Easy Bible・Genesis 40

Joseph interprets dreams for two fellow prisoners

Key Passages

About this Chapter

In this chapter, Joseph is in prison and two of Pharaoh's officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, are also in prison with him. One night, both the cupbearer and the baker have dreams, and they are troubled because they do not understand the meaning of their dreams. Joseph notices their distress and offers to interpret their dreams, explaining that interpretations belong to God. The cupbearer tells Joseph his dream, and Joseph interprets it, saying that in three days, Pharaoh will lift up the cupbearer's head and restore him to his position. Encouraged by Joseph's interpretation, the chief baker also tells his dream to Joseph. However, Joseph's interpretation for the baker is not as favorable. He tells him that in three days, Pharaoh will lift off his head and hang him on a tree, and the birds will eat away his flesh. True to Joseph's interpretation, three days later, it was Pharaoh's birthday, and he restored the chief cupbearer to his position, but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had predicted. However, the cupbearer forgot about Joseph and did not remember to mention him to Pharaoh, even though Joseph had asked him to. Thus, Joseph remained in prison, waiting for his own deliverance.