Genesis Chapter Forty

Chapter Overview

In our study of Genesis chapter forty, we see the fact that there are two solutions to sin which are either vindication or condemnation. We follow Yosef's service to Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker in prison, his God-given interpretation of their dreams, and the cupbearer's failure to remember him.

Genesis 40:1-4

Some time later it came about that the Egyptian king's cupbearer and baker gave offense to their lord the king of Egypt. Pharaoh became angry with his two officers the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, in the same place where Yosef was kept. The captain of the guard charged Yosef to be with them, and he became their attendant while they remained in prison.

In this passage, we see that two high officials in Pharaoh's service had "sinned against him" although we do not actually know what they did. Whatever it was, Pharaoh became so enraged with them that he turned them over to the prison warden where Yosef was being kept and Yosef was tasked with being their servant. Whether this was a punishment or a perk for Yosef we do not know but God had him in that position for this time.

Genesis 40:5-8

One night the two of them, the king of Egypt's cupbearer and his baker, there in prison, both had dreams, each dream with its own meaning. Yosef came in to them in the morning and saw that they looked sad. He asked Pharaoh's officers there with him in the prison of his master's house, "Why are you looking so sad today?" They said to him, "We each had a dream, and there's no one around who can interpret it." Yosef said to them, "Don't interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please."

Here, we see that after they had been there for a period of time, both men had a different dream and they were unnerved by the dreams. Yosef went in to serve them in the morning and they told him what was going on. Yosef's reply was the solutions were with God and asked for them to let him interpret the dreams for them.

Genesis 40:9-13

Then the chief cupbearer told Yosef his dream: "In my dream, there in front of me was a vine, and the vine had three branches. The branches budded, then it suddenly began to blossom, and finally clusters of ripe grapes appeared. Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, so I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and gave the cup to Pharaoh." Yosef said to him, "Here is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office: you will be giving Pharaoh his cup as you used to when you were his cupbearer.

The chief cupbearer did not hesitate but quickly told his dream to Yosef. It involved a grapevine and, throughout the Bible, a grapevine is associated with sanctification. Yosef saw God's solution immediately and informed the chief cupbearer that he would be restored to his position with Pharaoh. In the original Hebrew, the word mishpat is used and it speaks of Pharaoh making a judgement that restores the cupbearer to his previous position.

Genesis 40:14 & 15

But remember me when it goes well with you; and show me kindness, please; and mention me to Pharaoh, so that he will release me from this prison. For the truth is that I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and here too I have done nothing wrong that would justify putting me in this dungeon."

Yosef asked the chief cupbearer to show him grace when he was restored to his position with Pharaoh and tells of how he came to be there and his innocence. Yosef describes the place in a different way here as the Hebrew word translated as "dungeon" actually speaks of a pit or tomb.

Genesis 40:16-19

When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Yosef, "I too saw in my dream: there were three baskets of white bread on my head. In the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds ate them out of the basket on my head." Yosef answered, "Here is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head from off of you -he will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh off you."

The chief baker was quick to tell his dream once he saw that the cupbearer's had a good meaning. Yosef revealed to him that, in three days, Pharaoh would make a judgement against him and he would be hung on a tree.

Genesis 40:20-23

On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he gave a party for all his officials, and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his officials. He restored the chief cupbearer back to his position, so that he again gave Pharaoh his cup. But he hanged the chief baker, as Yosef had interpreted to them. Nevertheless, the chief cupbearer didn't remember Yosef, but forgot him.

Both solutions to the dreams came to pass on the third day as it was said but the chief cupbearer did not remember Yosef and show him the grace that he had agreed to.