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.
GENESIS 40:20KJVWhat does Genesis 40:20 mean?
Genesis 40:20 describes how, on Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his servants and called out the chief butler and the chief baker from among them. This event marks the third day after Joseph interpreted the dreams of these two men in prison.
In this scene, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is celebrating his birthday with a grand banquet for his court officials and servants. During the festivities, he singles out the chief butler and chief baker—both of whom had been imprisoned with Joseph—and brings them before everyone. This sets the stage for the fulfillment of Joseph’s interpretations of their dreams, highlighting the importance of this day in the story.
The Hebrew behind Genesis 40:20
- The word for "birthday" uses two Hebrew words: יוֹם (yom, “day”) and יָלַד (yalad, “to be born”), showing that this was literally the day of Pharaoh’s birth, not just a general celebration.
- The verb נָשָׂא (nasa, “lifted up”) is used for “he lifted up the head,” which is a Hebrew expression meaning to pay special attention to or to single out someone, not just a physical action.
- The word מִשְׁתֶּה (mishteh, “feast”) refers to a drinking banquet, indicating a festive and possibly formal occasion with plenty of food and drink.
Why Genesis 40:20 matters
- This verse clarifies that Pharaoh’s birthday was a significant public event, which helps explain why decisions about the chief butler and baker were made so publicly.
- The phrase “lifted up the head” can be misunderstood as a positive action, but in the story, it simply means Pharaoh called attention to both men, leading to very different outcomes for each.
- Genesis 40:20 connects directly to Joseph’s earlier interpretations, showing how God’s messages through dreams are coming true, which is a key theme in Joseph’s story.