Genesis 40

Genesis 40 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter
God's power

The account of Joseph focuses on the power of God. God is able to protect his people despite the evil actions of some. He also is able to continue to bless them despite their circumstances. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#peopleofgod and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless)

Interpretation of dreams

The interpretation of dreams was important in the ancient Near East. It was seen as possible only through divine power. Yahweh gave Joseph the power to interpret dreams in order to bring himself glory and to protect Joseph and the Hebrew people. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#glory)

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Genesis 40:1

It came about that

This phrase is used here to mark a new event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

the cupbearer

This is the person who brought drinks to the king.

king's baker

This is the person who made food for the king.

offended their master

"upset their master"

Genesis 40:2

the chief of the cupbearers and the chief of the bakers

"the leading cupbearer and the leading baker"

Genesis 40:3

He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard

"He put them in the prison that was in the house that was overseen by the captain of the guard"

He put them

The king did not put them in prison but rather he commanded for them to be imprisoned. Alternate translation: "He had them put" or "He commanded his guard to put" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

in the same prison where Joseph was confined

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "This was the same prison that Joseph was in" or "This was the same prison Potiphar put Joseph in" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 40:4

They remained in custody for some time

"They remained in prison for a long time"

Genesis 40:5

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Genesis 40:6

Joseph came to them

"Joseph came to the cupbearer and the baker"

Behold, they were upset

The word "behold" here shows that Joseph was surprised by what he saw. Alternate translation: "He was surprised to see that they were upset" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 40:7

Pharaoh's officials who were with him

This refers to the cupbearer and the baker.

in custody in his master's house

"In prison in him master's house." "His master" refers to Joseph's master, the captain of the guard.

Genesis 40:8

Do not interpretations belong to God?

Joseph uses a question for emphasis. This can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "Interpretations belong to God!" or "It is God who can tell the meaning of dreams!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)

Tell me, please

Joseph asks for them to tell him their dreams. Alternate translation: "Tell me the dreams, please" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 40:9

The chief of the cupbearers

The most important person who brings drinks to the king. See how you translated this in Genesis 40:2.

In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me

"In my dream, I saw a vine in front of me!" The cupbearer uses word "behold" here to show that he was surprised by what he saw in his dream and to alert Joseph to pay attention.

Genesis 40:10

the clusters of grapes ripened

"its clusters ripened into grapes"

Genesis 40:11

squeezed them

This means that he squeezed the juice out of them. Alternate translation: "squeezed the juice from them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 40:12

This is the interpretation of it

"Here is what the dream means"

The three branches are three days

"The three branches represent three days"

Genesis 40:13

Within three days

"In three more days"

will lift up your head

Here "lift up your head" is a metaphor for "restore your honor." If the meaning is not clear, it can be explained in the text or a footnote. Alternate translation: "will lift up your head in honor" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

restore you to your office

"will give you back your job"

just as when

"just as you did when"

Genesis 40:14

please show kindness to me

"please be kind to me"

Mention me to Pharaoh and bring me out of this prison

Joseph means for the cupbearer to tell Pharaoh about him so that Pharaoh will release him from prison. Alternate translation: "Help me get out of this prison by telling Pharaoh about me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 40:15

For indeed I was abducted

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "For indeed people took me" or "For indeed the Ishmaelites took me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

the land of the Hebrews

"the land where the Hebrew people live"

Here also have I done nothing that they should put me in this dungeon

"and also while I have been here in Egypt, I have done nothing for which I deserved to be put in prison"

Genesis 40:16

the chief of the bakers

This refers to the leading person who made food for the king. See how this was translated in Genesis 40:2.

I also had a dream, and

"I also had a dream, and in my dream,"

behold, three baskets of bread were on my head

"there were three baskets of bread on my head!" The baker uses word "behold" here to show that he was surprised by what he saw in his dream and to alert Joseph to pay attention.

Genesis 40:17

baked goods for Pharaoh

"baked foods for Pharaoh"

Genesis 40:18

This is the interpretation

"Here is what the dream means"

The three baskets are three days

"The three baskets represent three days"

Genesis 40:19

will lift up your head from you

In verse 13 Joseph said "lift up your head," but there it had a different meaning. Here "lift up your head from you" means either that the prisoner's head would be cut off his body, or the prisoner's head would be lifted when a noose was put around his neck and he was hanged. Alternate translation: "will lift up your head with a knife" or "will lift up your head with a noose"

flesh

Here "flesh" literally means the soft tissue on a person's body.

Genesis 40:20

It came about on the third day that

"Afterward, on the third day." The phrase "it came about" is used here to mark a new event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

He made a feast

"He had a feast"

He lifted up the head of the chief of the cupbearers and the head of the chief of the bakers

The author writes that Pharaoh lifted up both men's heads so that it would sound like he did the same thing to both men. But the meaning of "lift up the head" for each man is different and is explained in verses 21 and 22. This can also be shortened. Alternate translation: "He lifted up the heads of the chief of the cupbearers and the chief of the bakers"

the chief of the cupbearers

This was the leading person who prepared and served drinks to the king. See how these were translated in Genesis 40:2.

the chief of the bakers

This refers to the leading person who made food for the king. See how this was translated in Genesis 40:2.

Genesis 40:21

He restored the chief of the cupbearers to his responsibility

The chief of the cupbearer's "responsibility" refers to his job as chief of the cupbearers. Alternate translation: "He gave the chief of the cupbearers his job back" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 40:22

But he hanged the chief of the bakers

Pharaoh did not personally hang the baker, rather he commanded for him to be hanged. Alternate translation: "But he commanded for the chief of the bakers to be hanged" or "But he commanded his guards to hang the chief of the bakers" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

just as Joseph had interpreted to them

This refers to when Joseph interpreted their dreams. Alternate translation: "just as Joseph had said would happen when he interpreted the two men's dreams" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 40:23

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