And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.

GENESIS 41:13KJV
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Genesis 41:13 (KJV)

What does Genesis 41:13 mean?

Genesis 41:13 describes how Joseph’s interpretations of dreams for Pharaoh’s officials came true exactly as he said: the cupbearer was restored to his position, and the baker was executed. The verse highlights Joseph’s reliability in interpreting dreams accurately.

In this verse, the chief cupbearer is speaking to Pharaoh, recalling the time when both he and the chief baker were imprisoned and Joseph interpreted their dreams. The cupbearer is explaining that Joseph’s interpretations matched the outcomes—he was given back his job, while the baker was hanged. This sets the stage for Pharaoh to consider Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 41:13

  • "interpreted" (פָּתַר, pāṯar): This word means to explain or unravel a dream’s meaning. The cupbearer emphasizes that Joseph didn’t just guess, but gave a clear, trustworthy explanation.
  • "restored" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means to return or bring back. The cupbearer is saying he was brought back to his former role, highlighting the complete reversal of his fortunes.
  • "office" (כּוֹס, kos): This word literally means "cup," but here it refers to the cupbearer’s official position. The verse connects the restoration directly to his specific duty for Pharaoh.
  • "hanged" (תָּלָה, talah): This word means to hang up, usually referring to execution by hanging. The cupbearer uses it to describe the baker’s fate, showing the seriousness and finality of Joseph’s prediction.

Why Genesis 41:13 matters

  • This verse shows that Joseph’s interpretations were not vague or general, but specific and accurate, building trust in his abilities.
  • The cupbearer’s testimony is crucial because it prompts Pharaoh to call for Joseph, leading to Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt.
  • The contrast between being "restored" and "hanged" underlines the dramatic outcomes for each man, reinforcing the idea that Joseph’s words had real, life-changing consequences.

Where else these words appear

“interpreted” Hebrew H6622 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 40:8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
  • Genesis 40:22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
  • Genesis 41:12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

“office” Hebrew H3653 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 40:13 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.
  • 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.

“hanged” Hebrew H8518 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 40:19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
  • 2 Samuel 21:12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
  • Esther 9:25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.