Genesis 40:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.

NIV: He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh's hand--

NASB: He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;

CSB: Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position as cupbearer, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.

NLT: He then restored the chief cup-bearer to his former position, so he could again hand Pharaoh his cup.

KJV: And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:

NKJV: Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.

On Pharaoh's birthday, he removes both the chief cupbearer and the chief baker from prison (Genesis 40:1–3). Both men have their "heads lifted up" (Genesis 40:20), a symbolic phrase referring to forgiveness and redemption (Psalm 3:3). Just as Joseph predicted from the cupbearer's dream (Genesis 40:12–13), the cupbearer is given his old job back. Once more, he finds himself placing Pharaoh's cup in his hand just as he had done before he was imprisoned.

Joseph—more importantly, his God—have proved to be exactly right in explaining the meaning of troubling dreams. Eventually, this reputation will earn Joseph his freedom (Genesis 41:12–14).

The other man whose head is "lifted," the baker, will experience disaster after this initial moment. Rather, just as predicted, he will be executed and his body left for scavengers (Genesis 40:16–19, 22).

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 5/6/2024 4:21:42 PM