English Standard Version
Genesis 40:20
20On 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 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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:
- New King James Version (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.
- New Living Translation (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.
Context of Genesis 40:20
18And Joseph answered and said, "This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you." 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. 21He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. 22But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.
Read all of Genesis 40Genesis 40:20 word by word
וַיְהִ֣י׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י י֚וֹם הֻלֶּ֣דֶת אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה לְכָל־עֲבָדָ֑יו וַיִּשָּׂ֞א אֶת־רֹ֣אשׁ׀ שַׂ֣ר הַמַּשְׁקִ֗ים וְאֶת־רֹ֛אשׁ שַׂ֥ר הָאֹפִ֖ים בְּת֥וֹךְ עֲבָדָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass the thirdשְׁלִישִׁיshelîyshîy · thirdH7992
- dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- Pharaoh’sפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
- birthdayיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
- that he madeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- a feastמִשְׁתֶּהmishteh · feastH4960
- unto all his servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- and he lifted upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
- the headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
- of the chiefשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
- butlerשָׁקָהshâqâh · to water: wateringH8248
- bakerאָפָה'âphâh · to bakeH644
- amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
Cross-references for Genesis 40:20
- Genesis 40:13In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer.
- Genesis 21:8And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
- Esther 1:3in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,
- Job 3:1After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
- Matthew 14:6But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod,
- Mark 6:21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
- 2 Kings 25:27And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.
- Matthew 18:23"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
- Matthew 25:19Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
- Luke 16:1He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
Commentaries on Genesis 40:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Pharaoh's birthday - The distinguishing a birthday by a feast appears from this place to have been a very ancient custom. It probably had its origin from a correct notion of the immortality of the soul, as the commencement of life must appear of great consequence to that person who believed he was to live for ever. St. Matthew ( Matthew 14:6;) mentions Herod's keeping his birthday; and examples of this kind are frequent to the present time in most…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-23Verses 1-23 - Joseph in Prison An uncomplaining patience and an unhesitating hopefulness keep the breast of Joseph in calm tranquillity. There is a God above, and that God is with him. His soul swerves not from this feeling. Meanwhile, new and distinguished prisoners are introduced into his place of confinement. Genesis 40:1-4 The chief butler and chief baker, high officials in Pharaoh‘s court, come under the displeasure of their sovereign. “In the house…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-23Verses 20-23 Joseph's interpretation of the dreams came to pass on the very day fixed. On Pharaoh's birth-day, all his servants attended him, and then the cases of these two came to be looked into. We may all profitably take notice of our birth-days, with thankfulness for the mercies of our birth, sorrow for the sinfulness of our lives, and expectation of the day of our death, as better than the day of our birth. But it seems strange that worldly people…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-22The interpretations Joseph gave the prisoners proved true. The death of the chief baker speaks of the harsh realities of life in ancient Egypt, with a king whose word was his land’s highest law.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2220-22. it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday--This was a holiday season, celebrated at court with great magnificence and honored by a free pardon to prisoners. Accordingly, the issue happened to the butler and baker, as Joseph had foretold. Doubtless, he felt it painful to communicate such dismal tidings to the baker; but he could not help announcing what God had revealed to him; and it was for the honor of the true God that he…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 40:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 40
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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