Genesis Chapter 40
Joseph Interprets Dreams in Prison
A. Joseph meets the butler and the baker in prison.
1. (Genesis 40:1-4) The Egyptian royal butler and baker are put into prison.
It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.
It came to pass after these things: Joseph had been falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned, yet even in prison, the Lord caused him to prosper. Despite his unjust circumstances, Joseph maintained a steadfast faith in God. The phrase “after these things” signifies that time had passed and Joseph’s faithfulness was ongoing. The end of Genesis 39 reveals that Joseph had earned the trust of the keeper of the prison and had been granted authority over other prisoners.
The butler and the baker of the king of Egypt were officials with direct access to Pharaoh himself. The butler, or cupbearer, was responsible for tasting and serving Pharaoh’s wine to ensure it was not poisoned, while the baker oversaw the preparation of the king’s food. Their positions were of great trust and importance within the royal court. However, both men offended Pharaoh, which may suggest a plot or incident that threatened Pharaoh’s life, possibly an attempted poisoning. Because both oversaw Pharaoh’s food and drink, they were likely suspected of conspiracy.
Though humanly speaking they were in prison under suspicion of treason, the divine purpose was much greater. God’s providence placed them there to intersect with Joseph at the appointed time. The Lord was orchestrating circumstances to eventually bring Joseph before Pharaoh.
The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them. This verse shows that Potiphar still had confidence in Joseph’s character. Since Genesis 39:1 identifies Potiphar as the captain of the guard, this detail indicates that he did not truly believe his wife’s accusation. Potiphar could have executed Joseph if he thought him guilty, but instead, he imprisoned him and later entrusted him with royal prisoners.
Joseph’s humility is evident in the phrase “and he served them.” Despite his authority in the prison, Joseph did not make others serve him. He used his position to minister to others. This servant-hearted attitude reflects a Christlike spirit. As the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 20:26–28, “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
2. (Genesis 40:5-7) Joseph shows concern for the butler and baker.
Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”
This passage reveals Joseph’s compassion and spiritual sensitivity. Both the butler and the baker had dreams in the same night, each with its own unique meaning. Dreams were considered significant in the ancient Near East, often believed to carry divine messages. God used this means to set the stage for Joseph’s rise to prominence.
Joseph came in to them in the morning and saw that they were sad. Despite his own unjust suffering, Joseph was attentive to the emotional state of others. A man consumed with bitterness or self-pity would likely ignore or even resent the sorrows of others. Yet Joseph demonstrated remarkable selflessness and empathy. His care for the well-being of others in a place of hardship reveals a heart attuned to God.
Joseph asked, “Why do you look so sad today?” This question may seem simple, but it is profound. It shows that Joseph’s faith allowed him to look beyond his own pain to minister to others. He refused to be defined by his suffering and instead became a channel of comfort and insight.
In this, Joseph prefigures Christ Himself. Jesus entered our “prison” of sin and suffering, living among us, enduring our hardships, and yet showing compassion to those around Him. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Like Joseph, Jesus never sought pity for Himself but extended grace to others, asking, “Why do you look so sad today?”
For the believer, this serves as a reminder that no matter the trial, we must remain compassionate, available, and sensitive to the needs of those around us. The Lord often uses seasons of personal affliction as opportunities to minister to others through us.
3. (Genesis 40:8) Joseph invites them to tell him their disturbing dreams.
And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”
The butler and the baker admitted that they had both experienced troubling dreams but had no interpreter to explain them. In Egyptian culture, dreams were regarded as significant, and trained interpreters were often employed to discern their meaning. However, within the confines of the prison, these royal officers were cut off from such resources. This situation opened the door for God to work through Joseph, demonstrating His sovereignty even within the darkness of a prison cell.
Joseph responded with great humility and faith, saying, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.” This statement reflects Joseph’s recognition that all wisdom and revelation come from the Lord alone. Joseph made no claim to personal power or mystical ability. He did not present himself as a dream interpreter but rather as a servant through whom God might speak. His words revealed both confidence in God’s sovereignty and compassion for the men’s distress. He was eager to help them find peace through divine truth, not through human speculation.
The phrase “Tell them to me, please” indicates Joseph’s sincere concern. He was not curious about their dreams for entertainment or intrigue, but he perceived their anxiety and sought to minister to them spiritually. Joseph’s approach was pastoral, not mystical. This stands in contrast to the superstitious and manipulative practices common among Egyptian magicians and dream interpreters.
Do not interpretations belong to God: Joseph’s response stemmed from personal experience. Years earlier, God had given him two prophetic dreams concerning his own future exaltation over his family (Genesis 37:5–11). Though those dreams had led to his suffering and separation from his family, Joseph never doubted that they came from God and would ultimately be fulfilled. His faith in God’s control over dreams had been refined through adversity. Joseph trusted that just as God had revealed truth to him in the past, He could do so again in this moment.
Joseph’s confidence in divine revelation reminds us that true understanding comes only from the Lord. As Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Like Joseph, believers must rely upon God for discernment rather than turning to worldly systems or self-proclaimed spiritual authorities.
Scripture affirms that God has, at various times, communicated through dreams. For example:
God spoke to Abimelech in a dream, warning him not to touch Sarah (Genesis 20:3).
God spoke to Jacob in a dream of a ladder reaching to heaven (Genesis 28:12) and again to direct him (Genesis 31:11).
God warned Laban in a dream not to harm Jacob (Genesis 31:24).
God revealed His plan to a Midianite through a dream (Judges 7:13).
God appeared to Solomon in a dream, offering him wisdom (1 Kings 3:5).
God revealed mysteries to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:1) and Daniel (Daniel 7:1) in dreams.
In the New Testament, God communicated through dreams to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus (Matthew 1:20; 2:13; 2:22), and to Pilate’s wife, who was warned about condemning the innocent Christ (Matthew 27:19).
In fact, God spoke to unbelievers through dreams almost twice as often as to His own people. This demonstrates God’s mercy, as He sometimes reaches even the pagan heart through extraordinary means. Missionaries in the modern world testify that God still occasionally uses dreams to draw unbelievers, particularly in places where the gospel is restricted.
However, not every dream is a message from God. As Ecclesiastes 5:3 and 5:7 warn, “For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words… For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.” Some dreams are merely the byproduct of human stress or imagination, while others may even be deceptive. Therefore, the Bible cautions against false prophets who use dreams to lend credibility to their lies (Deuteronomy 13:1–5; Jeremiah 23:25–28).
Joseph’s example provides balance. He was open to God’s supernatural communication, yet his confidence rested firmly on God’s sovereignty and character, not on mystical practices. For believers today, this means being open to the possibility of divine intervention while understanding that God’s primary and sufficient revelation is found in Scripture. As 2 Timothy 3:16–17 declares, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Early church testimony also supports this cautious openness. Around the year 200, the church father Tertullian wrote about a woman in their congregation who received prophetic dreams during worship. She did not interrupt the service but humbly shared them afterward with church leaders, who carefully tested her messages for truth. This model aligns with the biblical instruction to “test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Thus, Joseph’s faith in Genesis 40:8 reveals both bold trust in God’s revelation and humble dependence upon Him for truth. His statement, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” establishes the timeless principle that all true understanding, whether through dreams or Scripture, originates solely from the Lord.
B. Joseph Interprets Their Dreams
1. (Genesis 40:9–11) The butler explains his dream.
Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”
The chief butler, or cupbearer, recounted his dream to Joseph, describing a vivid image that reflected the very nature of his former duties. In the dream, a vine stood before him, rapidly progressing through the stages of budding, flowering, and producing ripe grapes. This imagery would have been immediately recognizable to him as a cupbearer, whose work revolved around the preparation and presentation of wine to Pharaoh.
The butler then said, “Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” This act in the dream represented a direct restoration of his royal service, as if he had been reinstated to his position. It is worth noting that although this dream was divinely given, God used familiar imagery to communicate to the butler in terms he could understand—vines, grapes, and serving Pharaoh. The Lord often condescends to speak to man in symbols drawn from his own experience, so that His message may be clear and personal.
This pattern can be seen throughout Scripture. God communicated with shepherds in terms of sheep, with fishermen in terms of nets and catches, and with kings in terms of thrones and kingdoms. Likewise, the butler’s dream used the imagery of his own calling to reveal God’s plan.
2. (Genesis 40:12–15) Joseph interprets the butler’s dream and asks a favor.
And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”
Joseph immediately gave the interpretation with confidence and precision. “The three branches are three days.” There was nothing in the butler’s dream that would naturally lead one to such a conclusion. This reveals that Joseph’s interpretation did not come from reasoning or symbolic guesswork but from divine revelation. The Spirit of God granted Joseph understanding beyond human capability.
Joseph declared that “within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place.” The expression “lift up your head” is a Hebrew idiom meaning to restore one’s honor or position. Pharaoh would pardon the butler and return him to his former station, allowing him once again to place the royal cup into Pharaoh’s hand as before. Joseph’s interpretation was both gracious and specific, leaving no ambiguity. Its truth would be verified in only three days, a detail that required great faith to proclaim publicly.
Joseph’s confidence in God’s revelation demonstrates spiritual maturity. He had learned through suffering that God was sovereign over every event in his life. Even in prison, he remained a vessel through which the Lord could reveal His purposes. His willingness to speak boldly on God’s behalf reminds us that true faith acts upon divine truth even when the outcome is uncertain.
Joseph then made a humble plea to the butler: “But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.” Although Joseph maintained godly character through years of injustice, he still desired freedom. His request reveals a balance between trust in divine providence and the practical use of opportunity. Joseph did not presume that remaining in prison indefinitely was God’s permanent will. He used wisdom and initiative to seek deliverance through appropriate means.
He explained his situation honestly: “For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.” Joseph’s words convey both the injustice of his circumstances and the integrity of his character. He neither exaggerated nor spoke bitterly but simply stated the truth. He had been sold into Egypt against his will, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, and imprisoned unjustly. Yet throughout it all, he maintained his faith in God’s ultimate plan.
Joseph’s example teaches a vital lesson for believers. Recognizing God’s presence in difficult circumstances does not mean we should resign ourselves to them forever. God’s sovereignty works through human responsibility. As long as our actions are righteous and our motives pure, we may pursue deliverance while still trusting in God’s timing.
This same balance is echoed in Scripture. When the apostle Paul was imprisoned, he also sought lawful means for his release, appealing to Caesar (Acts 25:11). Likewise, while the believer is called to endure trials patiently, he is also encouraged to use wisdom, prayer, and action in seeking freedom or resolution according to God’s will.
In Joseph’s request to the butler, we see a man who trusted wholly in God yet acted prudently within his situation—a powerful model of faith combined with wisdom.
3. (Genesis 40:16–19) The baker tells his dream and Joseph interprets it.
When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and there were three white baskets on my head. In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.” So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”
When the chief baker saw that the interpretation given to the butler was favorable, he was encouraged to tell his own dream. Like many who hear a word of blessing, he assumed that God’s message to him would also be good. His dream, however, was strikingly different. He saw three white baskets balanced upon his head, filled with various baked goods intended for Pharaoh. Yet the disturbing detail was that birds were eating the baked goods from the top basket, showing that Pharaoh would never receive them.
Joseph again declared, “The three baskets are three days.” As with the butler’s dream, this precise time frame could only have come from divine revelation. But unlike the first interpretation, this one brought a message of doom. Joseph said, “Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.” The phrase “lift off your head” here is a play on words, contrasting the butler’s lifting up (restoration) with the baker’s lifting off (execution).
This prophecy was severe and grim, yet Joseph spoke it with the same faithfulness with which he had delivered the good news to the butler. A true messenger of God must declare the whole truth, whether it brings comfort or conviction. As Paul wrote in Acts 20:27, “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” Many today are willing to preach the cupbearer’s message of restoration but shy away from the baker’s message of judgment. Joseph, however, did not alter or soften God’s word. He was as faithful in proclaiming judgment as he was in announcing deliverance.
The image of the baker’s death was gruesome and shameful. The execution by hanging on a tree, followed by birds devouring his flesh, represented total disgrace and divine judgment. In the ancient world, the exposure of a body to scavengers was considered one of the worst possible fates, symbolizing rejection and curse. Scripture later declares in Deuteronomy 21:23, “He who is hanged is accursed of God.” This detail shows that the baker was indeed guilty of the crime for which he was suspected, while the butler was innocent. Both dreams revealed divine justice carried out through Pharaoh’s authority.
Joseph’s integrity shines in this moment. He was neither cruel nor evasive but delivered the truth without hesitation. His courage to speak both grace and judgment reflects the heart of a true prophet—obedient to God, regardless of the message’s reception.
4. (Genesis 40:20–23) The dreams come to pass exactly according to Joseph’s interpretations.
Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
As foretold, the dreams were fulfilled precisely on the third day—Pharaoh’s birthday. It was common for ancient rulers to celebrate their birthdays with great feasts and sometimes to issue pardons or decrees of punishment on such occasions. At this royal banquet, Pharaoh “lifted up the head” of both officers, meaning he brought them forward for judgment before the entire court. In the case of the butler, his head was lifted up in restoration; for the baker, it was lifted up in condemnation. Both the blessing and the judgment came exactly as Joseph had declared, confirming him as a true messenger of God.
The accuracy of the interpretation would have astounded all who witnessed it. In just three days, God vindicated Joseph’s prophetic gift. This fulfillment would later become the key evidence leading to Joseph’s elevation before Pharaoh when the need for a true interpreter arose again. God was working purposefully, even through the forgetfulness of men, to bring about His perfect plan in His perfect timing.
Joseph’s faithful declaration also serves as a picture of the ministry of Jesus Christ. In this story, Joseph foreshadows Christ in many ways:
An innocent man entered the prison of this world to share in our human suffering.
He revealed God’s message of life and judgment to those awaiting their fate.
In three days, his message was proved true, just as the resurrection proved Christ’s words beyond question.
In this typology, Joseph’s two messages mirror the two responses to Christ’s gospel. To one, the message brings life and restoration; to the other, it brings condemnation. As Jesus said in John 3:18, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already.” The butler and the baker remind us that the same message can be both the fragrance of life to one and of death to another (2 Corinthians 2:16).
Yet there is one glorious difference. Joseph’s word rescued only the innocent man, but Christ’s message rescues the guilty. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings pardon and eternal life not because the recipient is innocent, but because the innocent Savior bore the punishment of the guilty. Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Finally, we read, “Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.” This single sentence is heavy with meaning. Joseph, who had shown kindness and given hope, was forgotten once again. The disappointment must have been profound. He had likely waited each day for word from Pharaoh’s court, but none came. Yet God was not silent. His purpose for Joseph required more refining, more patience, and more trust.
As has often been observed, all men whom God uses greatly, He first prepares greatly. That preparation often includes long seasons of waiting and apparent delay. Psalm 105:18–19 speaks of Joseph’s time in prison: “They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.” God was shaping Joseph’s character for the immense responsibility ahead.
Joseph’s story reminds believers that divine delays are not denials. God was in both the steps and the stops of Joseph’s journey. Every disappointment, every forgotten promise, and every silent day in prison was part of a sovereign design leading to exaltation. The Lord was preparing His servant for a position that would not only save nations but also fulfill the covenant promises given to Abraham.
