40Genesis 40

Joseph Tells the Meaning of the Prisoners' Dreams

3While Joseph was in prison, both the king's personal servant and his chief cook made the king angry. So he had them thrown into the same prison with Joseph.Select Genesis 40:3

4They spent a long time in prison, and the official in charge of the palace guard, made Joseph their servant.Select Genesis 40:4

5One night each of the two men had a dream, but their dreams had different meanings.Select Genesis 40:5

6The next morning, when Joseph went to see the men, he could tell they were upset,Select Genesis 40:6

7and he asked, “Why are you so worried today?”Select Genesis 40:7

8“We each had a dream last night,” they answered, “and there is no one to tell us what they mean.” Joseph replied, “Doesn't God know the meaning of dreams? Now tell me what you dreamed.”Select Genesis 40:8

9The king's personal servant told Joseph, “In my dream I saw a vineSelect Genesis 40:9

10with three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its grapes became ripe.Select Genesis 40:10

11I held the king's cup and squeezed the grapes into it, then I gave the cup to the king.”Select Genesis 40:11

12Joseph said: This is the meaning of your dream. The three branches stand for three days,Select Genesis 40:12

13and in three days the king will pardon you. He will make you his personal servant again, and you will serve him his wine, just as you used to do.Select Genesis 40:13

14But when these good things happen, please don't forget to tell the king about me, so I can get out of this place.Select Genesis 40:14

15I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and here in Egypt I haven't done anything to deserve being thrown in jail.Select Genesis 40:15

16When the chief cook saw that Joseph had given a good meaning to the dream, he told Joseph, “I also had a dream. In it I was carrying three breadbaskets stacked on top of my head.Select Genesis 40:16

17The top basket was full of all kinds of baked things for the king, but birds were eating them.”Select Genesis 40:17

18Joseph said: This is the meaning of your dream. The three baskets are three days,Select Genesis 40:18

19and in three days the king will cut off your head. He will hang your body on a pole, and birds will come and peck at it.Select Genesis 40:19

20Three days later, while the king was celebrating his birthday with a dinner for his officials, he sent for his personal servant and the chief cook.Select Genesis 40:20

21He put the personal servant back in his old jobSelect Genesis 40:21

22and had the cook put to death. Everything happened just as Joseph had said it would,Select Genesis 40:22

23but the king's personal servant completely forgot about Joseph.Select Genesis 40:23