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: King James Version
" And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. "
Genesis 40:1
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
And he put them in ward 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.
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From This Chapter
Genesis 40:2
"And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers."
Genesis 40:3
"And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound."
Genesis 40:4
"And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward."
Genesis 40:5
"And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison."
Genesis 40:6
"And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad."
Genesis 40:7
"And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?"
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