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Read the Bible

New American Standard Bible (1995)

Genesis 40:9

So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Dream;   Joseph;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Dreams;   Egypt;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dream;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Butler;   Cup-Bearer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Cupbearer;   Vine;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Butler;   Genesis;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Cupbearer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Dream (2);   King James Dictionary - Chief;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Baker;   Butler;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Cup-bearer;   Vine;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Butler;   Vine,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Vine;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Butler;   Captain;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Elohist;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The chief butler told his dream to Yosef, and said to him, "In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,
King James Version
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
Lexham English Bible
Then the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and he said to him, "In my dream, now behold, there was a vine before me,
New Century Version
So the man who served wine to the king told Joseph his dream. He said, "I dreamed I saw a vine, and
New English Translation
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: "In my dream, there was a vine in front of me.
Amplified Bible
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream there was a grapevine in front of me;
New American Standard Bible
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, saying to him, "In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me;
Geneva Bible (1587)
So the chiefe butler tolde his dreame to Ioseph, and said vnto him, In my dreame, behold, a vine was before me,
Legacy Standard Bible
So the chief cupbearer recounted his dream to Joseph and said to him, "In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me;
Contemporary English Version
The king's personal servant told Joseph, "In my dream I saw a vine
Complete Jewish Bible
Then the chief cupbearer told Yosef his dream: "In my dream, there in front of me was a vine,
Darby Translation
Then the chief of the cup-bearers told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
Easy-to-Read Version
So the wine server told Joseph his dream. The server said, "I dreamed I saw a vine.
English Standard Version
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, "In my dream there was a vine before me,
George Lamsa Translation
Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
Good News Translation
So the wine steward said, "In my dream there was a grapevine in front of me
Christian Standard Bible®
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: “In my dream there was a vine in front of me.
Literal Translation
And the chief of the cupbearers told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then the chefe butlar tolde Ioseph his dreame, and saide vnto him: I dreamed that there was a vyne before me,
American Standard Version
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
Bible in Basic English
Then the chief wine-servant gave Joseph an account of his dream, and said, In my dream I saw a vine before me;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the chiefe butler tolde his dreame to Ioseph, and saide vnto him: In my dreame, me thought there stoode a vine before me,
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him: 'In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
King James Version (1611)
And the chiefe Butler tolde his dreame to Ioseph, and said to him; In my dreame, beholde, a vine was before mee:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the chief cupbearer related his dream to Joseph, and said, In my dream a vine was before me.
English Revised Version
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
Berean Standard Bible
So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream: "In my dream there was a vine before me,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The `souereyn of boteleris telde first his dreem; Y seiy that a vyne bifore me,
Young's Literal Translation
And the chief of the butlers recounteth his dream to Joseph, and saith to him, `In my dream, then lo, a vine [is] before me!
Update Bible Version
And the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, look, a vine was before me;
Webster's Bible Translation
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine [was] before me;
World English Bible
The chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,
New King James Version
Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "Behold, in my dream a vine was before me,
New Living Translation
So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. "In my dream," he said, "I saw a grapevine in front of me.
New Life Bible
So the head cup-carrier told his dream to Joseph. He said, "In my dream, there was a vine in front of me.
New Revised Standard
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream there was a vine before me,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the chief of the butlers related his dream to Joseph, - and said to him, In my dream, then lo! a vine, before me;
Douay-Rheims Bible
The chief butler first told his dream: I saw before me a vine,
Revised Standard Version
So the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream there was a vine before me,
THE MESSAGE
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."

Contextual Overview

5 Then the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt, who were confined in jail, both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its own interpretation. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning and observed them, behold, they were dejected. 7 He asked Pharaoh's officials who were with him in confinement in his master's house, "Why are your faces so sad today?" 8 Then they said to him, "We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it." Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please." 9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me;10 and on the vine were three branches. And as it was budding, its blossoms came out, and its clusters produced ripe grapes. 11 "Now Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; so I took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I put the cup into Pharaoh's hand." 12 Then Joseph said to him, "This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days; 13 within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you will put Pharaoh's cup into his hand according to your former custom when you were his cupbearer. 14 "Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a vine: Genesis 37:5-10, Judges 7:13-15, Daniel 2:31, Daniel 4:8, Daniel 4:10-18

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 1:11 - For I was Daniel 4:9 - tell

Cross-References

Genesis 40:5
Then the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt, who were confined in jail, both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its own interpretation.
Genesis 40:10
and on the vine were three branches. And as it was budding, its blossoms came out, and its clusters produced ripe grapes.
Genesis 40:13
within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you will put Pharaoh's cup into his hand according to your former custom when you were his cupbearer.
Genesis 40:15
"For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon."
Genesis 40:18
Then Joseph answered and said, "This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days;
Daniel 2:31
"You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome.
Daniel 4:8
"But finally Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and I related the dream to him, saying,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph,.... He listened to what Joseph said, and paid a regard to it, and began to think he might be able to interpret his dream, and therefore was forward, and the first to tell him it at once; whereas the chief baker did not seem disposed to do it, until he observed the good interpretation given of the butler's dream, Genesis 40:16:

and said unto him, in my dream, behold, a vine [was] before me; it appeared to him in his dream, as if a vine sprung up at once, and stood before him; which was very suitable to his office as a butler, wine being the fruit of the vine, which he provided for the king his master, and presented to him at table.

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.


 
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