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Genesis 40:13

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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.

Yet {H5750} within three {H7969} days {H3117} shall Pharaoh {H6547} lift up {H5375} thine head {H7218}, and restore {H7725} thee unto thy place {H3653}: and thou shalt deliver {H5414} Pharaoh's {H6547} cup {H3563} into his hand {H3027}, after the former {H7223} manner {H4941} when thou wast his butler {H8248}.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

Genesis 40:13 (KJV) records Joseph's hopeful interpretation of the chief butler's dream while they were both imprisoned in Egypt. This specific verse reveals a positive prophecy for the butler, contrasting sharply with the fate of the chief baker.

Context

This verse is central to the narrative of Joseph's time in Pharaoh's prison. After being unjustly accused by Potiphar's wife, Joseph was incarcerated. While there, two of Pharaoh's high-ranking officials, the chief butler (cupbearer) and the chief baker, were also imprisoned. Both had disturbing dreams, and Joseph, recognizing their distress, offered to interpret them, emphasizing that "Do not interpretations belong to God?" (Genesis 40:8). The chief butler's dream involved a vine with three branches, blossoming and bearing grapes, which he squeezed into Pharaoh's cup. Joseph's interpretation, detailed in this verse, promised his restoration.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation through Dreams: The passage highlights God's ability to communicate His plans and future events through dreams, a common method of divine revelation in ancient cultures, but here, specifically attributed to God's power through Joseph. This foreshadows Joseph's later crucial role in interpreting Pharaoh's dreams.
  • Restoration and Divine Favor: The verse speaks directly to the butler's "restoration" to his former position. This theme of divine favor and the reversal of fortunes is a recurring motif in Joseph's story, culminating in his own dramatic elevation.
  • God's Perfect Timing: The specific timeline of "within three days" demonstrates God's precise timing in unfolding His plan. This accuracy served to validate Joseph's prophetic gift and built trust for future events.
  • Joseph's Prophetic Gift: This incident serves as a clear demonstration of Joseph's God-given ability to interpret dreams accurately, setting the stage for his eventual release and rise to power, which was essential for the preservation of his family and the fulfillment of God's covenant.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "lift up thine head" (Hebrew: נָשָׂא רֹאשׁ, nasa rosh) is an idiom with dual meanings in Hebrew. It can mean to "take a census" or "count," but more importantly in this context, it signifies an elevation or promotion to a position of honor, or conversely, a condemnation (as seen in the chief baker's interpretation). Here, Joseph clearly uses it in the positive sense of restoration and vindication, indicating Pharaoh's favor will be shown to the butler.

Practical Application

Genesis 40:13 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Hope in Adversity: Even in difficult circumstances like prison, God is at work, orchestrating events. Joseph remained faithful, and God used his gifts.
  • God's Providence: This verse is a testament to God's intricate providence, where seemingly small events contribute to a larger divine plan. The butler's release was a vital step towards Joseph's own freedom and the saving of many lives.
  • Faithfulness Rewarded: Joseph's willingness to serve and interpret dreams, even for fellow prisoners, demonstrated his faithfulness, which God honored. This reminds us that our gifts can be used by God in unexpected places and times.

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 the life of Joseph, the future governor of Egypt.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 25:27 (3 votes)

    And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth [day] of the month, [that] Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

  • Psalms 3:3 (3 votes)

    But thou, O LORD, [art] a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

  • Jeremiah 52:31 (3 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth [day] of the month, [that] Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the [first] year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,

  • Genesis 40:19 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Genesis 40:22 (2 votes)

    But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

  • Genesis 7:4 (2 votes)

    For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.