The Process by Which Joseph Interpreted the Two Dreams in Genesis 40

In Genesis 40, Joseph saw the concern of the two officials, asked why they were troubled, declared that interpretations belong to God, and then told them the outcome of each dream. The passage records that both interpretations were fulfilled exactly three days later, but also that the chief cupbearer, who was restored to his former position, forgot Joseph.

Why the two officials needed an interpretation

Pharaoh was angry with his chief cupbearer and his chief baker because they had offended him. The two men were confined in the prison in the house of the captain of the guard. That was the same place where Joseph was imprisoned as well.

The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to attend the two officials. Joseph served them in the prison. Then one night, the two men each had a different dream.

In the morning, the two officials looked troubled. They were distressed because they had dreamed dreams, but there was no one to interpret them. Joseph’s interpretation of the two dreams began when he noticed their changed expressions.

Joseph saw their troubled look and asked the reason

Joseph did not overlook the expressions on the faces of the two officials. He asked, “Why do you look so troubled today?” The two men replied that they had dreamed dreams, but there was no one to interpret them.

The passage says that Joseph first saw their troubled look and then asked the reason. He did not immediately try to guess the meaning of the dreams. He asked a question so they could speak directly about what was troubling them.

Only after receiving that question did the two officials tell their dreams. Before Joseph heard and interpreted the dreams, he first observed their condition and asked why they were troubled.

Joseph declared that interpretation belongs to God

Before hearing the dreams, Joseph said, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” He did not place the basis of interpretation in himself. He then asked the two officials to tell him their dreams.

In the chief cupbearer’s dream, there was a vine with three branches and Pharaoh’s cup. Joseph interpreted the three branches as meaning three days. He said that within three days the chief cupbearer would be restored to his former office and would again place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand.

In the chief baker’s dream, there were three white baskets of bread and birds eating the food inside them. Joseph interpreted the three baskets as meaning three days as well. But this time he said that within three days the official would be hanged on a tree, and the birds would eat his flesh.

Both interpretations were fulfilled, and Joseph was forgotten

The third day was Pharaoh’s birthday. Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his former office. The chief baker was hanged, just as Joseph had interpreted.

Joseph asked the chief cupbearer to remember him when he was restored to his position. He said that he had been brought from the land of the Hebrews and had done nothing to deserve being put in prison. Joseph asked that his situation be told to Pharaoh so that he might be brought out of this place.

But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. Genesis 40 ends by recording both the fulfillment of Joseph’s interpretations and the fact that his request was forgotten.

One action you can take today is to ask someone who seems troubled what is bothering them. There is no need to expand this into a command given to everyone. Still, the order in which Joseph first noticed their expressions and then asked a question can be seen in Genesis 40:6-8 (ESV).

Passage References

• Genesis 40:1-8
• Genesis 40:9-19
• Genesis 40:20-23