A cluster of dark grapes and a small basket of white loaves on the deep sill of a high prison window in a thick mud-brick wall, in first light.

The Book of

Genesis 40

Two of Pharaoh’s officers wake up in Joseph’s prison with dreams they can’t read. Joseph knows who can.

23 verses≈ 4 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–11BeginningsCreation, fall, flood, Babel
12–24AbrahamThe call and the promise
25–36Isaac and JacobThe promise passed on
37–50JosephGod meant it for goodChapter 40

The Cupbearer and the Baker

Some time later, the king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant.

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After they had been in custody for some time,

both of these men—the Egyptian king’s cupbearer and baker, who were being held in the prison—had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning.

When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were distraught.

Joseph

So he asked the officials of Pharaoh who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so downcast today?”

The cupbearer and the baker

“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Joseph

Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

Don’t interpretations belong to God?

Genesis 40:8

Reflect

Why the long faces?

Joseph had every reason to be sunk in his own trouble. He was a slave, falsely accused and forgotten in a prison. Yet he noticed two other prisoners and asked, “Why are your faces so downcast today?” Who around you is carrying a heavy face this week? Write down one name, and one way you could ask them how they really are.

A young grapevine with three branches, one budding, one in flower and one heavy with dark grapes, and a gold cup resting beside it in soft dreamlike light.

So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream: “In my dream there was a vine before me, and on the vine were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms opened and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into his cup, and placed the cup in his hand.”

Genesis 40:12–13

But when it goes well for you, please remember me and show me kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh, that he might bring me out of this prison. For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for which they should have put me in this dungeon.”

Pray

Please remember me

Joseph didn’t pretend he was fine. He told the cupbearer plainly, “please remember me,” and asked to be brought “out of this prison.” You can be that honest with God. Tell Him where you feel stuck or overlooked, ask Him for what you long for, and thank Him that He never forgets His people, even when others do.

Pharaoh's banquet hall seen from the far end: low tables heaped with food, officials in white linen, a harpist, and a cupbearer from behind kneeling to place a gold cup in Pharaoh's hand.

On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had described to them in his interpretation.

0:21

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot all about him.

Two dreams, three days

Whiteboard

Two dreams on the same night, each with three of something, and both came true on the third day, Pharaoh’s birthday. Joseph used almost the same words for both men, but one was lifted up to his old place and the other lifted off and hanged. Joseph gave the credit for both meanings to God.

Question

Quick question

Both dreams carried a number, and Joseph read it the same way each time.

What did the three branches and the three baskets stand for?

You’ve experienced

Genesis 40

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A verse to carry with you

Don’t interpretations belong to God?

Genesis 40:8

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