Key Verse Spotlight
Genesis 40:1 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" After these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt. "
Genesis 40:1
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
1 After these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cup bearer and the chief baker.
3 He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
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We would not have this story of Pharaoh’s butler and baker written in Scripture if it had not served Joseph’s rise to power. The world exists for the sake of the church, and God governs it for the church’s good.
Notice, first, that two of Pharaoh’s high officers offended the king and were put in prison. High positions are unstable places, and royal favor is never sure for long. Those who make God’s favor their joy and his service their main work will find him a better Master than Pharaoh, and one who is not so quick to judge their faults.
People have guessed many things about what these servants did. Some think it was an attempt to kill Pharaoh. Others think it was only that a fly fell into his cup and a little dust into his bread. Whatever the offense was, God used it to bring them into the prison where Joseph was.
Second, the captain of the guard, who was Potiphar, put Joseph in charge of them (Genesis 40:4). This suggests that Potiphar was beginning to be reconciled to Joseph, and perhaps was starting to believe he was innocent. Still, he may not have dared to free him, because he did not want to anger his wife. John the Baptist had to lose his head to satisfy Herodias.
From This Chapter
Genesis 40:2
"Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cup bearer and the chief baker."
Genesis 40:3
"He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound."
Genesis 40:4
"The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days."
Genesis 40:5
"They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the cup bearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison."
Genesis 40:6
"Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw them, and saw that they were sad."
Genesis 40:7
"He asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”"
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