New English Translation
Genesis 40:21
21He restored the chief cupbearer to his former position so that he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand,
Genesis 40:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:
- New International Version (NIV)He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand—
- English Standard Version (ESV)He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.
Context of Genesis 40:21
19In three more days Pharaoh will decapitate you and impale you on a pole. Then the birds will eat your flesh from you.” 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. He 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. 23But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph – he forgot him.
Read all of Genesis 40Genesis 40:21 word by word
וַיָּ֛שֶׁב אֶת־שַׂ֥ר הַמַּשְׁקִ֖ים עַל־מַשְׁקֵ֑הוּ וַיִּתֵּ֥ן הַכּ֖וֹס עַל־כַּ֥ף פַּרְעֹֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he restoredשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- the chiefשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
- butlerשָׁקָהshâqâh · to water: wateringH8248
- unto his butlershipמַשְׁקֶהmashqeh · cupbearerH4945
- and he gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
- the cupכּוֹסkôs · cupH3563
- into Pharaoh’sפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
- handכַּףkaph · palmH3709
Cross-references for Genesis 40:21
- 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.
- Nehemiah 2:1Then in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought to me, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Previously I had not been depressed in the king’s presence.
Commentaries on Genesis 40:21
- 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 40:21
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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