Genesis 40:2

40:2 Pharaoh was enraged with his two officials, ¹  the cupbearer and the baker,

Genesis 40:9-13

40:9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: ²  “In my dream, there was a vine in front of me. 40:10 On the vine there were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms opened and its clusters ripened into grapes. 40:11 Now Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, so I took the grapes, squeezed them into his ³  cup, and put the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” ⁴ 

40:12 “This is its meaning,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches represent ⁵  three days. 40:13 In three more days Pharaoh will reinstate you ⁶  and restore you to your office. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did before ⁷  when you were cupbearer.

Genesis 40:21

40:21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his former position ⁸  so that he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand,

Genesis 40:23

40:23 But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph – he forgot him. ⁹ 

[40:2]  ¹ tn The Hebrew word סָרִיס (saris), used here of these two men and of Potiphar (see 39:1), normally means “eunuch.” But evidence from Akkadian texts shows that in early times the title was used of a court official in general. Only later did it become more specialized in its use.

[40:9]  ² tn The Hebrew text adds “and he said to him.” This has not been translated because it is redundant in English.

[40:11]  ³ tn Heb “the cup of Pharaoh.” The pronoun “his” has been used here in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[40:11]  ⁴ sn The cupbearer’s dream is dominated by sets of three: three branches, three stages of growth, and three actions of the cupbearer.

[40:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “the three branches [are].”

[40:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “Pharaoh will lift up your head.” This Hebrew idiom usually refers to restoring dignity, office, or power. It is comparable to the modern saying “someone can hold his head up high.”

[40:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “according to the former custom.”

[40:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “his cupbearing.”

[40:23]  ⁹ tn The wayyiqtol verbal form here has a reiterative or emphasizing function.