The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Genesis 40

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Torah

Genesis chapter 40 — part of the Torah in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And 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.” — the complete text of all 23 verses is below, free to read online.

1And 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.

2And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

3And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

4And the captain of the guard charged Joseph to be with them, and he ministered unto them; and they continued a season in ward.

5And 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, who were bound in the prison.

6And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and saw them, and, behold, they were sad.

7And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his master's house, saying: 'Wherefore look ye so sad to-day?'

8And they said unto him: 'We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it.' And Joseph said unto them: 'Do not interpretations belong to G-d? tell it me, I pray you.'

9And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him: 'In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

10and in the vine were three branches; and as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes,

11and 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.'

12And Joseph said unto him: 'This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;

13within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head, and restore thee unto thine office; and thou shalt give Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

14But have me in thy remembrance when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.

15For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.'

16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph: 'I also saw in my dream, and, behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head;

17and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked food for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.'

18And Joseph answered and said: 'This is the interpretation thereof: the three baskets are three days;

19within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.'

20And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants.

21And he restored the chief butler back unto his butlership; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

22But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.

23Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.

23 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

‹ Genesis 39 Genesis 41 ›

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