Genesis 40
40
Joseph Explains Two Dreams
1Later, two of Pharaoh’s servants did something wrong to Pharaoh. These servants were the baker and the man who served wine to Pharaoh. 2Pharaoh became angry with his baker and wine server, 3so he put them in the same prison as Joseph. Potiphar, the commander of Pharaoh’s guards, was in charge of this prison. 4The commander put the two prisoners under Joseph’s care. The two men continued to stay in prison for some time. 5One night both of the prisoners had a dream. The baker and the wine server each had his own dream, and each dream had its own meaning. 6Joseph went to them the next morning and saw that the two men were worried. 7He asked them, “Why do you look so worried today?”
8The two men answered, “We both had dreams last night, but we don’t understand what we dreamed. There is no one to explain the dreams to us.”
Joseph said to them, “God is the only one who can understand and explain dreams. So I beg you, tell me your dreams.”
The Wine Server’s Dream
9So the wine server told Joseph his dream. The server said, “I dreamed I saw a vine. 10On the vine there were three branches. I watched the branches grow flowers and then become grapes. 11I was holding Pharaoh’s cup, so I took the grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I gave the cup to Pharaoh.”
12Then Joseph said, “I will explain the dream to you. The three branches mean three days. 13Before the end of three days, Pharaoh will forgive you and allow you to go back to your work. You will do the same work for Pharaoh as you did before. 14But when you are free, remember me. Be good to me and help me. Tell Pharaoh about me so that I can get out of this prison. 15I was kidnapped and taken from the land of my people, the Hebrews. I have done nothing wrong! I should not be in prison.”
The Baker’s Dream
16The baker saw that the other servant’s dream was good, so he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream. I dreamed there were three baskets of bread on my head. 17In the top basket there were all kinds of baked food for the king, but birds were eating this food.”
18Joseph answered, “I will tell you what the dream means. The three baskets mean three days. 19Before the end of three days, the king will take you out of this prison and cut off your head! He will hang your body on a pole, and the birds will eat it.”
Joseph Is Forgotten
20Three days later it was Pharaoh’s birthday. He gave a party for all his servants. At the party Pharaoh allowed the wine server and the baker to leave the prison. 21He freed the wine server and gave him his job back, and once again the wine server put a cup of wine in Pharaoh’s hand. 22But Pharaoh hanged the baker, and everything happened the way Joseph said it would. 23But the wine server did not remember to help Joseph. He said nothing about him to Pharaoh. The wine server forgot about Joseph.
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Genesis 40
40
1After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord.
2And Pharao being angry with them (now the one was chief butler and the other chief baker),
3He sent them to the prison of the commander of the soldiers, in which Joseph also was prisoner,
4But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody.
5And they both dreamed a dream the same night, according to the interpretation agreeing to themselves.
6And when Joseph was come in to them in the morning, and saw them sad,
7He asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder today than usual?
8They answered: We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to interpret it to us. And Joseph said to them: Doth not interpretation belong to God? Tell me what you have dreamed.
9The chief butler first told his dream: I saw before me a vine,
10On which were three branches, which by little and little sent out buds, and after the blossoms brought forth ripe grapes.
11And the cup of Pharao was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into the cup which I held, and I gave the cup to Pharao.
12Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The three branches are yet three days:
13After which Pharao will remember thy service, and will restore thee to thy former place. And thou shalt present him the cup according to thy office, as before thou wast wont to do.
14Only remember me, when it shall be well with thee: and do me this kindness: to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this prison.
15For I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here without any fault was cast into the dungeon.
16The chief baker seeing that he had wisely interpreted the dream, said: I also dreamed a dream, that I had three baskets of meal upon my head;
17And that in one basket which was uppermost, I carried all meats that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds ate out of it.
18Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream. The three baskets are yet three days:
19After which Pharao will take thy head from thee, and hang thee on a cross; and the birds shall tear thy flesh.
20The third day after this was the birthday of Pharao: and he made a great feast for his servants, and at the banquet remembered the chief butler, and the chief baker.
21And he restored the one to his place to present him the cup:
22The other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the interpreter might be shewn.
23But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his interpreter.
An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.