Genesis 40

Pharaoh’s Officials Are Thrown in Prison

1 Sometime later, Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker messed up and got on Pharaoh’s bad side.

2 Pharaoh was heated with both of them, so he locked them up in the same prison where Joseph was staying.

3 They were put under the captain of the guard’s watch, the same place Joseph was running things.

4 The captain assigned Joseph to look after them, and they stayed in prison for a while.

The Cupbearer and Baker Have Dreams

5 One night, both the cupbearer and the baker had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning.

6 The next morning, Joseph saw they were looking stressed and asked them,

7 ‘Listen, why do you all look so down today,’

8 They said, ‘We both had dreams, but there is nobody here to break them down for us.’ Joseph said, ‘Interpretations belong to God. Tell me your dreams.’

The Cupbearer’s Dream

9 The cupbearer told Joseph, ‘In my dream, I saw a vine with three branches.’

10 ‘It started budding, blossomed, and then its grapes ripened.’

11 ‘I was holding Pharaoh’s cup, so I took the grapes, squeezed them into the cup, and handed it to Pharaoh.’

12 Joseph said, ‘Alright, here is the breakdown: the three branches mean three days.’

13 ‘In three days, Pharaoh is going to lift you up and give you back your old job. You will be handing Pharaoh his cup again.’

14 ‘When that happens, do not forget about me. Put in a good word with Pharaoh so I can get outta here.’

15 ‘I was kidnapped from my homeland, and I did not do anything to deserve being thrown in this prison.’

The Baker’s Dream

16 When the baker saw Joseph’s interpretation was good, he said, ‘Listen, I had a dream too. I had three baskets of bread on my head.’

17 ‘The top basket had all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds kept eating them.’

18 Joseph said, ‘Alright, here is the deal: the three baskets mean three days.’

19 ‘In three days, Pharaoh is going to lift off your head and hang you on a pole. The birds are going to eat your flesh.’

The Dreams Come True

20 Three days later, it was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he threw a party for all his officials. He called for the cupbearer and the baker.

21 He restored the cupbearer to his position, and he started handing Pharaoh his cup again.

22 But the baker, Pharaoh had him hanged, just like Joseph said.

23 Even though the cupbearer got out, he forgot about Joseph and did not say a word to Pharaoh.