Genesis 40:9
New International Version
So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me,

New Living Translation
So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me.

English Standard Version
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me,

Berean Standard Bible
So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream: “In my dream there was a vine before me,

King James Bible
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

New King James Version
Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me,

New American Standard Bible
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, saying to him, “In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me;

NASB 1995
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me;

NASB 1977
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me;

Legacy Standard Bible
So the chief cupbearer recounted his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me;

Amplified Bible
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream there was a grapevine in front of me;

Christian Standard Bible
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: “In my dream there was a vine in front of me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: “In my dream there was a vine in front of me.

American Standard Version
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

Contemporary English Version
The king's personal servant told Joseph, "In my dream I saw a vine

English Revised Version
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said "In my dream a grapevine with three branches appeared in front of me.

Good News Translation
So the wine steward said, "In my dream there was a grapevine in front of me

International Standard Version
So the senior security advisor related his dream to Joseph. "In my dream," he said, "all of a sudden there was a vine in front of me!

Majority Standard Bible
So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream: “In my dream there was a vine before me,

NET Bible
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: "In my dream, there was a vine in front of me.

New Heart English Bible
The chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream, look, a vine was in front of me,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

World English Bible
The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the chief of the butlers recounts his dream to Joseph and says to him, “In my dream, then behold, a vine [is] before me!

Young's Literal Translation
And the chief of the butlers recounteth his dream to Joseph, and saith to him, 'In my dream, then lo, a vine is before me!

Smith's Literal Translation
And the chief of the cup-bearers will relate his dream to Joseph, and will say to him, In my dream, and behold a vine before me;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The chief butler first told his dream: I saw before me a vine,

Catholic Public Domain Version
The chief cupbearer explained his dream first. “I saw before me a vine,

New American Bible
Then the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a vine in front of me,

New Revised Standard Version
So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Chief of Drink related his dream to Yoseph, and he said to him, “In my dream, behold, a vine was before me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him: 'In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the chief cupbearer related his dream to Joseph, and said, In my dream a vine was before me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cupbearer and the Baker
8“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” 9So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream: “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10and on the vine were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms opened and its clusters ripened into grapes.…

Cross References
Daniel 2:19-23
During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven / and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. / He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. ...

Daniel 4:8-9
But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream: / “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.

Daniel 5:12
did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.”

1 Kings 3:5-15
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. ...

Numbers 12:6
He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.

Acts 2:17
‘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.

Acts 10:10-16
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. ...

Acts 16:9-10
During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” / As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Matthew 1:20-21
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.”

Matthew 2:12-13
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.”

Matthew 27:19
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.”

Judges 7:13-15
And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.” / 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.” / When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Get up, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.”

1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

Job 33:14-16
For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. / In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, / He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings

Joel 2:28
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.


Treasury of Scripture

And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

a vine.

Genesis 37:5-10
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more…

Judges 7:13-15
And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along…

Daniel 2:31
Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

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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.














So the chief cupbearer
The term "chief cupbearer" refers to a high-ranking official in the Egyptian court, responsible for serving wine to the Pharaoh. This position was one of great trust and influence, as the cupbearer had the Pharaoh's life in his hands, ensuring that the wine was not poisoned. Historically, cupbearers were often confidants of the king, and their role extended beyond mere service to include advisory capacities. The Hebrew word for cupbearer, "mashqeh," emphasizes the act of giving drink, highlighting the intimate and trusted nature of this role.

told Joseph his dream
The act of telling a dream in ancient cultures, particularly in Egypt, was significant. Dreams were considered messages from the divine, often requiring interpretation by someone with special insight. Joseph, known for his God-given ability to interpret dreams, becomes a vessel of divine revelation. The Hebrew verb "saphar," meaning to recount or declare, suggests a detailed and deliberate sharing of the dream, indicating the cupbearer's hope and desperation for understanding.

In my dream
Dreams in the biblical context are often seen as a medium through which God communicates with individuals. The phrase "in my dream" indicates a personal and subjective experience, yet one that holds potential divine significance. The Hebrew word "chalom" for dream underscores the mysterious and often prophetic nature of dreams in the ancient Near Eastern mindset.

there was a vine before me
The imagery of a vine is rich with symbolism in the Bible. Vines are often associated with abundance, blessing, and the nation of Israel itself. In this context, the vine represents a source of life and sustenance, possibly foreshadowing the cupbearer's restoration to his position. The Hebrew word "gephen" for vine evokes themes of growth, fruitfulness, and divine provision. The phrase "before me" suggests immediacy and personal relevance, indicating that the dream's message is directly applicable to the cupbearer's life and circumstances.

Verses 9-11. - And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me - literally, in my dream (sc. I was), and behold a vine (gephen, from the unused root gaphan, to be bent, a twig, hence a plant which has twigs, especially a vine; cf. Judges 9:13; Isaiah 7:43; Isaiah 24:7) before me. The introduction of the vine into the narrative, which has been pronounced (Bohlen) an important factor in proof of its recent composition, since, according to Herodotus (2:77), the vine was not cultivated in Egypt, and, according to Plutarch ('De Is. et Osir.,' 6), it was not till after Psammetichus, i.e. about the time of Josiah, that the Egyptians began to drink wine, has now by more accurate study been ascertained to be in exact accordance, not only with Biblical statements (Numbers 20:5; Psalm 78:47; Psalm 105:33), but likewise with the testimony of Herodotus, who affirms (2:37) that wine (οϊνος ἀμπέλενος) was a privilege of the priestly order, and with the representations on the monuments of vines and grapes, and of the entire process of wine-making (vide Havernick's 'Introduction,' § 21; Wilkinson's 'Ancient Egyptians,' 1:379, et seqq. 430, 431, ed. 1878; Hengstenberg, 'Egypt,' p. 13; Rawlinson, 'Hist. Illus.,' p. 49; Thornley Smith, 'Joseph and his Times,' p. 58). And in the vine were three branches: - sarigim, tendrils of a vine, from sarag, to intertwine (ver. 12; Joel 1:7) - and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; - literally, as it budded (Murphy); or, as though blossoming (Rosenmüller, Keil, Kalisch); it shot forth its blossom (Keil); or, its blossoms shot forth (Rosenmüller, Kalisch, Murphy) - and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: - more correctly, its stems caused to ripen, or matured, clusters, the אֶשְׁכֹּל being the stalk of a cluster, as distinguished from the עֲגָבִים, or clusters themselves (Gesenius, 'Lex.,' p. 85), though interpreters generally (Kalisch, Keil, Murphy) regard the first as the unripe, and the second as the ripe, cluster - and Pharaoh's cup - כּזֹס, a receptacle or vessel, either contracted from כֵּגֶס, like אִישׁ for אֵגֶשׁ (Gesenius), or derived from כּוּא, to conceal, to receive, to keep, connected with the idea of bringing together, collecting into a thing (Furst) - was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them - ἐξέθλιψα (LXX.), expressi (Vulgate), a translation adopted by the most competent authorities (Gesenius, Furst, Rosenmüller, Keil, Kalisch, et alii), though the sense of diluting with water is advocated by Dathe, Havernick ('Introd.,' § 21), and others as the most appropriate signification of שָׁחַט, which occurs only here. That Pharaoh is represented as drinking the expressed juice of grapes is no proof that the Egyptians were not acquainted with fermentation, and did not drink fermented liquors. In numerous frescoes the process of fermentation is distinctly represented, and Herodotus testifies that though the use of grape wine was comparatively limited, the common people drank a wine made from barley: οἵνῳ δ ἐκ κριθέων πεποιημένῳ (2:77) - into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand - literally, I placed the cup upon Pharaoh's palm, כַּפ, used of Jacob's thigh-socket (Genesis 32:26), meaning something hollowed out.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the chief
שַֽׂר־ (śar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

cupbearer
הַמַּשְׁקִ֛ים (ham·maš·qîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4945: Causing to drink, a butler, drink, a well-watered region

told
וַיְסַפֵּ֧ר (way·sap·pêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate

Joseph
לְיוֹסֵ֑ף (lə·yō·w·sêp̄)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

his dream:
חֲלֹמ֖וֹ (ḥă·lō·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2472: A dream

“In my dream
בַּחֲלוֹמִ֕י (ba·ḥă·lō·w·mî)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2472: A dream

there
וְהִנֵּה־ (wə·hin·nêh-)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

was a vine
גֶ֖פֶן (ḡe·p̄en)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 1612: A vine, the grape

before me,
לְפָנָֽי׃ (lə·p̄ā·nāy)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT Law: Genesis 40:9 The chief cupbearer told his dream (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 40:8
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