Genesis 41:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "I remember my offenses today.

NIV: Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.

NASB: Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, 'I would make mention today of my own offenses.

CSB: Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I remember my faults.

NLT: Finally, the king’s chief cup-bearer spoke up. 'Today I have been reminded of my failure,' he told Pharaoh.

KJV: Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:

NKJV: Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day.

Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, is troubled about two disturbing prophetic dreams. His magicians and wise men have been unable to interpret the dreams (Genesis 41:1–8). Fortunately, his chief cupbearer remembers something that may be helpful. This man was likely in charge of the king's wine, making sure it was not poisoned. At some time in the past, he had angered the Pharaoh and been placed in prison (Genesis 40:1–4). There, he dreamed about his release, as interpreted by a fellow prisoner, Joseph (Genesis 40:9–13).

For reasons unexplained, this man did not mention Joseph to anyone after he was released (Genesis 40:23). Scripture often uses terms such as "forget" and "remember" in a practical sense; they don't always mean such things are completely lost to that person's memory. Most likely, the cupbearer didn't want to create any further controversy after he was released.

Now, however he says he "remembers" his offenses. This probably combines several meanings. In one sense, he needs to bring up his former imprisonment. In another sense, he is reminded of how he failed to help Joseph. At last, he will tell Pharaoh about the man who once successfully interpreted his own dream (Genesis 41:10–13).

Genesis 41:9–36 contains Joseph's explanation of Pharaoh's visions. When Egypt's ruler is bothered by vivid dreams, his formerly jailed cupbearer remembers a young Hebrew. This is Joseph, who explained the cupbearer's dream in prison (Genesis 40:23). Joseph explains that Pharaoh's dreams point to seven years of abundance in Egypt followed by seven years of desperate famine. Joseph boldly proposes a plan to manage the coming crisis.

Joseph's status in Genesis 41 begins as "forgotten Hebrew prison slave" and ends as "the second most powerful man in Egypt." The cupbearer from the previous chapter finally mentions Joseph two years later, when Pharaoh is troubled by dreams which wise men can't interpret. Joseph reveals the meaning of the dreams: seven years of abundance will be followed by seven years of great famine in the land. Pharaoh, recognizing that God's Spirit is with Joseph, makes him second in command over the entire nation and tasks him with preparing for the famine.

Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers (Genesis 37:24–28). He then excelled in his work for an Egyptian official, only to be falsely accused and imprisoned (Genesis 39:20). There, he accurately interpreted dreams for servants of the Egyptian ruler (Genesis 40:20–22). Unfortunately, the restored cupbearer failed to mention Joseph, leaving him in prison for two more years (Genesis 40:23). A series of disturbing dreams leads to Joseph's audience with Pharaoh. This, in turn, leads to Joseph becoming the second most powerful man in the nation. The following chapters emphasize Joseph's reunion with his family. Details about his administration of food during the famine are recorded in Genesis 47:13–26.

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.