Genesis 41:10 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 41:10 kjv
Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:
Genesis 41:10 nkjv
When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker,
Genesis 41:10 niv
Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.
Genesis 41:10 esv
When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard,
Genesis 41:10 nlt
"Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard.
Genesis 41 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 40:14 | "only remember me when it is well with you... and make mention of me to Pharaoh..." | The chief butler's broken promise to Joseph. |
| Gen 40:23 | "Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him." | The butler's two-year lapse in memory. |
| Gen 41:1 | "After two whole years, that Pharaoh had a dream..." | God's precise timing for Joseph's release. |
| Gen 41:8 | "none could interpret them." | The failure of Egypt's wisdom, highlighting divine intervention. |
| Gen 41:12 | "...he interpreted for us our dreams..." | Butler's eventual recollection and commendation of Joseph. |
| Gen 41:16 | "Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, 'It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.'" | Joseph attributes dream interpretation solely to God. |
| Ps 105:19-20 | "until what he had said came to pass... The king sent and released him..." | Divine timing and fulfillment for Joseph's suffering. |
| Neh 5:19 | "Remember me, O my God, for good..." | A plea for divine remembrance, contrasting human forgetfulness. |
| Ps 25:7 | "Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions..." | Human plea to God regarding forgiveness for faults. |
| Ecc 12:1 | "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth..." | Call to active, timely spiritual remembrance. |
| Deut 8:11 | "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God..." | A strong warning against forgetting God's commandments. |
| Prov 16:33 | "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." | God's absolute sovereignty over all human affairs. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." | God uses all circumstances, including human faults, for His plan. |
| Acts 7:9-10 | "God was with him and rescued him from all his afflictions..." | Stephen's summary of God's provident care for Joseph. |
| Jas 4:17 | "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." | Applies to the butler's negligence as a form of sin. |
| Heb 11:22 | "By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites..." | Joseph's remembrance and faith looking to the future. |
| Gen 8:1 | "But God remembered Noah..." | An example of God's faithful, covenantal remembrance. |
| Exod 2:24 | "So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant..." | God remembers His promises to His people. |
| Luke 17:10 | "When you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants...’" | Butler's delayed duty highlights the concept of an 'unworthy servant.' |
| Matt 25:35-36 | "...I was in prison and you visited me..." | A future parallel where acts of care to those imprisoned are recognized. |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise..." | God uses seemingly insignificant or flawed means to accomplish His will. |
| Ps 77:11 | "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old." | The importance of actively recalling God's mighty acts. |
Genesis 41 verses
Genesis 41 10 meaning
Genesis 41:10 records the chief butler's belated confession to Pharaoh, admitting his fault in previously forgetting to mention Joseph and his God-given ability to interpret dreams. He states he now remembers this oversight on "this day," which is critical due to Pharaoh's current distress over his uninterpretable dreams. This declaration is pivotal, setting in motion Joseph's immediate release from prison and his subsequent presentation before Pharaoh, ultimately leading to his exaltation.
Genesis 41 10 Context
Genesis chapter 41 begins with Pharaoh experiencing two vivid, troubling dreams that no Egyptian wise man or magician can interpret, leaving him greatly disturbed. This sets an urgent stage for divine intervention. For two full years prior, Joseph had languished in prison, forgotten by the chief butler whose dream he had accurately interpreted, and who promised to remember Joseph to Pharaoh upon his restoration (Gen 40:23). Pharaoh's predicament provides the crucial context for the butler's sudden "remembrance." The ancient Egyptian court placed high value on dream interpretation, viewing dreams as messages from deities, and Pharaoh's well-being was intrinsically linked to the welfare of Egypt itself. The narrative subtly highlights the superiority of God's revelation through Joseph over the limited human wisdom of Pharaoh's advisors.
Genesis 41 10 Word analysis
- And the chief butler: The Hebrew term is Sar ha-Mashqim (שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים), meaning "head of the cupbearers." This position was one of significant trust, access, and influence in the ancient Egyptian court, directly serving the Pharaoh and being privy to sensitive matters. His role was crucial in advising the monarch and ensuring his safety.
- spake unto Pharaoh: This phrase emphasizes a direct, formal address from a high-ranking official to the ultimate authority. It signifies the gravity and importance of what is about to be revealed, directly to the one in distress.
- saying: Introduces the exact words of the chief butler, emphasizing his personal admission and recollection.
- I do remember: The Hebrew verb is zakhar (זָכַר), meaning "to remember, recall, call to mind, mention." The emphatic "I do" in English translation highlights the butler's present and active recollection, contrasting sharply with his previous forgetfulness. This remembrance is prompted by immediate need rather than conscience.
- my faults: The Hebrew word chêṭʼ (חֵטְא) refers to an error, transgression, sin, or offense. In this context, it speaks of the butler's grave oversight and neglect of duty in forgetting Joseph. It implies a moral failure, specifically his ingratitude and a missed opportunity that could have benefited Pharaoh sooner. This "fault" was not a legal crime but a serious breach of a promised obligation.
- this day: The Hebrew ha-yōm (הַיּוֹם) means "today" or "this very day." Its inclusion underscores the immediacy and precise timing of his remembrance. It is a moment of crisis for Pharaoh that compels the butler to finally act, showcasing divine providence in bringing about Joseph's release at the perfect time.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- And the chief butler spake unto Pharaoh: This highlights the moment of opportune divine intervention. The trusted confidant of the Pharaoh now brings forth the missing link, illustrating how God uses seemingly ordinary means and connections to fulfill His greater plan.
- I do remember my faults this day: This phrase is a concise admission of past failure. The butler's use of "faults" suggests a recognition of personal error, whether out of negligence or self-preservation, now brought to light by Pharaoh's immediate need. The phrase emphasizes the perfect alignment of the butler's long-delayed memory with God's perfect timing for Joseph's elevation. It underscores how even human forgetfulness can be orchestrated for divine purposes.
Genesis 41 10 Bonus section
- The "two full years" (Gen 41:1) between the butler's release and his recollection of Joseph underscores that God's timing is rarely according to human expectations but always perfect for His grand purposes. Joseph's extended imprisonment matured him and heightened the desperation of Pharaoh, allowing for Joseph's immediate ascent to power without a period of gradual recognition.
- The contrast between the "wise men" of Egypt who failed and Joseph, a foreign prisoner, who succeeded, subtly emphasizes that true wisdom and understanding come not from human traditions or magical arts but from God alone. This narrative stands as an implicit polemic against pagan practices and exalts the one true God.
- The butler's "fault" serves as an example of how God can work through imperfect individuals and even their moral shortcomings to achieve His divine will, demonstrating His ability to bring good out of less-than-ideal human actions.
Genesis 41 10 Commentary
Genesis 41:10 is a pivotal moment in Joseph's narrative, marking the transition from forgotten prisoner to a potential solution for Pharaoh's distress. The chief butler's admission of "faults" is not necessarily a confession of deep spiritual conviction but a pragmatic acknowledgement of his negligence. He conveniently remembers Joseph and his God-given gift only when Pharaoh's urgent and baffling dream crisis demands a unique interpreter, and it reflects the butler's belated sense of obligation to both Pharaoh and perhaps his own past encounter with Joseph's abilities. This seemingly coincidental timing, after two full years of forgetfulness (Gen 40:23), highlights God's sovereignty. The Lord perfectly orchestrated events—including human forgetfulness and memory—to elevate Joseph at the precise moment when his wisdom and administrative skills would be most critically needed, setting the stage for the preservation of countless lives and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan for Israel.