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Genesis 40:12 Joseph replied, "This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days.
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 40:12 Joseph replied, "This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/40-12.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/01_Gen_40_12.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 40:12 - The Cupbearer and the Baker" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Joseph replied, This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days." /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad12.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/40-11.htm" title="Genesis 40:11">◄</a> Genesis 40:12 <a href="/genesis/40-13.htm" title="Genesis 40:13">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/40.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/40.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />“This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/40.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/40.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/40.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/40.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Joseph said unto him, This <i>is</i> the interpretation of it: The three branches <i>are</i> three days:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/40.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And Joseph said to him, “This <i>is</i> the interpretation of it: The three branches <i>are</i> three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/40.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/40.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/40.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/40.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/40.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches represent three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/40.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“This is its interpretation,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/40.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is its interpretation,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/40.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/40.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Joseph said: This is the meaning of your dream. The three branches stand for three days, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/40.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/40.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"This is what it means," Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/40.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Joseph said, "This is what it means: the three branches are three days. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/40.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Joseph told him, "This is what your dream means: The three branches are three days. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/40.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Joseph replied, ?This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/40.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"This is its meaning," Joseph said to him. "The three branches represent three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/40.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/40.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/40.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/40.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Joseph says to him, “This [is] its interpretation: the three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/40.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Joseph saith to him, 'This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/40.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Joseph will say to him, This its interpretation: The three shoots they are three days.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/40.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The three branches are yet three days: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/40.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Joseph responded: “This is the interpretation of the dream. The three shoots are the next three days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/40.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Joseph said to him: “This is its interpretation. The three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/40.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/40.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of your dream: The three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/40.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Yoseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of your dream: three branches are three days:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/40.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Joseph said unto him: 'This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/40.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it. The three stems are three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/40-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=10188" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/40.htm">The Cupbearer and the Baker</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">11</span>Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into his cup, and placed the cup in his hand.” <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3130.htm" title="3130: yō·w·sêp̄ (N-proper-ms) -- Future of yacaph; let him add; Joseph, the name of seven Israelites.">Joseph</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">replied,</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">“This is</a> <a href="/hebrew/6623.htm" title="6623: piṯ·rō·nōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Interpretation. Or pithron; from pathar; interpretation.">the interpretation:</a> <a href="/hebrew/7969.htm" title="7969: šə·lō·šeṯ (Number-msc) -- A three, triad. Or shalosh; masculine shlowshah; or shloshah; a primitive number; three; occasionally third, or Thrice.">The three</a> <a href="/hebrew/8299.htm" title="8299: haś·śā·ri·ḡîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Tendril, twig. From sarag; a tendril.">branches</a> <a href="/hebrew/7969.htm" title="7969: šə·lō·šeṯ (Number-msc) -- A three, triad. Or shalosh; masculine shlowshah; or shloshah; a primitive number; three; occasionally third, or Thrice.">are three</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: yā·mîm (N-mp) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">days.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: hêm (Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they."></a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/2-36.htm">Daniel 2:36-45</a></span><br />This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation. / You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. / Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/4-19.htm">Daniel 4:19-27</a></span><br />For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies! / The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth, / whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested— ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/41-12.htm">Genesis 41:12-13</a></span><br />Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us individually. / And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/41-25.htm">Genesis 41:25-32</a></span><br />At this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. / The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning. / Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/7-14.htm">Judges 7:14</a></span><br />His friend replied: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has delivered Midian and the whole camp into his hand.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/28-6.htm">1 Samuel 28:6</a></span><br />He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/3-5.htm">1 Kings 3:5-15</a></span><br />One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!” / Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day. / And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/22-15.htm">1 Kings 22:15-18</a></span><br />When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.” / But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?” / So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/8-10.htm">2 Kings 8:10-13</a></span><br />Elisha answered, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that in fact he will die.” / Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep. / “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/23-28.htm">Jeremiah 23:28</a></span><br />Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/1-20.htm">Matthew 1:20-21</a></span><br />But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. / She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/2-12.htm">Matthew 2:12-13</a></span><br />And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route. / When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-19.htm">Matthew 27:19</a></span><br />While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/2-17.htm">Acts 2:17</a></span><br />‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/10-10.htm">Acts 10:10-16</a></span><br />He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. / He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. / It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:</p><p class="hdg">This.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/40-18.htm">Genesis 40:18</a></b></br> And Joseph answered and said, This <i>is</i> the interpretation thereof: The three baskets <i>are</i> three days:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/41-12.htm">Genesis 41:12,25,26</a></b></br> And <i>there was</i> 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… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/7-14.htm">Judges 7:14</a></b></br> And his fellow answered and said, This <i>is</i> nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: <i>for</i> into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.</p><p class="hdg">The three.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/41-26.htm">Genesis 41:26</a></b></br> The seven good kine <i>are</i> seven years; and the seven good ears <i>are</i> seven years: the dream <i>is</i> one.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/7-14.htm">Judges 7:14</a></b></br> And his fellow answered and said, This <i>is</i> nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: <i>for</i> into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/26-26.htm">Matthew 26:26</a></b></br> And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed <i>it</i>, and brake <i>it</i>, and gave <i>it</i> to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/40-10.htm">Branches</a> <a href="/genesis/40-9.htm">Dream</a> <a href="/genesis/40-5.htm">Interpretation</a> <a href="/genesis/40-9.htm">Joseph</a> <a href="/genesis/24-38.htm">Means</a> <a href="/genesis/40-8.htm">Sense</a> <a href="/genesis/40-10.htm">Three</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/49-22.htm">Branches</a> <a href="/genesis/40-16.htm">Dream</a> <a href="/genesis/40-16.htm">Interpretation</a> <a href="/genesis/40-16.htm">Joseph</a> <a href="/genesis/40-18.htm">Means</a> <a href="/genesis/40-16.htm">Sense</a> <a href="/genesis/40-13.htm">Three</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 40</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/40-1.htm">The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh are also imprisoned.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/40-5.htm">Joseph interprets their dreams.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/40-20.htm">They are accomplished according to his interpretation.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/40-23.htm">The ingratitude of the butler, in forgetting Joseph.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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His gift is recognized as coming from God, as seen earlier when he attributes his ability to interpret dreams to divine revelation. This moment is significant as it demonstrates Joseph's faithfulness and reliance on God, even while imprisoned.<p><b>This is the interpretation</b><br>In the ancient Near East, dreams were often considered messages from the divine. Joseph's role as an interpreter is crucial, as it sets the stage for his eventual rise to power in Egypt. His interpretations are not based on human wisdom but are divinely inspired, highlighting the theme of God's sovereignty and providence throughout Joseph's life.<p><b>The three branches</b><br>The imagery of branches is symbolic and often used in biblical literature. In this context, the branches represent a specific time frame, which Joseph is about to reveal. Symbolism in dreams is a common motif in the Bible, and Joseph's ability to discern these symbols underscores his prophetic gift.<p><b>are three days</b><br>The specificity of "three days" is significant, as it points to the immediacy and certainty of the prophecy. The number three is often symbolic in Scripture, representing completeness or divine perfection. This timeframe also foreshadows the fulfillment of the dream's interpretation, which will occur exactly as Joseph predicts, further establishing his credibility and God's hand in his life.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joseph.htm">Joseph</a></b><br>A Hebrew man, sold into slavery by his brothers, who rises to a position of trust in Potiphar's house and later in prison. Known for his ability to interpret dreams, which is a gift from God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_cupbearer.htm">The Cupbearer</a></b><br>An official in Pharaoh's court who was imprisoned, likely due to a political or personal offense. He shares his dream with Joseph, seeking an interpretation.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/p/pharaoh's_prison.htm">Pharaoh's Prison</a></b><br>The place where Joseph is held after being falsely accused by Potiphar's wife. It is here that Joseph meets the cupbearer and the baker.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_dream.htm">The Dream</a></b><br>The cupbearer's dream involves three branches, which Joseph interprets as a symbol of three days until the cupbearer is restored to his position.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The setting of the account, a powerful ancient civilization where Joseph's journey unfolds, from slavery to eventual leadership.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_circumstances.htm">God's Sovereignty in Circumstances</a></b><br>Joseph's ability to interpret dreams, even in prison, shows that God is in control and can use any situation for His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_small_things.htm">Faithfulness in Small Things</a></b><br>Joseph's consistent faithfulness, even in prison, prepares him for greater responsibilities. We should be faithful in our current circumstances, trusting God for the future.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_god's_gifts.htm">The Power of God's Gifts</a></b><br>Spiritual gifts, like Joseph's ability to interpret dreams, are given by God for His glory and the benefit of others. We should seek to use our gifts to serve and honor God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_timing.htm">Hope in God's Timing</a></b><br>The interpretation of the dream points to a specific time of deliverance. We can trust God's perfect timing in our lives, even when we face delays or uncertainties.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_40.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 40</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/are_angel_numbers_biblical.htm">Are angel numbers biblical?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_job's_fortune_restored_easily.htm">How can Job's fortunes in Job 42 be restored so easily, despite the irreversible trauma and loss he suffered earlier?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/was_jesus_in_the_tomb_3_days_nights.htm">Was Jesus in the tomb for three days and three nights? (Matthew 12:40 vs. Mark 15:42-47)</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_jesus_say_'three_days'_in_the_tomb.htm">Why did Jesus say He would be in the tomb for 'three days and three nights' (Matthew 12:40) when He was only buried from Friday to Sunday?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/40.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 12-15.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Joseph</span> (acting no doubt under a Divine impulse) <span class="cmt_word">said unto him, This is the interpretation of it</span> (cf. ver. 18; 41:12, 25; <a href="/judges/7-14.htm">Judges 7:14</a>; <a href="/daniel/2-36.htm">Daniel 2:36</a>; <a href="/daniel/4-19.htm">Daniel 4:19</a>): <span class="cmt_word">The three branches</span> (<span class="accented">vide supra</span>, ver. 10) <span class="cmt_word">are three days</span>: - literally, <span class="accented">three days these</span> (cf. <a href="/genesis/41-26.htm">Genesis 41:26</a>) - <span class="cmt_word">yet within three days</span> (literally, <span class="accented">in yet three days, i.e.</span> within three more days, before the third day is over) <span class="cmt_word">shall Pharaoh lift up thine head</span>, - not <span class="greek">μνησθήσεται τῆς ἀρχῆς σου</span> (LXX.), <span class="accented">record-abitur ministerii tui</span> (Vulgate), a rendering which has the sanction of Onkelos, Samaritan, Jarchi, Rosenmüller, and others; but shall promote thee from the depths of thy humiliation (Gesenius, Furst, Keil, Kalisch, etc.), to which there is an assonance, and upon which there is an intentional play, in the opposite phrase employed to depict the fortunes of the baker (<span class="accented">vide infra</span>, ver. 19) <span class="cmt_word">and restore thee unto thy place</span>: - epexegetic of the preceding clause, the <span class="hebrew">כֵּן</span> (or pedestal, from <span class="hebrew">כָּגַן</span>, unused, to stand upright, or stand fast as a base) upon which the butler was to be set being his former dignity and office, as is next explained - <span class="cmt_word">and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.</span> After which Joseph adds a request for himself. <span class="cmt_word">But think on me when it shall be well with thee</span> (literally, <span class="accented">but, or only, thou shalt remember me with thee, according as, or when, it goes well with thee</span>)<span class="accented">, <span class="cmt_word"></span>and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me</span> (cf. <a href="/joshua/2-12.htm">Joshua 2:12</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/20-14.htm">1 Samuel 20:14, 15</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/9-1.htm">2 Samuel 9:1</a>; <a href="/1_kings/2-7.htm">1 Kings 2:7</a>), <span class="cmt_word">and make mention of me unto Pharaoh,</span> - literally, <span class="accented">bring me to remembrance before Pharaoh</span> (cf. <a href="/1_kings/17-18.htm">1 Kings 17:18</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/4-16.htm">Jeremiah 4:16</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/21-28.htm">Ezekiel 21:28</a>) - <span class="cmt_word">and bring me out of this house: for indeed I was stolen</span> (literally, <span class="accented">for stolen I was stolen, i.e.</span> I was furtively abducted, without my knowledge or consent, and did not voluntarily abscond in consequence of having perpetrated any crime) <span class="cmt_word">away out</span> (literally, <span class="accented">from</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>of the land of the Hebrews</span>: - <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the land where the labrum live (Keil); an expression which Joseph never could have used, since the Hebrews were strangers and sojourners in the land, and had no settled possession in it, and therefore a certain index of the lateness of the composition of this portion of the narrative (Block, 'Introd.,' § 80); but if Abram, nearly two centuries earlier, was recognized as a Hebrew (<a href="/genesis/14-13.htm">Genesis 14:13</a>), and if Potiphar's wife could, in speaking to her Egyptian husband and domestics, describe Joseph as an Hebrew (<a href="/genesis/39-14.htm">Genesis 39:14, 17</a>), there does not appear sufficient reason why Joseph should not be able to characterize his country as the land of the Hebrews. The Hebrews had through Abraham become known at least to Pharaoh and his Court as belonging to the land of Canaan (<a href="/genesis/12-15.htm">Genesis 12:15-20</a>); and it is not a violent supposition that in Joseph s time "<span class="accented">the</span> land of the Hebrews" was a phrase quite intelligible to an Egyptian, as signifying not perhaps the entire extent of Palestine, but the region round about Hebron and Mamre (Nachmanides, Clericus, Rosenmüller) - scarcely as suggesting that the Hebrews had possession of the land prior to the Canaanites (Murphy). <span class="cmt_word">And here also have I done nothing</span> (<span class="accented">i.e.</span> committed no crime) <span class="cmt_word">that they should</span> (literally, <span class="accented">that they have</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>put me into the dungeon</span>. The term <span class="hebrew">בּור</span> is here used to describe Joseph's place of confinement, because pits or cisterns or cesspools, when empty, were frequently employed in primitive times for the incarceration of offenders (el. <a href="/jeremiah/38-6.htm">Jeremiah 38:6</a>; <a href="/zechariah/9-11.htm">Zechariah 9:11</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/40-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Joseph</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹסֵ֔ף</span> <span class="translit">(yō·w·sêp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3130.htm">Strong's 3130: </a> </span><span class="str2">Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">replied,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֤אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“This [is]</span><br /><span class="heb">זֶ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the interpretation:</span><br /><span class="heb">פִּתְרֹנ֑וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(piṯ·rō·nōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6623.htm">Strong's 6623: </a> </span><span class="str2">Interpretation</span><br /><br /><span class="word">The three</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙</span> <span class="translit">(šə·lō·šeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7969.htm">Strong's 7969: </a> </span><span class="str2">Three, third, thrice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">branches</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשָּׂ֣רִגִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(haś·śā·ri·ḡîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8299.htm">Strong's 8299: </a> </span><span class="str2">Tendril, twig</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are three</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת</span> <span class="translit">(šə·lō·šeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7969.htm">Strong's 7969: </a> </span><span class="str2">Three, third, thrice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">days.</span><br /><span class="heb">יָמִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(yā·mîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/40-12.htm">Genesis 40:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/40-12.htm">Genesis 40:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/40-12.htm">Genesis 40:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/40-12.htm">Genesis 40:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/40-12.htm">Genesis 40:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/40-12.htm">Genesis 40:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/40-12.htm">Genesis 40:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/40-12.htm">Genesis 40:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/40-12.htm">Genesis 40:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/40-12.htm">Genesis 40:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/40-12.htm">OT Law: Genesis 40:12 Joseph said to him This is its (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/40-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 40:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 40:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/40-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 40:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 40:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>