Genesis 40:8

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they said {H559} unto him, We have dreamed {H2492} a dream {H2472}, and there is no interpreter {H6622} of it. And Joseph {H3130} said {H559} unto them, Do not interpretations {H6623} belong to God {H430}? tell me {H5608} them, I pray you.

Complete Jewish Bible

They said to him, "We each had a dream, and there's no one around who can interpret it."Yosef said to them, "Don't interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please."

Berean Standard Bible

“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

American Standard Version

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 40:8 powerfully encapsulates Joseph's unwavering faith and God's sovereign control over seemingly random events, even within the confines of an Egyptian prison. When Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker, both imprisoned, express their deep distress over vivid, incomprehensible dreams, Joseph, with profound humility and conviction, immediately redirects their focus from human limitations to the divine source of all revelation. He asserts that true understanding and interpretation of such mysteries belong exclusively to God, thereby positioning himself not as a sage, but as a humble instrument through whom God's purposes would unfold. This pivotal declaration sets the stage for God's redemptive plan, demonstrating His ability to work through His chosen servants in the most unlikely circumstances.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader narrative of Joseph's life, specifically during his unjust imprisonment in Egypt following the false accusations of Potiphar's wife. [Genesis 39:20-23](/genesis/39-20-23 "Joseph's Imprisonment and Favor in Prison") details his confinement and how God's favor remained with him, even there. The immediate preceding verses (Genesis 40:1-7) introduce the chief butler and chief baker, their imprisonment alongside Joseph, and their troubled countenances due to their dreams. Joseph, noticing their distress, initiates the conversation, leading to their confession in [Genesis 40:8a](/genesis/40-8 "The Officials' Distress"). Joseph's response in [Genesis 40:8b](/genesis/40-8 "Joseph's Declaration of Faith") is a crucial turning point, highlighting his spiritual discernment and setting the stage for the dream interpretations that will eventually lead to his own release and elevation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, dreams were widely regarded as significant, often believed to be direct communications from deities or omens regarding future events. Dream interpretation was a specialized and highly valued skill, practiced by priests, wise men, and diviners. Pharaohs and other rulers often employed official interpreters. The distress of the chief butler and chief baker, stating "there is no interpreter of it," reflects this cultural belief in the importance of dreams and the anxiety caused by their incomprehensibility. Their inability to find an interpreter within the prison system, or perhaps their own lack of understanding, underscores the perceived human limitation in accessing divine knowledge without proper guidance. This cultural backdrop makes Joseph's immediate and confident assertion that "interpretations belong to God" even more striking, as it directly challenges the prevailing human-centric or magical approaches to revelation.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 40:8 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis and Joseph's narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating that God is actively involved in human affairs, even in the smallest details like dreams, and orchestrates events for His purposes, regardless of human intentions or circumstances. It also highlights **Divine Revelation**, emphasizing that God communicates His will and future plans to humanity, often through extraordinary means. A third key theme is **God's Faithfulness to His Servants**, as Joseph, despite his suffering and unjust imprisonment, remains a vessel for God's truth and a recipient of His favor. This verse also foreshadows the theme of **Joseph as a Divine Instrument**, preparing him for his later role in interpreting Pharaoh's dreams in [Genesis 41:15-16](/genesis/41-15-16 "Pharaoh's Dreams and Joseph's Interpretation"), which ultimately leads to his elevation and the salvation of many.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **dream (Hebrew, _chălôwm'_):** From the root `châlam`, meaning "to bind firmly" or "to be plump," but figuratively, "to dream." In this context (H2472), it refers to a vision or message received during sleep. The officials' "dream" was not a mere psychological experience but a profound, divinely-sent message that caused them great distress due to its enigmatic nature and their inability to comprehend its meaning.
* **interpretations (Hebrew, _pithrôwn'_):** From the root `pâthar`, meaning "to open up" or "to interpret." This word (H6623) specifically denotes the meaning or unraveling of a dream. Joseph's rhetorical question centers on the source of these "interpretations," asserting that their true origin is divine, not human.
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym'_):** The plural form of `ʼĕlôah`, often translated as "God" (H430) and used specifically of the supreme God, as it is here. Joseph's declaration attributes the exclusive right and ability to provide dream interpretations to the one, true, supreme God, contrasting with the polytheistic beliefs and human diviners prevalent in Egypt.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and [there is] no interpreter of it."**: The chief butler and chief baker, burdened by their vivid and unsettling dreams, confess their predicament to Joseph. Their opening statement immediately establishes the central problem: they have received a significant message (a dream), but lack the means to understand it. The phrase "no interpreter of it" (Hebrew: *wĕ'ên pōtēr 'ōtô*) conveys their despair and the perceived human limitation in deciphering such divine or supernatural phenomena, highlighting the cultural reliance on skilled interpreters.
* **"And Joseph said unto them, [Do] not interpretations [belong] to God?"**: Joseph's response is the theological core of the verse. The Hebrew *Hă-lō' lē'lōhîm pittrōnîm?* is a powerful rhetorical question, emphatically asserting that the ability to interpret dreams and reveal hidden truths resides solely with God. The particle *Hă-lō'* (Do not...?) expects a strong affirmative answer, emphasizing God's exclusive domain over revelation. By placing "to God" (*lē'lōhîm*) prominently at the beginning of the clause, Joseph underscores the divine origin of all true understanding, immediately shifting the focus from human inability to divine omnipotence. This statement is not a claim of personal power but a humble acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.
* **"tell me [them], I pray you."**: Following his theological declaration, Joseph issues a compassionate invitation. This instruction demonstrates his willingness to serve as God's instrument, despite his own unjust circumstances. It shows his pastoral heart and readiness to act as a conduit for divine revelation, trusting that if God wishes to reveal the meaning, He will do so through him. This phrase bridges the theological truth with practical application, inviting the officials to participate in God's revelatory process by sharing their dreams.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 40:8 employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is **Rhetorical Question** ("Do not interpretations belong to God?"). This is not a genuine inquiry but a forceful assertion, designed to emphasize the speaker's conviction and to elicit agreement from the audience. Joseph uses it to unequivocally declare God's exclusive sovereignty over revelation, shifting the focus from human despair to divine omnipotence. Another device present is **Foreshadowing**. Joseph's humble yet confident declaration here foreshadows his later, more significant role in interpreting Pharaoh's dreams in [Genesis 41](/genesis/41 "Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams and is Exalted"), which ultimately leads to his elevation and the salvation of Egypt and his family. The verse also implicitly uses **Contrast**, juxtaposing the officials' human inability and despair ("no interpreter of it") with God's absolute power and knowledge ("interpretations belong to God"), highlighting the vast difference between human limitation and divine omnipotence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 40:8 serves as a profound theological statement within the Joseph narrative, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty over all knowledge and revelation. Joseph's declaration that "interpretations belong to God" is a foundational truth, asserting that true understanding of divine mysteries and the future rests solely with the Almighty, not with human wisdom, magical arts, or any other created power. This passage reinforces the biblical understanding that God communicates with humanity through various means, including dreams, and that these are not random occurrences but purposeful messages from the Creator, setting the stage for His unfolding plan. Joseph's humility in attributing all interpretive power to God, despite his own prophetic gifts, exemplifies the posture required for divine use—a vessel emptied of self-reliance, ready to be filled by God's Spirit.

* [Daniel 2:28](/daniel/2-28 "God Reveals Mysteries to Daniel")
* [Job 33:15-17](/job/33-15-17 "God Speaks Through Dreams")
* [1 Corinthians 2:10-11](/1-corinthians/2-10-11 "The Spirit Reveals God's Thoughts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 40:8 offers timeless lessons for believers navigating a world often filled with confusion, uncertainty, and a hunger for answers. Joseph's response to the distressed officials serves as a powerful reminder that in moments of perplexity, when human wisdom fails, our ultimate source of understanding and revelation is God alone. Like Joseph, we are called to cultivate a deep humility, acknowledging that any spiritual gifts, insights, or successes we experience are not products of our own ingenuity but are by God's grace and for His glory. This posture of humility opens the door for God to work powerfully through us, making us vessels for His truth and instruments of His divine purpose, even amidst our own challenges or suffering. Furthermore, the passage encourages us to be channels of hope and truth to those around us, pointing them to the One who holds all answers and orchestrates all events for His sovereign purposes. True insight and interpretation of life's mysteries come from Him alone, as [James 1:5](/james/1-5 "Asking God for Wisdom") reminds us: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently seeking "interpretations" or clarity, and to whom or what are you primarily looking for answers?**
* **How does Joseph's humble redirection to God challenge our own tendencies to rely on human wisdom, expertise, or self-effort when facing difficult situations?**
* **How can you, like Joseph, be a humble conduit of God's truth and hope to those around you, even when you are facing your own trials?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of Joseph's rhetorical question, "Do not interpretations belong to God?"**

Answer: Joseph's question is a powerful rhetorical device that serves as a profound theological statement, not an inquiry seeking information. It is an emphatic assertion that the power to interpret dreams and reveal divine mysteries belongs exclusively to God. Its significance lies in its immediate redirection of credit and authority from any human ability or magical practice to God alone. This statement underscores God's absolute sovereignty over all knowledge and revelation, highlighting that humans can only understand divine truths when God chooses to reveal them, often through chosen instruments like Joseph. It sets the stage for God to demonstrate His power through Joseph, not through Joseph's inherent skill, echoing the truth that "the secret things belong unto the Lord our God" ([Deuteronomy 29:29](/deuteronomy/29-29 "The Secret Things Belong to God")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joseph's role in [Genesis 40:8](/genesis/40-8 "Joseph's Declaration of God's Sovereignty in Interpretation"), as the one through whom divine interpretation and revelation flow, serves as a powerful type of Christ. Just as Joseph, unjustly imprisoned, becomes the conduit for God's truth and ultimately brings salvation to Egypt and his family, so too does Christ, the unjustly crucified one, become the ultimate revealer of God's will and the source of eternal salvation. Christ is the very [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), the one "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Christ, the Treasure of Wisdom and Knowledge")). He is the true interpreter of God's mysteries, not through dreams, but through His very being, His teachings, His life, death, and resurrection. Through His perfect humility, Christ always attributed His works and words to the Father, declaring, "I can do nothing on my own" ([John 5:30](/john/5-30 "John 5:30 - Jesus' Dependence on the Father")). He perfectly reveals God's plan for humanity's redemption, fulfilling the prophetic words of [Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1-2 "God Spoke Through His Son"): "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son." Thus, Joseph's humble declaration that "interpretations belong to God" finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who perfectly reveals God and His saving purposes to humanity.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Daniel 2:47

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth [it is], that your God [is] a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

Genesis 41:15

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and [there is] none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, [that] thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

Genesis 41:16

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [It is] not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Daniel 2:28

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

1 Corinthians 12:10

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

1 Corinthians 12:11

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.