Genesis 40:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt.

NIV: Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt.

NASB: Then it came about after these things, that the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.

CSB: After this, the king of Egypt’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.

NLT: Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master.

KJV: And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.

NKJV: It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.

Joseph (Genesis 37:28) is in prison in Egypt. His jail is specially dedicated to the king's prisoners, and is somehow attached to the home of Potiphar, the captain of the guard (Genesis 40:3). Potiphar is Joseph's former master (Genesis 39:1–6). Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife of attempted rape (Genesis 39:11–20).

Although Joseph's circumstances are difficult, the Lord remains with him. God continues to bless Joseph with great success in everything he does. In fact, the keeper of the jail has put Joseph in charge of most of what goes on in the prison. While Scripture does not say exactly how long this has been, it has not been a brief stay. Joseph has been jailed for years and naturally wants to get out.

Two more high-ranking servants are added to the prison: the cupbearer and baker of Pharaoh, the Egyptian ruler. A cupbearer was an especially trusted servant who may have monitored the process of the winemaking from grapes to cup. Part of his role was to ensure, for instance, that the king was not poisoned. The king's chief baker may have supervised a team of bakers. Both men had committed an unnamed offense against the king. In the case of these two men, guilt is certain, as opposed to Joseph, who had been falsely accused.

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.

Joseph remains in prison after being accused of attempted rape by Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:11–15). The Lord blesses Joseph even in jail (Genesis 39:21–23), but he longs to get out. His chance for release comes through an opportunity to interpret the dreams of two fellow prisoners. The dreams reveal that one will be restored to his old position, while the other will be killed. Joseph pleads with the servant to be restored, asking him to to plead with Pharaoh to get Joseph released, but the man fails to do so. Two years later (Genesis 41:1), another dream requires explanation, and Joseph will finally be freed (Genesis 41:12–14).

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.