Gen 40 | EE | STEP | Some time later, 2 workers made the king of Egypt angry. He had many workers. He had a cupbearer and a baker. They did something to make him angry.

Genesis 40

Joseph tells two people what their dreams mean

1 Some time later, 2 workers made the king of Egypt angry. He had many workers. He had a cupbearer and a baker. They did something to make him angry. ^{▼▼40:1 The cupbearer had authority in the king’s household. He would make sure that the king’s wine was safe for the king to drink.}

2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officers. He was angry with the cupbearer and the baker. 3 And Pharaoh put them in the same prison that Joseph was in. 4 The man who had authority in the prison put Joseph over them. And Joseph was over them. And they were there for some time. 5 And each of them – the cupbearer and the baker – had a dream. Both had a dream on the same night. And each dream had a different meaning.

6 Joseph came to them the next day. And he saw that they were worried. 7 So Joseph asked them both ‘Why are you sad today?’ 8 They replied ‘We both had dreams, but there is no one to tell us what they mean.’ Joseph said ‘Only God knows the meaning of dreams. But tell me your dreams.’

9 So the cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He told Joseph, ‘In my dream I saw a fruit plant in front of me. 10 And there were 3 branches on the plant. As soon as new leaves came, flowers came. And they became fruit. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand. And I took the fruit. And I put the juice into Pharaoh’s cup. Then I put the cup in his hand.’

12 Joseph said ‘This is what your dream means. The 3 branches are 3 days. 13 In 3 days, Pharaoh will lift up your head. Then he will let you come out of this prison. And you will be Pharaoh’s cupbearer again. You will put Pharaoh’s cup into his hand. You did that when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when these things happen, remember me. And be kind to me. Tell Pharaoh about me. Then I will get out of this prison. 15 Truly, men took me from the land of the Hebrews. I did not want to leave there. And even here, I have not done anything wrong. I should not be in this prison.’ ^{▼▼40:15 Verse 12 ‘lift up your head’ means ‘you will be important again’.}

16 The baker heard that Joseph had given a good meaning to the cupbearer’s dream. So he said, ‘I also had a dream: I had 3 baskets of bread on my head.

17 The top basket contained many different cooked things for Pharaoh. But birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.’

18 Joseph said ‘This is what your dream means. The 3 baskets are 3 days. 19 In 3 days, Pharaoh will lift off your head. And he will hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat your body.’ 20 Now on the 3rd day it was Pharaoh’s birthday. He gave a feast for all his officers. He lifted up the heads of the baker and the cupbearer. He did this in front of all his officers.

21 He let the cupbearer be his own cupbearer again. So, the cupbearer put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand again.

22 But Pharaoh hanged the baker. This is what Joseph said would happen. He had told the baker what his dream meant.

23 But the cupbearer did not remember Joseph. The cupbearer forgot about Joseph.