Genesis 40 · Verse 12

Genesis 40:12

And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
Genesis 40:12, King James Version

Genesis 40:12 in other translations

BSBJoseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days.
WEBJoseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.
ASVAnd Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;
YLTAnd Joseph saith to him, ‘This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days;
DARBYAnd Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days.
BBEThen Joseph said, This is the sense of your dream: the three branches are three days;
WebsterAnd Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days;

What does Genesis 40:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 40:12-15
12-15. Joseph said, ... This is the interpretation--Speaking as an inspired interpreter, he told the butler that within three days he would be restored to all the honors and privileges of his office; and while making that joyful announcement, he earnestly bespoke the officer's influence for his own liberation. Nothing has hitherto met us in the record indicative of Joseph's feelings; but this earnest appeal reveals a sadness and impatient longing for release, which not all his piety and faith in God could dispel.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 The three branches are three days - That is, The three branches signify three days; so, this Is my body, that is, this bread signifies or represents my body; this cup is my blood, Represents my blood; a form of speech frequently used in the sacred writings, for the Hebrew has no proper word by which our terms signifies, represents, etc., are expressed; therefore it says such a thing Is, for represents, points out, etc. And because several of our ancestors would understand such words in their true, genuine, critical, and sole meaning, Queen Mary, Bishops Gardiner, Bonner, and the rest of that demoniacal crew, reduced them to ashes in Smithfield and elsewhere!

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…

Read the full comment on Genesis 40:1-19 →

Genesis 40:12 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.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
לוֹ֙loto <the> him
יוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefJosephH3130
זֶ֖הzehthisH2088
פִּתְרֹנ֑וֹpit.ro.No[is] interpretation itsH6623
שְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙she.Lo.shet[the] threeH7969
הַשָּׂ֣רִגִ֔יםha.Sa.ri.Gimthe branchesH8299
שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁתshe.Lo.shet[are] threeH7969
יָמִ֖יםya.MimdaysH3117
הֵֽם\׃HemtheyH1992

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

Cross references for Genesis 40:12

  • Judges 7:14

    And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.

  • Genesis 41:12

    And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

  • Genesis 40:18

    And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

  • Genesis 41:25-26

    And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

  • Daniel 4:19-33

    Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. …

  • Daniel 2:36-45

    This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. …

  • Matthew 26:26

    And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

  • Galatians 4:25

    For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:4

    And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
This.
18; 41:12,25,26; Jud 7:14; Da 2:36-45; 4:19-33
The three.
41:26; Jud 7:14; Mt 26:26; 1Co 10:4; Ga 4:25

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

Context

  • Genesis 40:11

    And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.

  • Genesis 40:12

    And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

  • 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.

Read all of Genesis 40

Genesis 40:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y díjole José: Esta es su declaración: Los tres sarmientos son tres días:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Joseph lui dit: C’est ici son interprétation: Les trois sarments, ce sont trois jours.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und Joseph sprach zu ihm: Dies ist seine Deutung: Die drei Reben sind drei Tage.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Respondit Joseph: Hæc est interpretatio somnii: tres propagines, tres adhuc dies sunt: