New English Translation
Genesis 40:20
20On the third day it was Pharaoh’s birthday, so he gave a feast for all his servants. He “lifted up” the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker in the midst of 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:
- English Standard Version (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.
- 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.
Context of Genesis 40:20
18Joseph replied, “This is its meaning: The three baskets represent three days. 19In three more days Pharaoh will decapitate you and impale you on a pole. Then the birds will eat your flesh from you.” On the third day it was Pharaoh’s birthday, so he gave a feast for all his servants. He “lifted up” the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker in the midst of his servants. 21He restored the chief cupbearer to his former position so that he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand, 22but the chief baker he impaled, just as Joseph had predicted.
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 more days Pharaoh will reinstate you and restore you to your office. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did before when you were cupbearer.
- Genesis 21:8The child grew and was weaned. Abraham prepared a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
- Esther 1:3in the third year of his reign he provided a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media was present, as well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces.
- Job 3:1After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born.
- Matthew 14:6But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod,
- Mark 6:21But a suitable day came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee.
- 2 Kings 25:27In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, King Evil-Merodach of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, pardoned King Jehoiachin of Judah and released him from prison.
- Matthew 18:23“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.
- Matthew 25:19After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them.
- Luke 16:1Jesus also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who was informed of accusations that his manager was wasting his assets.
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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