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Literal Standard Version

Genesis 40:1

And it comes to pass, after these things—the butler of the king of Egypt and the baker have sinned against their lord, against the king of Egypt;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Art;   Cupbearer;   Thompson Chain Reference - Arts and Crafts;   Bakers;   Butlers;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Arts of the;   Egypt;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dream;   Food;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Butler;   Cup-Bearer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Cupbearer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Butler;   Genesis;   Prison, Prisoners;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Cupbearer;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Baker;   Butler;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Cup-bearer;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Butler;   Cupbearer,;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Joseph;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Cupbearer;   Guard;   Joseph (2);   Offence;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
It happened after these things, that the butler of the king of Mitzrayim and his baker offended their lord, the king of Mitzrayim.
King James Version
And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
Lexham English Bible
And it happened that after these things the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker did wrong against their lord, against the king of Egypt.
New Century Version
After these things happened, two of the king's officers displeased the king—the man who served wine to the king and the king's baker.
New English Translation
After these things happened, the cupbearer to the king of Egypt and the royal baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.
Amplified Bible
Now some time later, the cupbearer (butler) and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, Egypt's king.
New American Standard Bible
Then it came about after these things, that the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And after these things, the butler of the King of Egypt and his baker offended their lorde the King of Egypt.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that after these things, the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
Contemporary English Version
While Joseph was in prison, both the king's personal servant and his chief cook made the king angry. So he had them thrown into the same prison with Joseph.
Complete Jewish Bible
(vii) Some time later it came about that the Egyptian king's cupbearer and baker gave offense to their lord the king of Egypt.
Darby Translation
And it came to pass after these things, [that] the cup-bearer of the king of Egypt and the baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.
Easy-to-Read Version
Later, two of Pharaoh's servants did something wrong to Pharaoh. These servants were the baker and the man who served wine to Pharaoh.
English Standard Version
Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt.
George Lamsa Translation
AND it came to pass after these things that the chief butler of the king of Egypt and the chief baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
Good News Translation
Some time later the king of Egypt's wine steward and his chief baker offended the king.
Christian Standard Bible®
After this, the king of Egypt’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.
Literal Translation
And after these things, it happened, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt sinned against their lord, against the king of Egypt.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And it fortuned after this, that ye kynge of Egiptes chefe butlar and ye chefe baker offended their lorde the kynge of Egipte.
American Standard Version
And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.
Bible in Basic English
Now after these things the chief servant who had the care of the wine, and the chief bread-maker in Pharaoh's house, did something against Pharaoh's orders;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it came to passe after these thynges, that the butler of ye king of Egypt and his baker, had offended their lorde the kyng of Egypt.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe after these things, that the Butler of the King of Egypt, and his Baker, had offended their lord the King of Egypt.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass after these things, that the chief cupbearer of the king of Egypt and the chief baker trespassed against their lord the king of Egypt.
English Revised Version
And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.
Berean Standard Bible
Some time later, the king's cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whanne these thingis weren doon so, it bifelde that twei geldyngis, the boteler and the baker `of the kyng of Egipt, synneden to her lord.
Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, after these things -- the butler of the king of Egypt and the baker have sinned against their lord, against the king of Egypt;
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass after these things, that the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass after these things, [that] the butler of the king of Egypt and [his] baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
World English Bible
It happened after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
New King James Version
It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
New Living Translation
Some time later, Pharaoh's chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master.
New Life Bible
Some time later, the man who carried the king's cup and the man who made the king's bread did wrong against the king of Egypt.
New Revised Standard
Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt, and the baker, had sinned against their lord the king of Egypt.
Douay-Rheims Bible
After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord.
Revised Standard Version
Some time after this, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.
THE MESSAGE
As time went on, it happened that the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt crossed their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the head cupbearer and the head baker, and put them in custody under the captain of the guard; it was the same jail where Joseph was held. The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to see to their needs. After they had been in custody for a while, the king's cupbearer and baker, while being held in the jail, both had a dream on the same night, each dream having its own meaning. When Joseph arrived in the morning, he noticed that they were feeling low. So he asked them, the two officials of Pharaoh who had been thrown into jail with him, "What's wrong? Why the long faces?" They said, "We dreamed dreams and there's no one to interpret them." Joseph said, "Don't interpretations come from God? Tell me the dreams." First the head cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: "In my dream there was a vine in front of me with three branches on it: It budded, blossomed, and the clusters ripened into grapes. I was holding Pharaoh's cup; I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup, and gave the cup to Pharaoh." Joseph said, "Here's the meaning. The three branches are three days. Within three days, Pharaoh will get you out of here and put you back to your old work—you'll be giving Pharaoh his cup just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. Only remember me when things are going well with you again—tell Pharaoh about me and get me out of this place. I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. And since I've been here, I've done nothing to deserve being put in this hole." When the head baker saw how well Joseph's interpretation turned out, he spoke up: "My dream went like this: I saw three wicker baskets on my head; the top basket had assorted pastries from the bakery and birds were picking at them from the basket on my head." Joseph said, "This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days; within three days Pharaoh will take off your head, impale you on a post, and the birds will pick your bones clean." And sure enough, on the third day it was Pharaoh's birthday and he threw a feast for all his servants. He set the head cupbearer and the head baker in places of honor in the presence of all the guests. Then he restored the head cupbearer to his cupbearing post; he handed Pharaoh his cup just as before. And then he impaled the head baker on a post, following Joseph's interpretations exactly. But the head cupbearer never gave Joseph another thought; he forgot all about him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then it came about after these things, the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.

Contextual Overview

1And it comes to pass, after these things—the butler of the king of Egypt and the baker have sinned against their lord, against the king of Egypt;2and Pharaoh is angry against his two eunuchs, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers, 3and puts them in confinement in the house of the chief of the executioners, into the round-house, the place where Joseph [is] a prisoner, 4and the chief of the executioners charges Joseph with them, and he serves them; and they are in confinement [for some] days.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

it came: Genesis 39:20-23, Esther 6:1

the butler: Mashkeh, from shakah, to give drink, is the same as saky among the Arabians and Persians, and signifies a cup-bearer. Genesis 40:13, Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah 2:1, Nehemiah 2:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 28:12 - he dreamed Genesis 40:16 - the chief Genesis 41:9 - I do remember Genesis 46:19 - Joseph

Cross-References

Genesis 40:13
yet, within three days Pharaoh lifts up your head, and has put you back on your station, and you have given the cup of Pharaoh into his hand, according to the former custom when you were his butler.
Genesis 40:20
And it comes to pass, on the third day, Pharaoh's birthday, that he makes a banquet to all his servants, and lifts up the head of the chief of the butlers, and the head of the chief of the bakers among his servants,
Genesis 40:23
and the chief of the butlers has not remembered Joseph, but forgets him.
Esther 6:1
On that night the sleep of the king has fled away, and he commands to bring in the scroll of memorials of the chronicles, and they are read before the king,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass after these things,.... After Joseph had been accused and cast into prison, where he had been for some time:

[that] the butler of the king of Egypt and [his] baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt; committed some fault, at least were accused of one, which raised his displeasure at them. The Targum of Jonathan says, that they consulted to put poison into his drink and food; which, it is not improbable, considering their business and office, they might be charged with; at least it is much more probable than what Jarchi suggests, that the one put a fly into his cup, and the other a little stone or sand into his bread.

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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XL

Pharaoh's chief butler and his chief baker, having offended

their lord, are put in prison, 1-3.

The captain of the guard gives them into the care of Joseph, 4.

Each of them has a dream, 5.

Joseph, seeing them sad, questions them on the subject, 6, 7.

Their answer, 8.

The chief butler tells his dream, 9-11.

Joseph interprets it, 12, 13.

Gives a slight sketch of his history to the chief butler, and

begs him to think upon him when restored to his office, 14, 15.

The chief baker tells his dream, 16,17.

Joseph interprets this also, 18,19.

Both dreams are fulfilled according to the interpretation, the

chief butler being restored to his office, and the chief baker

hanged, 20-22.

The chief butler makes no interest for Joseph, 23.

NOTES ON CHAP. XL

Verse Genesis 40:1. The butler — משקה mashkeh, the same as [Arabic] saky among the Arabians and Persians, and signifying a cup-bearer.

Baker — אפה opheh; rather cook, confectioner, or the like.

Had offended — They had probably been accused of attempting to take away the king's life, one by poisoning his drink, the other by poisoning his bread or confectionaries.


 
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