Genesis 40:17

Easy-to-Read Version

In the top basket there were all kinds of baked food for the king, but birds were eating this food."

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
In the uppermost basket there was of all kinds of baked food for Par`oh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head."

King James Version
And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

Lexham English Bible
And in the upper basket were all sorts of baked foods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket upon my head."

New Century Version
In the top basket were all kinds of baked food for the king, but the birds were eating this food out of the basket on my head."

New English Translation
In the top basket there were baked goods of every kind for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them from the basket that was on my head."

Amplified Bible
and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds [of prey] were eating [these foods] out of the basket on my head."

New American Standard Bible
and in the top basket there were some of all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."

Geneva Bible (1587)
And in the vppermost basket there was of all maner baken meates for Pharaoh: and the birdes did eate them out of the basket vpon mine head.

Legacy Standard Bible
and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."

Contemporary English Version
The top basket was full of all kinds of baked things for the king, but birds were eating them."

Complete Jewish Bible
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."

Darby Translation
And in the uppermost basket there were all manner of victuals for Pharaoh that the baker makes, and the birds ate them out of the basket upon my head.

English Standard Version
and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head."

George Lamsa Translation
And in the uppermost basket there was of every kind of food for Pharaoh, prepared by a baker; and the birds of prey were eating it out of the basket on my head.

Good News Translation
In the top basket there were all kinds of baked goods for the king, and the birds were eating them."

Christian Standard Bible®
In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

Literal Translation
And in the top basket some from all the food of Pharaoh, the work of a baker. And the birds were eating them from the basket off my head.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and in ye vppermost baßket all maner of bake meates vnto Pharao, and the foules ate out of the baßket vpon my heade.

American Standard Version
and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked food for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

Bible in Basic English
And in the top basket were all sorts of cooked meats for Pharaoh; and the birds were taking them out of the baskets on my head.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And in the vppermost basket there was of all maner bake meates for Pharao, and the birdes dyd eate them out of the basket that was vpon my head.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked food for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.'

King James Version (1611)
And in the vppermost basket there was of all maner of bake-meats for Pharaoh, and the birds did eat them out of the basket vpon my head.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And in the upper basket there was the work of the baker of every kind which Pharao eats; and the fowls of the air ate them out of the basket that was on my head.

English Revised Version
and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

Berean Standard Bible
In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and Y gesside that Y bar in o panyere, that was heiyere, alle metis that ben maad bi craft of bakers, and that briddis eeten therof.

Young's Literal Translation
and in the uppermost basket [are] of all [kinds] of Pharaoh's food, work of a baker; and the birds are eating them out of the basket, from off my head.'

Update Bible Version
and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked food for Pharaoh; and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.

Webster's Bible Translation
And in the uppermost basket [there was] of all manner of bake-meats for Pharaoh; and the birds ate them out of the basket upon my head.

World English Bible
In the uppermost basket there was of all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head."

New King James Version
In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head."

New Living Translation
The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head."

New Life Bible
All kinds of food for Pharaoh were in the top basket. But the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."

New Revised Standard
and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and, in the uppermost basket, was some of every kind of food for Pharaoh that a baker could make, - but, the birds, kept eating them out of the basket from off my head.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And that in one basket which was uppermost, I carried all meats that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds ate out of it.

Revised Standard Version
and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."

Contextual Overview

⁵ One night both of the prisoners had a dream. The baker and the wine server each had his own dream, and each dream had its own meaning. ⁶ Joseph went to them the next morning and saw that the two men were worried. ⁷ He asked them, "Why do you look so worried today?" ⁸ The two men answered, "We both had dreams last night, but we don't understand what we dreamed. There is no one to explain the dreams to us." Joseph said to them, "God is the only one who can understand and explain dreams. So I beg you, tell me your dreams." ⁹ So the wine server told Joseph his dream. The server said, "I dreamed I saw a vine. ¹⁰ On the vine there were three branches. I watched the branches grow flowers and then become grapes. ¹¹ I was holding Pharaoh's cup, so I took the grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I gave the cup to Pharaoh." ¹² Then Joseph said, "I will explain the dream to you. The three branches mean three days. ¹³ Before the end of three days, Pharaoh will forgive you and allow you to go back to your work. You will do the same work for Pharaoh as you did before. ¹⁴ But when you are free, remember me. Be good to me and help me. Tell Pharaoh about me so that I can get out of this prison.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

bakemeats: Heb. meat of Pharaoh, the work of a baker, or cook, Genesis 49:20, 1 Chronicles 12:20

Reciprocal: Genesis 40:19 - and the birds

Cross-References

Genesis 49:20
"Asher's land will grow much good food. He will have food fit for a king!

1 Chronicles 12:20
These were the men from Manasseh who joined David when he went to the town of Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. All of them were generals from the tribe of Manasseh.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And in the uppermost basket [there was] of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh,.... All sorts of pastry, as tarts, pies, c. Josephus b says, two of the baskets were full of bread, and the third had various sorts of food, such as is usually, prepared for kings:

and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head all the three baskets were upon his head, but this seems to be the uppermost, which the birds could more easily come at; though if the baskets were full of holes, they might through them peck the bread with their bills.

b Antiqu. l. 2. c. 5. sect. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

- Joseph in Prison

An uncomplaining patience and an unhesitating hopefulness keep the breast of Joseph in calm tranquillity. There is a God above, and that God is with him. His soul swerves not from this feeling. Meanwhile, new and distinguished prisoners are introduced into his place of confinement.

Genesis 40:1-4

The chief butler and chief baker, high officials in Pharaoh’s court, come under the displeasure of their sovereign. “In the house of the captain of the guards.” It appears that this officer’s establishment contained the keep in which Joseph and these criminals were confined. “Charged Joseph with them.” As Joseph was his slave, and these were state prisoners, he appointed him to wait upon them. It is probable that Joseph’s character had been somewhat re-established with him during his residence in the prison.

Genesis 40:5-8

These prisoners dream, “each according to the interpretation of his dream,” the imagery of which was suited to indicate his future state. They were sad - anxious to know the meaning of these impressive dreams. “Why are your forces bad today?” Joseph keeps up his character of frank composure. “Do not interpretations belong to God?” In his past history he had learned that dreams themselves come from God. And when he adds, “Tell them now to me,” he intimates that God would enable him to interpret their dreams. Here again he uses the general name of God, which was common to him with the pagan.

Genesis 40:9-15

The chief butler now recites his dream. “Pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup.” The imagery of the dream is not intended to intimate that Pharaoh drank only the fresh juice of the grape. It only expresses by a natural figure the source of wine, and possibly the duty of the chief butler to understand and superintend the whole process of its formation. Egypt was not only a corn, but a vine country. The interpretation of this dream was very obvious and natural; yet not without a divine intimation could it be known that the “three branches were three days.” Joseph, in the quiet confidence that his interpretation would prove correct, begs the chief butler to remember him and endeavor to procure his release. “Stolen, stolen was I.” He assures him that he was not a criminal, and that his enslavement was an act of wrongful violence - a robbery by the strong hand. “From the land of the Hebrews;” a very remarkable expression, as it strongly favors the presumption that the Hebrews inhabited the country before Kenaan took possession of it. “I have not done aught.” Joseph pleads innocence, and claims liberation, not as an unmerited favor, but as a right. “The pit.” The pit without water seems to have been the primitive place of confinement for culprits.

Genesis 40:16-19

The chief baker is encouraged by this interpretation to tell his dream. “I also.” He anticipates a favorable answer, from the remarkable likeness of the dreams. “On my head.” It appears from the monuments of Egypt that it was the custom for men to carry articles on their heads. “All manner of baked meats” were also characteristic of a corn country. “Lift up thy head from upon thee.” This part of the interpretation proves its divine origin. And hang thee - thy body, after being beheaded. This was a constant warning to all beholders.

Genesis 40:20-23

The interpretations prove correct. “The birthday of Pharaoh.” It is natural and proper for men to celebrate with thanksgiving the day of their birth, as life is a pure and positive blessing. The benign Creator gives only a happy and precious form of existence to those whom he endows with the capacity of estimating its value. A birthday feast cannot be without a chief butler and a chief baker, and hence, the fate of these criminals must be promptly decided. “Lifted up the head;” a phrase of double meaning. The chief butler remembers not Joseph. This is a case of frequent occurrence in this nether world. But there is One above who does not forget him. He will deliver him at the proper time.