Genesis 40:17-23

40:17 In the top basket there were baked goods of every kind for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them from the basket that was on my head.”

40:18 Joseph replied, “This is its meaning: The three baskets represent ¹  three days. 40:19 In three more days Pharaoh will decapitate you ²  and impale you on a pole. Then the birds will eat your flesh from you.”

40:20 On the third day it was Pharaoh’s birthday, so he gave a feast for all his servants. He “lifted up” ³  the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker in the midst of his servants. 40:21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his former position ⁴  so that he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand, 40:22 but the chief baker he impaled, just as Joseph had predicted. ⁵  40:23 But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph – he forgot him. ⁶ 

[40:18]  ¹ tn Heb “the three baskets [are].”

[40:19]  ² tn Heb “Pharaoh will lift up your head from upon you.” Joseph repeats the same expression from the first interpretation (see v. 13), but with the added words “from upon you,” which allow the statement to have a more literal and ominous meaning – the baker will be decapitated.

[40:20]  ³ tn The translation puts the verb in quotation marks because it is used rhetorically here and has a double meaning. With respect to the cup bearer it means “reinstate” (see v. 13), but with respect to the baker it means “decapitate” (see v. 19).

[40:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “his cupbearing.”

[40:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “had interpreted for them.”

[40:23]  ⁶ tn The wayyiqtol verbal form here has a reiterative or emphasizing function.