Genesis 40

Joseph Interprets Two Prisoners’ Dreams

1Some time after this, the #Neh. 1:11cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3#[ch. 39:20]and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.

5And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. 6When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, #[Neh. 2:2]“Why are your faces downcast today?” 8They said to him, #ch. 41:15 “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, #ch. 41:16; Dan. 2:28, 47“Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

9So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11Pharaoh’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.” 12Then Joseph said to him, #ver. 18; ch. 41:12; [Dan. 2:36] “This is its interpretation: #[ch. 41:26, 27]the three branches are three days. 13In three days Pharaoh will #2 Kgs. 25:27; Jer. 52:31; [ver. 19, 20, 22; Ps. 3:3]lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 14Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15For #ch. 37:28 I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and #ch. 39:20here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”

16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” 18And Joseph answered and said, #See ver. 12“This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19#ver. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and #ver. 22hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”

20On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s #Matt. 14:6; Mark 6:21 birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and #ver. 13, 19lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21#ver. 13 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and #Neh. 2:1he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22But he #ver. 19hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

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Genesis 40

CHAPTER 40

1When these things were done, it befelled that two geldings, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, sinned to their lord.

2And Pharaoh was wroth against them, for the one was master butler, and the tother was master baker.

3And he sent them into the prison of the prince of knights, in which also Joseph was bound.

4And the keeper of the prison betook them to Joseph, which also served, or kept, them. Somewhat of time passed, and they were holden in keeping,

5and both saw a dream in one night, by covenable expounding to them.

6And when Joseph had entered to them early, and had seen them sorry,

7he asked them, and said, Why is your cheer heavier today than it is wont to be?

8Which answered, We each saw a dream, and there is no man that expoundeth it to us. And Joseph said to them, Whether the expounding is not of God? Tell ye to me what ye have seen.

9The master butler told first his dream; I saw before me that a vine,

10in which were three scions, waxed little and little into burgeonings, and that after the flowers, the grapes waxed ripe,

11and the cup of Pharaoh was in mine hand; therefore I took the grapes, and pressed them out into the cup that I held, and I gave drink to Pharaoh.

12Joseph answered, This is the expounding of the dream; three scions be yet three days,

13after which Pharaoh shall have mind of thy service, and he shall restore thee into the first degree, and thou shalt give to him the cup, by thine office, as thou were wont to do before.

14Only have thou mind of me, when it is well to thee, and thou shalt do mercy with me, that thou make suggestion to Pharaoh, that he lead me out of this prison;

15for thiefly, that is, by thievery, I am taken away from the land of Hebrews, and here I am sent innocent into prison.

16The master baker saw that Joseph had declared prudently the dream, and he said, And I saw a dream, that I had three baskets of meal on mine head,

17and I guessed that I bare in one basket, that was highest, all meats or baked foods that be made for Pharaoh by the craft of bakers, and that birds ate thereof.

18Joseph answered, This is the expounding of the dream; three baskets be yet three days,

19after which Pharaoh shall take away thine head, and he shall hang thee in a cross, and birds shall draw thy flesh.

20From thence the third day was the day of the birth of Pharaoh, which made a great feast to his servants, and he had mind among the meats or during the meal, of the master butler, and of the prince of bakers;

21and he restored the one into his place, that he should dress the cup, either drink, to the king,

22and he hanged the tother in a gibbet, that the truth of Joseph declaring the dreams should be proved.

23And nevertheless when prosperities befelled to the master butler, he forgat Joseph that declared his dream.

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