Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

GENESIS 40:13KJV
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Genesis 40:13 (KJV)

What does Genesis 40:13 mean?

Genesis 40:13 means that in three days, Pharaoh will release the chief butler from prison and restore him to his former position, allowing him to once again serve Pharaoh his cup as he did before. Joseph is telling the butler that he will soon return to his old duties in Pharaoh’s court.

In this scene, Joseph is interpreting the dream of Pharaoh’s chief butler while they are both in prison. Joseph explains that the dream is a sign from God about what will happen soon: the butler will be forgiven and given his job back. This prediction is specific, mentioning the exact time frame (“three days”) and the butler’s role in serving Pharaoh.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 40:13

  • “Lift up...head” (נָשָׂא רֹאשׁ, nasa rosh): This phrase often means “to pardon” or “to show favor,” not just literally lifting someone’s head. Here, it signals Pharaoh’s decision to restore the butler’s status and dignity.
  • “Restore” (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means “to return” or “to bring back.” Joseph is saying the butler will be brought back to his previous position, not just released from prison.
  • “Butler” (מַשְׁקֶה, mashqeh): This term refers to the cupbearer, a trusted official who served drinks to the king. The butler’s role was important and close to Pharaoh, highlighting the significance of his restoration.

Why Genesis 40:13 matters

  • Genesis 40:13 shows Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams accurately, which becomes crucial in the next chapters when he interprets Pharaoh’s own dreams.
  • The verse highlights the theme of restoration and hope even in difficult circumstances, as the butler’s fortunes are reversed after imprisonment.
  • This moment sets up the later events where the butler remembers Joseph, leading to Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt.

Where else these words appear

“place” Hebrew H3653 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 41:13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.
  • Exodus 38:8 And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
  • 1 Kings 7:31 And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.

“cup” Hebrew H3563 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 40:11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
  • Psalms 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
  • Jeremiah 25:17 Then took I the cup at the LORD'S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:

“Yet” Hebrew H5750 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
  • Genesis 48:7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.
  • Judges 2:14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

“butler” Hebrew H8248 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 2:6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
  • Genesis 40:21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
  • Psalms 60:3 Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.