What does Genesis 40:2 mean?
Criminal justice in the court of an Egyptian Pharaoh was fully one-sided. Accused criminals had no rights, especially foreign-born slaves. A powerful man, like Joseph's master Potiphar (Genesis 39:1), could simply throw a servant in prison without any kind of trial or release date. It's conceivable he could have killed Joseph, given the nature of his accused crime (Genesis 39:14–18). Joseph is not guilty, however, as the charge was invented by a bitter woman rejected in her attempt at seduction (Genesis 39:6–12).Unlike Joseph, Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker were truly guilty of something. Scripture does not say what their crime was. It might have been as simple as irritating their king. We're also not told if they were both involved in the same offense, at the same time, or if their crimes were entirely separate. In any case, the king was enraged with them. They may have been foreign-born slaves, as was Joseph. Joseph's level of success was noteworthy (Genesis 39:22–23), but it was not unusual for faithful slaves to become trusted servants of high-ranking officials. All three men would consider their prospects bleak, at best.
Genesis 40:1–23 takes place during Joseph's years in a prison, or dungeon, within the house of the captain of the guard. Two men join him there for a time and experience troubling, prophetic dreams. Joseph's interpretation reveals that the former cupbearer to Pharaoh will be restored to his old job. The former baker for Pharaoh will be executed. Both interpretations are fulfilled exactly, but Joseph is soon forgotten again.
Genesis 40 describes Joseph's interpretation of dreams for two of his fellow prisoners. Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and baker are imprisoned and experience troubling, prophetic visions. Joseph reveals the meaning of those dreams and, just as he predicts, the cupbearer is restored to his position while the baker is executed. The redeemed cupbearer, despite Joseph's plea, says nothing to Pharaoh about Joseph's situation.
