Genesis 40:17
New International Version
In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

New Living Translation
The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.”

English Standard Version
and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.”

Berean Standard Bible
In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

King James Bible
And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

New King James Version
In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”

New American Standard Bible
and in the top basket there were some of all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

NASB 1995
and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

NASB 1977
and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

Legacy Standard Bible
and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

Amplified Bible
and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds [of prey] were eating [these foods] out of the basket on my head.”

Christian Standard Bible
In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."”

American Standard Version
and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked food for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

Contemporary English Version
The top basket was full of all kinds of baked things for the king, but birds were eating them."

English Revised Version
and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The top basket contained all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."

Good News Translation
In the top basket there were all kinds of baked goods for the king, and the birds were eating them."

International Standard Version
There was all kinds of food in the basket that was on top, including baked food for Pharaoh. The birds were eating them from the basket on my head."

Majority Standard Bible
In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

NET Bible
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."

New Heart English Bible
In the top basket there was all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."

Webster's Bible Translation
And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bake-meats for Pharaoh; and the birds ate them out of the basket upon my head.

World English Bible
In the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and in the highest basket [are] of all [kinds] of Pharaoh’s food, work of a baker; and the birds are eating them out of the basket, from off my head.”

Young's Literal Translation
and in the uppermost basket are of all kinds of Pharaoh's food, work of a baker; and the birds are eating them out of the basket, from off my head.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And in the high basket of all, food of Pharaoh, the work of baking; and the birds ate them from the basket above my head.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And 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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and in one basket, which was the highest, I carried all foods that are made by the art of baking, and the birds ate from it.”

New American Bible
in the top one were all kinds of bakery products for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

New Revised Standard Version
and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And in the uppermost basket there was of every kind of food for Pharaoh, prepared by a baker; and the birds of prey were eating it out of the basket on my head.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And in the upper basket was some of every food of Pharaoh, products of the Baker, and winged creatures ate them from the basket from the top of my head.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked food for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And in the upper basket there was the work of the baker of every kind which Pharao eats; and the fowls of the air ate them out of the basket that was on my head.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cupbearer and the Baker
16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: There were three baskets of white bread on my head. 17In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” 18Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days.…

Cross References
Genesis 41:10-13
Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard. / One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning. / 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. ...

Genesis 41:16
“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

Genesis 41:25-32
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. ...

Genesis 41:38-40
So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?” / Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. / You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Genesis 41:55-57
When extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” / When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. / And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Genesis 42:6-9
Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. / And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.” / Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. ...

Genesis 42:21-23
Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” / And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!” / They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them.

Genesis 42:36-38
Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!” / Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.” / But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

Genesis 43:8-9
And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children. / I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.

Genesis 44:14-17
When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him. / “What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?” / “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.” ...

Genesis 45:4-8
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. / For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. ...

Genesis 50:19-21
But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? / As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. / Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

Daniel 2:27-30
Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires. / But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these: / As you lay on your bed, O king, your thoughts turned to the future, and the Revealer of Mysteries made known to you what will happen. ...

Daniel 2:47
The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”

Daniel 4:18-19
This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” / 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!


Treasury of Scripture

And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket on my head.

bake-meats.

Genesis 49:20
Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

1 Chronicles 12:20
As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.

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Ate Baked Baker Basket Baskets Birds Cooked Eat Eating Food Head Kinds Manner Meats Pharaoh Sorts Top Uppermost Victuals
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Ate Baked Baker Basket Baskets Birds Cooked Eat Eating Food Head Kinds Manner Meats Pharaoh Sorts Top Uppermost Victuals
Genesis 40
1. The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh are also imprisoned.
5. Joseph interprets their dreams.
20. They are accomplished according to his interpretation.
23. The ingratitude of the butler, in forgetting Joseph.














In the top basket
The phrase "In the top basket" refers to the highest of three baskets that the chief baker saw in his dream. The Hebrew word for "basket" is "סַל" (sal), which often denotes a woven container used for carrying food. The "top" basket signifies prominence or priority, suggesting that the contents were meant for someone of high status, such as Pharaoh. This imagery sets the stage for the dream's interpretation, where the top basket's exposure symbolizes vulnerability and impending judgment.

were all sorts of baked goods
The phrase "were all sorts of baked goods" indicates a variety of food items prepared for Pharaoh. The Hebrew term "מַאֲכָל" (ma'akal) refers to food or provisions, emphasizing the baker's role in preparing diverse delicacies. This variety underscores the baker's skill and the importance of his service to Pharaoh. Historically, bread and baked goods were staples in ancient Egyptian diet, and the baker's responsibility was crucial in the royal court.

for Pharaoh
The phrase "for Pharaoh" highlights the intended recipient of the baked goods. Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, was considered a god-like figure, and serving him was a position of great honor and responsibility. The mention of Pharaoh underscores the gravity of the dream, as it involves the highest authority in the land. This context reflects the baker's significant role and the potential consequences of failing in his duties.

but the birds were eating them
The phrase "but the birds were eating them" introduces a negative turn in the dream. Birds, in ancient Near Eastern symbolism, often represented omens or messengers of doom. The Hebrew word "עוֹף" (oph) for "birds" can imply creatures that devour or destroy. This imagery suggests a loss or violation, as the baked goods meant for Pharaoh are consumed by unworthy creatures, foreshadowing the baker's fate.

out of the basket on my head
The phrase "out of the basket on my head" completes the dream's imagery, with the basket resting on the baker's head. This position indicates the baker's personal responsibility and connection to the contents. The vulnerability of the basket, exposed to the birds, symbolizes the baker's own exposure to judgment. In the cultural context, carrying items on the head was common, but here it signifies the impending downfall, as the baker is unable to protect what is entrusted to him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
In the top
הָֽעֶלְי֔וֹן (hā·‘el·yō·wn)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5945: An elevation, lofty, as title, the Supreme

basket
וּבַסַּ֣ל (ū·ḇas·sal)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5536: A willow twig, an osier, as woven into a, basket

were all sorts of
מִכֹּ֛ל (mik·kōl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

baked
אֹפֶ֑ה (’ō·p̄eh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 644: To cook, to bake

goods
מַאֲכַ֥ל (ma·’ă·ḵal)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3978: An eatable

for Pharaoh,
פַּרְעֹ֖ה (par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

but the birds
וְהָע֗וֹף (wə·hā·‘ō·wp̄)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5775: Flying creatures

were eating
אֹכֵ֥ל (’ō·ḵêl)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

them out of
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the basket
הַסַּ֖ל (has·sal)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5536: A willow twig, an osier, as woven into a, basket

on
מֵעַ֥ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

my head.”
רֹאשִֽׁי׃ (rō·šî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7218: The head


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OT Law: Genesis 40:17 In the uppermost basket there was all (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 40:16
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