Genesis study chapter

Genesis 40

c. 1700-1600 BCJoseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker.

Back to summaries

Key Verses: Genesis 40:8, 40:14-15, 40:23

After these things, Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker offend their lord, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh is angry with his two officers, putting them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph is confined. The captain of the guard assigns Joseph to them, and he attends them. They continue in custody for some time. One night both the cupbearer and baker of the king of Egypt, confined in prison, dream-each his own dream with its own interpretation. Joseph comes to them in the morning, seeing they’re troubled. He asks why their faces are downcast. They say, “We’ve dreamed, and there’s no one to interpret.” Joseph says, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” The chief cupbearer tells Joseph his dream: “In my dream there was a vine before me. On the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand. I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” Joseph interprets: “The three branches are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office. You’ll place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly. Only remember me when it’s well with you. Please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I’ve done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” The chief baker sees the interpretation is favorable, so he tells Joseph his dream: “I also had a dream. There were three cake baskets on my head. In the uppermost basket were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” Joseph interprets: “The three baskets are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head-from you!-and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.” On the third day (Pharaoh’s birthday), he makes a feast for all his servants. He lifts up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restores the chief cupbearer to his position; he places the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hangs the chief baker, as Joseph interpreted. Yet the chief cupbearer doesn’t remember Joseph, but forgets him.

This chapter advances Joseph’s story toward eventual deliverance. The dreams of the cupbearer and baker parallel Joseph’s earlier dreams (chapter 37) and foreshadow Pharaoh’s dreams (chapter 41). Joseph’s statement “Don’t interpretations belong to God?” (40:8) demonstrates his God-centered perspective-he takes no credit for himself but points to God as the source of wisdom. His interpretations prove accurate, establishing his credibility before interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams. Joseph’s plea to the cupbearer-“remember me”-is poignant. He maintains his innocence: stolen from the Hebrews, done nothing deserving imprisonment. The phrase “lift up your head” has a grim double meaning-restoration for the cupbearer, execution for the baker. The cupbearer’s forgetting Joseph for two more years (41:1) demonstrates human unfaithfulness contrasted with God’s faithfulness. Yet this delay is part of God’s timing-Joseph must remain in prison until the precise moment when Pharaoh needs a dream interpreter. The chapter shows God sovereignly orchestrating events, using dreams to reveal His will, and preparing Joseph through further trials for his future role.

Key Terms & Words:

Cross-References:

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does Joseph’s statement “Don’t interpretations belong to God?” (40:8) teach us about the source of wisdom and how we should approach using gifts God has given us?
  2. How does the cupbearer’s forgetting Joseph for two more years demonstrate that God’s timing, not human help, ultimately delivers us?
  3. What does Joseph’s continued faithfulness in serving others (the cupbearer and baker) while unjustly imprisoned teach us about maintaining integrity during prolonged trials?