Genesis – Chapter 40

Old Testament23 Verses

Chapter Summary

Genesis 40 opens with the words: "After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord." The chapter centers on Pharaoh and Joseph. Across its 23 verses, two threads run through the text: God's protection and deliverance and hope in God's promises. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord.

2And Pharao being angry with them, (now the one was chief butler, the other chief baker,)

3He sent them to the prison of the commander of the soldiers, in which Joseph also was prisoner.

4But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody.

5And they both dreamed a dream the same night, according to the interpretation agreeing to themselves:

6And when Joseph was come into them in the morning, and saw them sad,

7He asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder today than usual?

8They answered: We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to interpret it to us. And Joseph said to them: Doth not interpretation belong to God? Tell me what you have dreamed:

9The chief butler first told his dream: I saw before me a vine,

10On which were three branches, which by little and little sent out buds, and after the blossoms brought forth ripe grapes:

11And the cup of Pharao was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into the cup which I held, and I gave the cup to Pharao.

12Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The three branches, are yet three days:

13After which Pharao will remember thy service, and will restore thee to thy former place: and thou shalt present him the cup according to thy office, as before thou was wont to do.

14Only remember me when it shall be well with thee, and do me this kindness: to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this prison:

15For I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here without any fault was cast into the dungeon.

16The chief baker seeing that he had wisely interpreted the dream, said: I also dreamed a dream, That I had three baskets of meal upon my head:

17And that in one basket which was uppermost, I carried all meats that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds ate out of it.

18Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The three baskets, are yet three days:

19After which Pharao will take thy head from thee, and hang thee on a cross, and the birds shall tear thy flesh.

20The third day after this was the birthday of Pharao: and he made a great feast for his servants, and at the banquet remembered the chief butler, and the chief baker.

21And he restored the one to his place, to present him the cup:

22The other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the interpreter might be shewn.

23But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his interpreter.

Important Verses in Genesis 40

After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord.

Genesis 40:1

But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody.

Genesis 40:4

They answered: We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to interpret it to us. And Joseph said to them: Doth not interpretation belong to God? Tell me what you have dreamed:

Genesis 40:8

The other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the interpreter might be shewn.

Genesis 40:22

Historical Context

Genesis belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the people of Israel, to root their identity in God's creation and the covenant with the patriarchs. Chapter 40 of 50 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 23 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Pharaoh and Joseph, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The chapter begins: "After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord." The final verse reads: "But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his interpreter. " The wider setting of Genesis is this: Genesis was composed to give Israel its foundational identity: one God created all things good, sin entered through human choice, and God responded with a plan of salvation beginning with Abraham. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Genesis around Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions

When It Was Written

Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

Read at the narrative level, this chapter describes real persons, decisions, and consequences within creation, covenant, and the patriarchs. A pivotal line is verse 1: "After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord." The passage repeatedly touches on God's protection and deliverance.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 618). Here, the Catechism teaches that Genesis reveals God's plan of salvation from the beginning (CIC 54-64). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize God's protection and deliverance as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.
  • Christian hope rests not on circumstances but on the unfailing promises of God.
  • True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

People in This Chapter

Pharaoh7 mentionsJoseph6 mentions

Reflection for Today

Genesis Chapter 40 recounts Joseph's interpretation of dreams for Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker, demonstrating his God-given gift. The Catechism teaches that authentic prophecy comes from God and serves His purposes (CIC 2004). Joseph's humble acknowledgment—"Do not interpretations belong to God?"—models the proper attitude toward spiritual gifts.

The contrasting fates of the cupbearer and baker, accurately predicted by Joseph, establish his credibility as an interpreter of dreams. Catholic tradition sees in these dreams symbols of the Eucharist—the cup of wine and the bread—with the cupbearer's restoration pointing to salvation and the baker's execution to judgment.

The cupbearer's forgetfulness of Joseph, despite his promise to remember, extends Joseph's suffering for two more years. The Catechism teaches that human ingratitude cannot diminish God's faithfulness (CIC 2637-2638). This chapter reminds us that God's timing differs from ours, that gifts must be used for God's glory rather than self-promotion, and that even when humans forget us, God remembers.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Genesis Chapter 40 about?

Genesis 40 contains 23 verses. It opens with "After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord." and closes with "But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his interpreter. ". The book as a whole is narrative with genealogies and covenant accounts.

What is a key verse in Genesis 40?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Genesis Chapter 40?

This chapter mentions Pharaoh, Joseph.

Who wrote Genesis and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions. Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

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