Genesis 40:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.

NIV: This is what it means,' Joseph said to him. 'The three branches are three days.

NASB: Then Joseph said to him, 'This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;

CSB: "This is its interpretation," Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days.

NLT: This is what the dream means,' Joseph said. 'The three branches represent three days.

KJV: And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

NKJV: And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days.

Joseph is falsely imprisoned (Genesis 39:11–15), but his integrity and skill have not gone unnoticed (Genesis 39:21–23). While languishing in jail, two other prisoners arrived: the cupbearer and baker of Egypt's ruler, the Pharaoh (Genesis 40:1–3). Given some sort of caretaker's role, Joseph noticed the men's distress the morning after they both had vivid, prophetic dreams (Genesis 40:5–6). He reassured them that God could provide an interpretation, offering to pass along God's wisdom (Genesis 40:7–8). The cupbearer's dream involved seeing a three-branched vine rapidly grow into ripened grapes. He then pressed the grapes and gave the results to Pharaoh (Genesis 40:9–11).

In Scripture, numbers seen in dreams often contain some specific significance. This will feature in dreams later in Joseph's life, as well (Genesis 41:1–8). Joseph begins to interpret the cupbearer's dream by nothing that the three branches represent three days. This will lead to a happy prediction for the jailed man (Genesis 40:13).

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.

Accessed 5/2/2024 1:22:13 AM