On
the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cup bearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cup bearer to his position again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand; but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.
Genesis 40:20-22
Genesis 40 [16.] When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head. 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.”
Genesis 40 [18.] Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days. Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off you.” On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cup bearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cup bearer to his position again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand; but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief cup bearer didn’t remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Genesis 41 [1.] At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed: and behold, he stood by the river. Behold, there came up out of the river seven cattle, sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass. Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river. The ugly and thin cattle ate up the seven sleek and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke. He slept and dreamed a second time: and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good. Behold, seven heads of grain, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. In the morning, his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
Meaning:
Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers and falsely accused by his master’s wife, was in an Egyptian prison. Even there Yahweh was with him, and the keeper of the prison put him in charge of the other prisoners (Genesis 39:22-23). Two of Pharaoh’s senior officials, the chief cup bearer and the chief baker, were imprisoned with him. Each had a dream, and Joseph interpreted both: the cup bearer would be restored in three days; the baker would be executed. These verses record how both interpretations came true exactly as Joseph had said.
- Pharaoh’s birthday
“On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants.” A royal birthday was an occasion for public celebration, and on this one Pharaoh announced his decisions about two of his servants in front of the whole court. This is the first birthday celebration mentioned in the Bible. The only other one named as such is the birthday supper of Herod Antipas, which ended with the beheading of John the Baptizer (Mark 6:21-23). In both stories a king’s feast becomes the setting for a life-and-death decision about one of his subjects.
- Lifting up the head
Joseph had used a striking play on words. To the cup bearer he said, “Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office.” To the baker he said, “Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you.” The same phrase meant honour for one and death for the other. On Pharaoh’s birthday both men were “lifted up” before the assembled servants: the cup bearer was restored to his place and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand again, while the baker was hanged. The fulfilment in every detail showed that Joseph’s gift came from God, as Joseph himself insisted when he said that interpretations belong to God.
- The chief cup bearer and the chief baker
Both officials held positions of great trust. The cup bearer served the king’s wine and guarded against poison; the baker prepared the king’s bread. We are not told what offences landed them in prison. The outcome was entirely in Pharaoh’s hands, a reminder of the absolute power ancient rulers held over their servants. Yet behind Pharaoh’s decision stood the God who had revealed it in advance. “A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
- Forgotten for two years
Joseph had asked the cup bearer, “remember me when it will be well with you.” Yet “the chief cup bearer didn’t remember Joseph, but forgot him.” Joseph stayed in prison two more full years. It must have seemed like another betrayal. But God’s timing was perfect. When Pharaoh himself dreamed and no one could interpret, the cup bearer finally remembered, and Joseph was brought before Pharaoh and raised to rule over all Egypt (Genesis 41:41-43).
The Significance of Genesis 40:20-22
- God’s word comes true
Every detail of Joseph’s interpretation was fulfilled. Believers can trust that what God says will happen, even when circumstances seem to point the other way.
- Waiting when forgotten
People may forget the kindness we have shown them, but God does not forget his servants. Joseph’s long wait in prison prepared him for the role God had planned. “All things work together for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28).
Cross-References:
Genesis 39:23: "The keeper of the prison didn’t look after anything that was under his hand, because Yahweh was with him; and that which he did, Yahweh made it prosper." God was present with Joseph even in prison.
Proverbs 16:9: "A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps." Pharaoh decided, but God had already revealed the outcome.
Mark 6:21: "Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee." Another royal birthday feast that ended in an execution.
Conclusion: On his birthday Pharaoh held a feast, restored the chief cup bearer to his post and hanged the chief baker, exactly as Joseph had interpreted their dreams. The event proved that Joseph’s insight came from God, even though the cup bearer then forgot him for two years. The story teaches that God’s word is reliable, that his timing is wise, and that he remains with his servants when others forget them.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible