my head.”

18-19Joseph said, “This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days; within three days Pharaoh will take off your head, impale you on a post, and the birds will pick your bones clean.”

20-22And sure enough, on the third day it was Pharaoh’s birthday and he threw a feast for all his servants. He set the head cupbearer and the head baker in places of honor in the presence of all the guests. Then he restored the head cupbearer to his cupbearing post; he handed Pharaoh his cup just as before. And then he impaled the head baker on a post, following Joseph’s interpretations exactly.

23But the head cupbearer never gave Joseph another thought; he forgot all about him.

Genesis 40

1 While these things were going on, it happened that two eunuchs, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt, and the miller of grain, offended their lord.

2 And Pharaoh, being angry with them, (now the one was in charge of the cupbearers, the other of the millers of grain)

3 sent them to the prison of the leader of the military, in which Joseph also was a prisoner.

4 But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, who ministered to them also. Some little time passed by, while they were held in custody.

5 And they both saw a similar dream on one night, whose interpretations should be related to one another.

6 And when Joseph had entered to them in the morning, and had seen them sad,

7 he consulted them, saying, "Why is your expression sadder today than usual?"

8 They responded, "We have seen a dream, and there is no one to interpret it for us." And Joseph said to them, "Doesn't interpretation belong to God? Recount for me what you have seen."

9 The chief cupbearer explained his dream first. "I saw before me a vine,

10 on which were three shoots, which grew little by little into buds, and, after the flowers, it matured into grapes.

11 And the cup of Pharaoh was in my hand. Therefore, I took the grapes, and I pressed them into the cup that I held, and I handed the cup to Pharaoh."

12 Joseph responded: "This is the interpretation of the dream. The three shoots are the next three days,

13 after which Pharaoh will remember your service, and he will restore you to your former position. And you will give him the cup according to your office, as you were accustomed to do before.

14 Only remember me, when it will be well with you, and do me this mercy, to suggest to Pharaoh to lead me out of this prison.

15 For I have been stolen from the land of the Hebrews, and here, innocently, I was cast into the pit."

16 The chief miller of grain, seeing that he had wisely unraveled the dream, said: "I also saw a dream: that I had three baskets of meal above my head,

17 and in one basket, which was the highest, I carried all foods that are made by the art of baking, and the birds ate from it."

18 Joseph responded: "This is the interpretation of the dream. The three baskets are the next three days,

19 after which Pharaoh will carry away your head, and also suspend you from a cross, and the birds will tear your flesh."

20 The third day thereafter was the birthday of Pharaoh. And making a great feast for his servants, he remembered, during the banquet, the chief cupbearer and the chief miller of grain.

21 And he restored the one to his place, to present him the cup;

22 the other he hanged on a gallows, and thus the truth of the interpreter of dreams was proven.

23 And although he advanced with so much prosperity, the chief cupbearer forgot his interpreter of dreams.

Choose your language

The Message

Genesis 40

Genesis 40