And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:

GENESIS 40:21KJV
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Genesis 40:21 (KJV)

What does Genesis 40:21 mean?

Genesis 40:21 describes how Pharaoh restored the chief butler to his former position, allowing him once again to serve Pharaoh by handing him the cup. This verse shows the fulfillment of Joseph’s interpretation of the butler’s dream, where the butler was promised restoration to his duties.

In this scene, Pharaoh is the king of Egypt, and the chief butler is one of his important servants who had been imprisoned. Joseph, also in prison, had interpreted the butler’s dream, predicting that he would be returned to his role. The verse highlights the butler’s return to favor and his trusted position, which involved serving Pharaoh directly.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 40:21

  • "Restored" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means to return or bring back. Here, it emphasizes that the butler was not just released from prison but fully returned to his official duties.
  • "Chief" (שַׂר, sar): This term means a leader or official. The butler was not just any servant but held a high-ranking, trusted position.
  • "Butler" (מַשְׁקֶה, mashqeh): This word refers specifically to the cupbearer, a role of great trust since he served Pharaoh’s drinks and protected him from harm.
  • "Cup" (כּוֹס, kos): The cup is mentioned to show the butler’s restored function—personally handing Pharaoh his drink, a sign of trust and closeness.

Why Genesis 40:21 matters

  • Genesis 40:21 confirms Joseph’s God-given interpretation of the butler’s dream, showing Joseph’s reliability and setting up later events in the story.
  • The verse highlights the importance of the butler’s role, reminding readers that positions of service to powerful people could be both risky and highly trusted in ancient courts.
  • This restoration is key to the narrative, as the butler’s return to Pharaoh’s service eventually leads to Joseph being remembered and brought before Pharaoh in the next chapter.

Where else these words appear

“butlership” Hebrew H4945 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
  • 1 Kings 10:21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
  • Isaiah 32:6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

“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:

“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 40:20 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.
  • Psalms 60:3 Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.