Genesis 40:20

Translations

Modern

On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.

Traditional

And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

Literal

And it came to pass on the third day, the day of Pharaoh's birth, that he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief of the cupbearers and the head of the chief of the bakers in the midst of his servants.

Latin

Exinde dies tertius natalitius Pharaonis erat: qui faciens grande convivium pueris suis, recordatus est inter epulas magistri pincernarum, et pistorum principis.

Original

Hebrew

English

On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.

Notes

Genesis 40:20–22

The interpretations Joseph gave the prisoners proved true. The death of the chief baker speaks of the harsh realities of life in ancient Egypt, with a king whose word was his land’s highest law.

Genesis 40:1–23

Joseph did not lose faith in God’s promises, as evidenced by his readiness to interpret the dreams of two prisoners. He was still convinced that God’s revelation in his own two dreams (37:5–11) was true, and he had not abandoned hope that they would be fulfilled. When the fellow prisoners’ dreams were fulfilled exactly as Joseph said, this confirmed that his previous dreams were from God.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Joseph Symbolic Numbers Visions

Events

Joseph imprisonedc. 1718 BC

Related verses

Matthew 14:6
On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
Genesis 40:13
Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer.
Genesis 40:19
Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. Then the birds will eat the flesh of your body.”
Mark 6:21
On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
Job 3:1
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
2 Kings 25:27
On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he released King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison.
Genesis 21:8
So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.
Esther 1:3
In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
Matthew 18:23–25
Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Luke 16:1–2
Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
Matthew 25:19
After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

People

Pharaoh: Egyptian ruler during Joseph's time

Glossary

Baker Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Butler Cup-Bearer Dreams Feasts and Festivals of Israel Genesis, Book of Head Jacob Joseph Patriarchs, Period of the

Topics

Birthday: Celebrated by Feasts Celebrating Birthdays Dream: The Dreams of the Butler and Baker Feasts: Ancient Customs At: Men Alone Present At Feasts: Celebrations by Birthdays Hanging: Capital Punishment By Joseph: Son of Jacob of the Two Prisoners

Genesis 40:20

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