Genesis 40 · Verse 1

Genesis 40:1

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, King James Version

Genesis 40:1 in other translations

BSBSome time later, the king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.
WEBAfter these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
ASVAnd it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass, after these things--the butler of the king of Egypt and the baker have sinned against their lord, against the king of Egypt;
DARBYAnd it came to pass after these things, that the cup-bearer of the king of Egypt and the baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.
BBENow after these things the chief servant who had the care of the wine, and the chief bread-maker in Pharaoh's house, did something against Pharaoh's orders;
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Genesis 40:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ge 40:1-8. Two State Prisoners.

1. the butler--not only the cup-bearer, but overseer of the royal vineyards, as well as the cellars; having, probably, some hundreds of people under him. baker--or cook, had the superintendence of every thing relating to the providing and preparing of meats for the royal table. Both officers, especially the former, were, in ancient Egypt, always persons of great rank and importance; and from the confidential nature of their employment, as well as their access to the royal presence, they were generally the highest nobles or princes of the blood.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Pharaoh's chief butler and his chief baker, having offended their lord, are put in prison, Gen 40:1-3. The captain of the guard gives them into the care of Joseph, Gen 40:4. Each of them has a dream, Gen 40:5. Joseph, seeing them sad, questions them on the subject, Gen 40:6, Gen 40:7. Their answer, Gen 40:8. The chief butler tells his dream, Gen 40:9-11. Joseph interprets it, Gen 40:12, Gen 40:13. Gives a slight sketch of his history to the chief butler, and begs him to think upon him when restored to his office, Gen 40:14, Gen 40:15. The chief baker tells his dream, Gen 40:16, Gen 40:17. Joseph interprets this also, Gen 40:18, Gen 40:19. Both dreams are fulfilled according to the interpretation, the chief butler being restored to his office, and the chief baker hanged, Gen 40:20-22. The chief butler makes no interest for Joseph, Gen 40:23. Verse 1 The butler - משקה mashkeh, the same as saky among the Arabians and Persians, and signifying a cup-bearer. Baker - אפה opheh; rather cook, confectioner, or the like. Had offended - They had probably been accused of attempting to take away the king's life, one by poisoning his drink, the other by poisoning his bread or confectionaries.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 40:1-19
It was not so much the prison that made the butler and baker sad, as their dreams. God has more ways than one to sadden the spirits. Joseph had compassion towards them. Let us be concerned for the sadness of our brethren's countenances. It is often a relief to those that are in trouble to be noticed. Also learn to look into the causes of our own sorrow. Is there a good reason? Is there not comfort sufficient to balance it, whatever it is? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Joseph was careful to ascribe the glory to God. The chief butler's dream foretold his advancement. The chief baker's dream his death. It was not Joseph's fault that he brought the baker no better tidings. And thus ministers are but interpreters; they cannot make the thing otherwise than it is: if they deal faithfully, and their message prove unpleasing, it is not their fault. Joseph does not reflect upon his brethren that sold him; nor does he reflect on the wrong done him by his mistress and his master, but mildly states his own innocence. When we are called on to clear ourselves, we should carefully avoid, as much as may be, speaking ill of others. Let us be content to prove ourselves innocent, and not upbraid others with their guilt.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 40:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֗יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
אַחַר֙'a.CharafterH310
הַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.Rimthe thingsH1697
הָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.leh<the> theseH428
חָֽטְא֛וּcha.te.'Uthey sinnedH2398
מַשְׁקֵ֥הmash.Keh[the] cup bearer ofH4945
מֶֽלֶךְ\־Me.lekh-[the] king ofH4428
מִצְרַ֖יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgyptH4714
וְהָאֹפֶ֑הve.ha.'o.Pehand the bakerH644
לַאֲדֹנֵיהֶ֖םla.'a.do.nei.Hemto master<s> theirH113
לְמֶ֥לֶךְle.Me.lekhto [the] king ofH4428
מִצְרָֽיִם\׃mitz.Ra.yimEgyptH4714

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 40:1

  • Genesis 40:13

    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.

  • Nehemiah 1:11-2:2

    O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer. And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

  • Esther 6:1

    On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

  • Genesis 39:20-23

    And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh being imprisoned, Joseph is charged with them.
5 He interprets their dreams.
20 They are accomplished according to his interpretation.
23 The ingratitude of the butler, in forgetting Joseph.

it came.
39:20-23; Es 6:1
the butler.{Mashkeh,} from {shakah,} to give drink, is the same as {saky} among the Arabians and Persians, and signifies a cup-bearer.
13; Ne 1:11; 2:1,2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 40:1

    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 40:2

    And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

Read all of Genesis 40

Genesis 40:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ACONTECIÓ después de estas cosas, que el copero del rey de Egipto y el panadero delinquieron contra su señor el rey de Egipto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva, après ces choses, que l’échanson du roi d’Égypte et le panetier péchèrent contre leur seigneur, le roi d’Égypte.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah nach diesen Dingen, da versündigten sich der Schenke des Königs von Ägypten und der Bäcker gegen ihren Herrn, den König von Ägypten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		His ita gestis, accidit ut peccarent duo eunuchi, pincerna regis Ægypti, et pistor, domino suo.