Genesis 40:20 kjv
And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
Genesis 40:20 nkjv
Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
Genesis 40:20 niv
Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials:
Genesis 40:20 esv
On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.
Genesis 40:20 nlt
Pharaoh's birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials.
Genesis 40 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 40:12-13 | Joseph said, "In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head..." | Direct prophecy to the chief butler fulfilled. |
| Gen 40:18-19 | Joseph answered, "In three days Pharaoh will lift off your head..." | Direct prophecy to the chief baker fulfilled. |
| Gen 41:1 | After two full years, Pharaoh had a dream... | The timing links to Joseph's continued wait. |
| Psa 105:17-19 | ...He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave... | God's sovereign control over Joseph's suffering. |
| Prov 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. | God's sovereignty even in seemingly random events. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it | God directs rulers' decisions. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings... | God's absolute control over earthly powers. |
| Isa 46:10 | declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times... | God declares events before they happen. |
| Isa 55:11 | so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return void | God's word is effective and accomplishes purpose. |
| Lam 3:37 | Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? | God is the source of all fulfilled predictions. |
| Ecc 3:1 | For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under | God has appointed times for all events. |
| Rom 9:17 | For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised | God uses even rulers' actions for His purposes. |
| Deut 18:22 | When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord... if the word does not | Test for a true prophet, fulfilled by Joseph. |
| Ezek 12:28 | Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: None of my words will be | Divine promises and warnings will certainly come. |
| Matt 24:35 | Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. | The certainty and permanence of God's word. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west... | God is the one who brings down or lifts up. |
| Psa 3:3 | But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my | God lifts up one's head (restoration/honor). |
| 2 Ki 25:27 | In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin... Evil-Merodach | "Lifted up the head" here means restoration/favor. |
| Mark 6:21-28 | Herod on his birthday... granted a request leading to John the Baptist's | Another significant biblical birthday involving death and royal decree. |
| Dan 5:1-6 | King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords... | A royal feast leading to a display of divine judgment. |
Genesis 40 verses
Genesis 40 20 Meaning
Genesis 40:20 records the exact fulfillment of Joseph's interpretations of the dreams of Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker. On Pharaoh's birthday, a significant day of royal decree and celebration, the king made a public feast for his servants. During this event, he pronounced judgment and favor, restoring the chief butler to his former position and executing the chief baker, precisely as Joseph had foretold. This verse marks a crucial step in God's intricate plan for Joseph and, by extension, for the unfolding story of Israel.
Genesis 40 20 Context
Genesis chapter 40 takes place during Joseph's unjust imprisonment in Egypt. After successfully interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker, Joseph endured another two years in prison (Gen 41:1), even though the chief butler, once restored, forgot him for a time (Gen 40:23). This specific verse, Genesis 40:20, details the dramatic climax and validation of Joseph's divinely inspired interpretations, serving as a concrete demonstration of the truthfulness of his words and, by extension, of the God he served. The event happens on Pharaoh's birthday, a culturally significant day in ancient Egypt for royal decrees and public demonstrations of power, thus lending credibility and public witness to the outcome. It sets the stage for Joseph's eventual rise to power as his dream interpretation ability is proven, paving the way for his release and subsequent counsel to Pharaoh regarding his own dreams.
Genesis 40 20 Word analysis
- And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - wayehî): A very common Hebrew introductory phrase, meaning "and it was" or "and it happened." It often signals the unfolding of a significant event in the narrative, frequently indicating divine orchestration or the movement of God's plan.
- the third day (בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי - bayyôm haššəlîšî): This exact timing was specified by Joseph in his dream interpretations (Gen 40:12, 40:18). The precision of the prophecy's fulfillment emphasizes the divine origin of Joseph's insight, leaving no room for coincidence. The "third day" often carries significant theological weight in the Bible, associated with completion, climax, or new beginnings (e.g., Exod 19:11, Hos 6:2, Jon 1:17, Matt 16:21).
- which was Pharaoh's birthday (יוֹם הֻלֶּדֶת פַּרְעֹה - yôm huledet Parʿōh): This is the first mention of a birthday celebration in the Bible, and one of only two explicitly named birthday parties (the other being Herod's in Mark 6:21, also associated with a death). Royal birthdays in ancient Egypt were significant events, often marked by banquets, amnesties, or decrees of judgment. The timing emphasizes Pharaoh's absolute authority and highlights the king as the agent through whom God's plan is fulfilled.
- that he made a feast (וַיַּעַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּה - wayyaʿaś mišteh): The word mišteh typically denotes a "drinking party" or "feast," a time of celebration and merrymaking, but also an occasion for the king to dispense justice or show favor. The feast emphasizes the public and formal setting of Pharaoh's decisions.
- unto all his servants (לְכָל־עֲבָדָיו - ləḵāl-ʿăvāḏāw): This indicates that the event was public and official, with witnesses to the fulfillment of Joseph's predictions. The public nature reinforces the divine vindication of Joseph and the authority of the dream interpretation.
- and he lifted up the head (וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת־רֹאשׁ - wayyiśśāʾ ʾeṯ-rōš): This is a pivotal phrase due to its double meaning, which Joseph skillfully leveraged in his prophecy. The Hebrew phrase nasa' rosh can mean both:
- To "lift up" someone's head in the sense of raising them, restoring them to honor, or showing favor (as in the chief butler's case, Gen 40:13).
- To "lift off" someone's head in the sense of beheading or executing (as in the chief baker's case, Gen 40:19). The exact action clarifies the specific fate of each man.
- of the chief butler (שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים - śar hammašqîm): The "prince of the cupbearers," a high-ranking, trusted official in royal courts, responsible for the king's beverages and often a confidant. He was restored to his position of honor.
- and of the chief baker (שַׂר הָאֹפִים - śar hāʾōfîm): The "prince of the bakers," another significant court official. His position, like the butler's, gave him intimate access to the king, making both high-trust positions but also vulnerable to suspicion of treason. He was executed.
- among his servants (בְּתוֹךְ עֲבָדָיו - bəṯôḵ ʿăvāḏāw): Reinforces the public setting of the judgment and restoration, signifying the authority of Pharaoh's pronouncements before his court.
Genesis 40 20 Bonus section
The irony in this verse is profound: a royal birthday, typically a day of joy and celebration, became a day of ultimate justice—deliverance for one man and death for another. This illustrates God's ability to orchestrate His plans using even the social customs and personal occasions of pagan rulers. The fulfillment of Joseph's interpretations also provides a direct contrast to the divination and magic practiced in ancient Egypt, asserting the unique and accurate revelation from Yahweh. It emphasizes that even when the fulfillment of God's promises seems delayed (Joseph remained in prison for another two years), His timing is perfect and His word always comes to pass.
Genesis 40 20 Commentary
Genesis 40:20 is the dramatic and precise culmination of Joseph's divinely given interpretations. It shows God's meticulous sovereignty, working through seemingly ordinary human events like a king's birthday feast, to fulfill His specific word. The exactness of the timing ("the third day") and the contrasting fates for the chief butler and chief baker, as encapsulated in the multi-faceted phrase "lifted up the head," publicly validates Joseph as a true spokesperson for God. This event serves not only as a personal vindication for Joseph but also as a crucial link in the chain of divine providence leading to his eventual elevation and the preservation of Jacob's family during the impending famine. It highlights that no human power, not even a mighty Pharaoh's decree, operates outside of God's overarching plan and ultimate control.