TRV
Translation
King James Version
Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
KJV (with Strong's)
Complete Jewish Bible
Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office: you will be giving Pharaoh his cup as you used to when you were his cupbearer.
Berean Standard Bible
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.
American Standard Version
within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head, and restore thee unto thine office: and thou shalt give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
World English Bible Messianic
Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, the way you did when you were his cup bearer.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Within three dayes shall Pharaoh lift vp thine head, and restore thee vnto thine office, and thou shalt giue Pharaohs cup into his hand after the olde maner, when thou wast his butler.
Young's Literal Translation
yet, within three days doth Pharaoh lift up thy head, and hath put thee back on thy station, and thou hast given the cup of Pharaoh into his hand, according to the former custom when thou wast his butler.
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Commentary on Genesis 40 verses 5–19
5 ¶ And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.
6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.
7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?
8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
17 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.
18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
Observe, I. The special providence of God, which filled the heads of these two prisoners with unusual dreams, such as made extraordinary impressions upon them, and carried with them evidences of a divine origin, both in one night. Note, God has immediate access to the spirits of men, which he can make serviceable to his own purposes whenever he pleases, quite beyond the intention of those concerned. To him all hearts are open, and anciently he spoke not only to his own people, but to others, in dreams, Job 33:15. Things to come were thus foretold, but very obscurely.
II. The impression which was made upon these prisoners by their dreams (Gen 40:6): They were sad. It was not the prison that made them sad (they were pretty well used to that, and perhaps lived jovially there), but the dream. Note, God has more ways than one to sadden the spirits of those that are to be made sad. Those sinners that are hardy enough under outward troubles, and will not yield to them, yet God can find out a way to punish; he can take off their wheels, by wounding their spirits, and laying loads upon them.
III. Joseph's great tenderness and compassion towards them. He enquired with concern, Wherefore look you so sadly today? Gen 40:7. Joseph was their keeper, and in that office he was mild. Note, It becomes us to take cognizance of the sorrows even of those that are under our check. Joseph was their companion in tribulation, he was now a prisoner with them, and had been a dreamer too. Note, Communion in sufferings helps to work compassion towards those that do suffer. Let us learn hence, 1. To concern ourselves in the sorrows and troubles of others, and to enquire into the reason of the sadness of our brethren's countenances; we should be often considering the tears of the oppressed, Ecc 4:1. It is some relief to those that are in trouble to be taken notice of. 2. To enquire into the causes of our own sorrow, "Wherefore do I look so sadly? Is there a reason? Is it a good reason? Is there not a reason for comfort sufficient to balance it, whatever it is? Why art thou cast down, O my soul?"
IV. The dreams themselves, and the interpretation of them. That which troubled these prisoners was that being confined they could not have recourse to the diviners of Egypt who pretended to interpret dreams: There is no interpreter here in the prison, Gen 40:8. Note, There are interpreters which those that are in prison and sorrow should wish to have with them, to instruct them in the meaning and design of Providence (Elihu alludes to such, when he says, If there be an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness, Job 33:23, Job 33:24), interpreters to guide their consciences, not to satisfy their curiosity. Joseph hereupon directed them which way to look: Do not interpretations belong to God? He means the God whom he worshipped, to the knowledge of whom he endeavours hereby to lead them. Note, It is God's prerogative to foretel things to come, Isa 46:10. He must therefore have the praise of all the gifts of foresight which men have, ordinary or extraordinary. Joseph premises a caveat against his own praise, and is careful to transmit the glory to God, as Daniel, Dan 2:30. Joseph suggests, "If interpretations belong to God, he is a free agent, and may communicate the power to whom he pleases, and therefore tell me your dreams." Now, 1. The chief butler's dream was a happy presage of his enlargement, and re-advancement, within three days; and so Joseph explained it to him, Gen 40:12, Gen 40:13. Probably it had been usual with him to press the full-ripe grapes immediately into Pharaoh's cup, the simplicity of that age not being acquainted with the modern arts of making the wine fine. Observe, Joseph foretold the chief butler's deliverance, but he did not foresee his own. He had long before dreamt of his own honour, and the obeisance which his brethren should do to him, with the remembrance of which he must now support himself, without any new or fresh discoveries. The visions that are for the comfort of God's saints are for a great while to come, and relate to things that are very far off, while the foresights of others, like this recorded there, look but three days before them. 2. The chief baker's dream portended his ignominious death, Gen 40:18, Gen 40:19. The happy interpretation of the other's dream encouraged him to relate his. Thus hypocrites, when they hear good things promised to good Christians, would put in for a share, though they have no part nor lot in the matter. It was not Joseph's fault that he brought him no better tidings. Ministers are but interpreters, they cannot make the thing otherwise than it is; if therefore they deal faithfully, and their message prove unpleasing, it is not their fault. Bad dreams cannot expect a good interpretation.
V. The improvement Joseph made of this opportunity to get a friend at court, Gen 40:14, Gen 40:15. He modestly bespoke the favour of the chief butler, whose preferment he foretold: But think of me when it shall be well with thee. Though the respect paid to Joseph made the prison as easy to him as a prison could be, yet none can blame him for being desirous of liberty. See here, 1. What a modest representation he makes of his own case, Gen 40:15. He does not reflect upon his brethren that sold him; he only says, I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, that is, unjustly sent thence, no matter where the fault was. Nor does he reflect on the wrong done him in this imprisonment by his mistress that was his prosecutrix, and his master that was his judge; but mildly avers his own innocence: Here have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. Note, When we are called to vindicate ourselves we should carefully avoid, as much as may be, speaking ill of others. Let us be content to prove ourselves innocent, and not be fond of upbraiding others with their guilt. 2. What a modest request he makes to the chief butler: "Only, think of me. Pray do me a kindness, if it lie in your way." And his particular petition is, Bring me out of this house. He does not say, "Bring me into Pharaoh's house, get me a place at court." No, he begs for enlargement, not preferment. Note, Providence sometimes designs the greatest honours for those that least covet or expect them.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 5–19. Public domain.
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Ambrose of MilanAD 397
On Joseph the Patriarch
I do not wish to speak of someone else's dream. You certainly remember my words, that even then I refused to interpret it because I fear its outcome, the death that I dread. Let us first speak of the man who, when he was in charge of wine, seemed to be happy and believed that this was the pinnacle of power because he gave the cup to the king. This was his glory, this was his magnificence in this world, and he grieved being deprived of it; he rejoiced when it was restored to him. But this is a dream, and all worldly power is a dream, not truth. Finally, through the dream, he saw his authority restored to him. And Isaiah says that such are the people who delight in the things of this world, just as one who eats and drinks in dreams seems to himself to be filled with food or drink, while he sleeps; but when he wakes up, he begins to hunger even more; and then he understands how empty that food and drink of the dreamer were: so does one who sleeps in this world, not opening his eyes to the divine mysteries, as long as he is burdened by the sleep of the body, think that this worldly power is of some importance, as if he sees it in dreams; but when he wakes up, he realizes how empty this worldly pleasure is.
Consider now that true Hebrew, not of a dream but of truth and splendid vision, interpreter, who has come from the fullness of divinity, from the freedom of heavenly grace into this earthly prison, whom the allurements of this world could not change, no worldly corruption could overthrow, who, though tempted, did not fall, did not desire forbidden things, finally seized by the deceitful hand of the Synagogue in a deceptive garment of the body, shed the flesh, ascended free from death. The prostitute has been falsely accused. She was unable to hold the man whom prison did not frighten, whom even the underworld did not hold. Moreover, where he had descended as if to be punished, from there he freed others. Where the chains of death were binding them, there he himself loosened the chains of the dead.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Genesis 40:13 records Joseph's divinely granted interpretation of the chief butler's dream, a prophecy of his imminent and complete restoration to Pharaoh's service. This precise revelation, foretelling his reinstatement within three days to his former privileged position of delivering Pharaoh's cup, stands in stark contrast to the chief baker's grim fate and powerfully demonstrates God's sovereign hand at work through Joseph, even in the confines of an Egyptian prison.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 40:13 encapsulates Joseph's accurate and hopeful prophecy for the chief butler, demonstrating his God-given gift of dream interpretation and the precise nature of divine revelation. The verse is rich in specific details concerning the timing and the nature of the butler's restoration.
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is the Idiom "lift up thine head" (nasa rosh). This phrase is a powerful example of Double Entendre or Ambiguity, as it carries two distinct and opposing meanings within the same chapter: restoration and execution. Joseph's interpretation clarifies which meaning applies to each individual, demonstrating his divine insight. The specific mention of "three days" can be seen as Symbolism, often signifying divine completion or a pivotal moment in biblical narratives, here emphasizing the precision and divine origin of the prophecy. The entire prophecy acts as Foreshadowing, not only of the butler's restoration but also of Joseph's own eventual rise to power, which hinges on the butler remembering him, thereby setting in motion the events that will lead to Joseph's exaltation and the preservation of his family.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 40:13 serves as a powerful testament to God's active involvement in human affairs, even in the most mundane or unjust circumstances. It highlights that God's plan unfolds with meticulous timing and precision, often using unexpected means and individuals to achieve His purposes. Joseph's accurate interpretation not only validated his prophetic gift but also served as a crucial, albeit delayed, step in God's grand providential design for Joseph and, ultimately, for the nation of Israel, ensuring their survival and growth. This passage reminds us that God's sovereignty extends over all events, turning what seems like misfortune into opportunities for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 40:13 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating periods of waiting, injustice, or feeling forgotten. Joseph's unwavering faithfulness, even in the confines of a prison and despite being unjustly accused, illustrates that our gifts and character can be used by God in unexpected places and times. This verse is a powerful reminder that God's intricate providence is always at work, orchestrating seemingly small interactions and events to contribute to a grander divine plan. The accuracy of Joseph's interpretation not only brought hope to the butler but also served as a powerful testimony to God's sovereignty and Joseph's unique calling, paving the way for the incredible events that would soon follow in his life, ultimately leading to the preservation of his family and the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. We are called to trust in God's timing, remain faithful in our present circumstances, and recognize that even our suffering can be part of His redemptive narrative.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does the phrase "lift up thine head" mean in this context?
Answer: The Hebrew idiom nasa rosh (נָשָׂא רֹאשׁ), translated as "lift up thine head," carries a dual meaning within this narrative. In the context of the chief butler, Joseph uses it to signify restoration, vindication, and promotion to a position of honor and dignity. It means Pharaoh will "lift up" his head in a positive sense, restoring him to his former status and favor. This stands in stark contrast to the same idiom used for the chief baker in Genesis 40:19, where it implies "lifting off" his head, referring to execution.
Why is the specific timeframe of "within three days" significant?
Answer: The mention of "within three days" is highly significant because it highlights the divine precision and immediacy of Joseph's prophecy. This exact timing served to authenticate Joseph's God-given gift of dream interpretation, building credibility for his future prophecies, especially those concerning Pharaoh's own dreams in Genesis 41. It also demonstrates God's active involvement and meticulous orchestration of events in the lives of individuals, working according to His perfect timetable.
How did Joseph know the interpretation of the dreams?
Answer: Joseph explicitly states in Genesis 40:8 that "Do not interpretations belong to God?" This declaration clarifies that his ability to interpret dreams was not a personal skill or wisdom but a direct, divine gift from God. He was merely the vessel through whom God chose to reveal His plans and purposes, underscoring God's sovereignty and His capacity to communicate with humanity through various means.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Joseph, particularly his unjust suffering, imprisonment, and ultimate exaltation, serves as a profound type of Christ. Just as Joseph was "lifted up" from the pit and prison to a position of supreme authority in Egypt, becoming a savior to his people and the surrounding nations (Genesis 41:40-41), so too was Christ "lifted up" on the cross, enduring immense suffering and death (John 3:14). Yet, through His "lifting up" in crucifixion, Jesus secured humanity's spiritual restoration and reconciliation to God, being subsequently resurrected and exalted to the right hand of God (Acts 2:33 and Philippians 2:9-11). He delivers us from the bondage of sin and death, restoring us to our rightful place as children of God (Romans 8:15), fulfilling a far greater and eternal purpose than the butler's physical restoration to Pharaoh's service.