Interpreted Dreams Come True

Search Genesis 40.

The chief of the butlers and the chief of the bakers offended the Pharaoh and were placed in prison with Joseph in the house of the captain guard (Genesis 40:1-3).

As time passed, the butler and baker had dreams which left them saddened because they did not know the interpretation of them. "And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you" (Genesis 40:5-8).

"And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me" (Genesis 40:9);

"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" (Genesis 40:10):

"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" (Genesis 40:11).

"And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days" (Genesis 40:12):

"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" (Genesis 40:13).

Joseph said for the butler to remember him in showing kindness by mentioning him to the Pharaoh for release from prison. Joseph explained, indeed, how he had done nothing to be placed into prison (Genesis 40:14,15).

"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" (Genesis 40:16):

"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" (Genesis 40:17).

"And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days" (Genesis 40:18):

"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 40:19).

"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" (Genesis 40:20).

The dreams came true as Joseph interpreted--the butler resumed his duties and the baker was hanged (Genesis 40:21,22).

Joseph was left in prison, though, forgotten by the butler (Genesis 40:23).