Genesis 40:2 kjv

And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

Genesis 40:2 nkjv

And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker.

Genesis 40:2 niv

Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,

Genesis 40:2 esv

And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,

Genesis 40:2 nlt

Pharaoh became angry with these two officials,

Genesis 40 verses

Genesis 40 2 Meaning

This verse states that Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, became severely angered or enraged with two specific high-ranking officials in his royal court: the chief of his cupbearers and the chief of his bakers. This wrath led to their imprisonment, an event that would ultimately play a crucial role in God's divine plan for Joseph. It signifies an unexpected turn of events, driven by royal displeasure, setting the stage for Joseph's interpretative gifts to come to the attention of the king.

Genesis 40 2 Context

This verse opens Genesis chapter 40, immediately following Joseph's imprisonment in Genesis 39. Having been unjustly accused by Potiphar's wife, Joseph was cast into the king's prison, which was under the supervision of the chief jailer. Chapter 40 describes an apparently unrelated incident involving two of Pharaoh's most trusted officials, whose actions somehow incurred the king's intense displeasure. The detailed context from the Bible reveals that Pharaoh's immediate, arbitrary, and severe wrath against even high-ranking officials was characteristic of ancient Near Eastern despots. Such positions were privileged but precarious. The subsequent events of their imprisonment, placing them under the care of the chief jailer where Joseph was already serving, are crucial to the unfolding narrative, directly leading to Joseph's encounter with them and the ultimate interpretation of their dreams. This context highlights God's sovereignty in connecting seemingly disparate events for a greater purpose.

Genesis 40 2 Word analysis

• And (וְ - ve-): A conjunctive "and," connecting this event directly to Joseph's situation and previous narrative flow. It signals a continuation of events within Joseph's life.
• Pharaoh (פַרְעֹה - Par'oh): The dynastic title for the ruler of ancient Egypt. He held absolute authority, and his wrath was a matter of life or death, representing the highest earthly power in the story.
• was wroth (קָצַף - qatsaph): This Hebrew verb denotes intense anger, fury, or indignation. It implies a significant transgression, whether real or perceived, that provoked such a severe reaction from the absolute ruler. This emotion of Pharaoh, though human, is providentially used by God.
• against his two officers (עַל שְׁנֵי סָרִיסָיו - 'al shnêy sārisāw): "Officers" (סָרִיס - saris) could literally mean eunuchs in some contexts, but in Pharaonic Egypt, it often designated high court officials or chamberlains who served in the king's inner circles. Their proximity to Pharaoh indicates their importance and the seriousness of their offense.
• against the chief of the cupbearers (עַל שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים - 'al sar hamashqîm): The "cupbearer" was an exceedingly powerful and trusted position. The cupbearer was responsible for serving the king's drinks, often tasting them first to ensure they were not poisoned. They had direct access to the monarch and significant influence, acting as a royal confidant.
• and against the chief of the bakers (וְאֵת שַׂר הָאֹפִים - və'ēt sar hā'ōfîm): The "chief baker" also held a crucial and sensitive role, responsible for preparing the king's food. This position likewise involved significant trust due to the potential for poisoning. Both these officials were privy to royal routines and intimate court details.

• "Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers": This phrase immediately establishes the sovereign power and unpredictable nature of the monarch. The King's wrath, though not described in its cause, is sufficient for severe consequence, and its swiftness reflects ancient despotic power dynamics, demonstrating the fragile existence of those even in close royal service.
• "chief of the cupbearers, and... chief of the bakers": The specific identification of these two high-ranking officials underscores their prominence within the Egyptian court. Their roles signify a high level of trust, direct access to the king's person, and vital responsibility for the king's well-being. Their fall from such grace highlights the volatile nature of life under absolute monarchy and sets up their crucial role in Joseph's narrative, bringing the one who needs a dream interpreter directly into contact with the one who has the gift.

Genesis 40 2 Bonus section

This verse demonstrates a key aspect of divine providence: God's ability to orchestrate even seemingly mundane or negative events, like a ruler's outburst of anger, to perfectly align with His greater plan. The unrecorded reason for Pharaoh's wrath highlights the absolute nature of the king's authority and decision-making, yet even such authority ultimately serves God's hidden purposes. This serves as an encouraging truth: human events, often chaotic or unjust from our perspective, are always under the supreme oversight of the Almighty, who moves His chessboard pieces (including powerful kings and their personal feelings) with divine precision to fulfill His will. It underlines that moments of tribulation or random encounters are not truly random but are often crucial preparatory stages for what God intends to do.

Genesis 40 2 Commentary

Genesis 40:2 marks a pivotal turning point in the Joseph narrative, seemingly driven by random royal displeasure, yet serving as an integral piece in God's meticulously woven tapestry. Pharaoh's wrath, a common characteristic of ancient rulers, resulted in the imprisonment of two highly influential and trusted court officials: the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. Their crimes, though unstated, were significant enough to warrant immediate and severe consequence. The specific roles of these men are vital; they had unique proximity and access to the king, dealing with his food and drink, thus directly influencing his survival. Their incarceration into the very prison where Joseph served, rather than being an isolated event, reveals God's meticulous providence at work. This seemingly arbitrary act of human anger was precisely the catalyst needed to bring Joseph's divine gift of dream interpretation to the attention of those who would eventually connect him to Pharaoh himself. It's a profound illustration of how the Creator works through ordinary, even troubling, human circumstances to achieve His redemptive purposes, proving that "man proposes, but God disposes." This prepares for the eventual saving of Joseph's family and the nation of Israel, echoing the truth that nothing is beyond God's sovereign control, even the fleeting emotions of a king.