Genesis 40:12
New International Version
“This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.

New Living Translation
“This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days.

English Standard Version
Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.

Berean Standard Bible
Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days.

King James Bible
And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

New King James Version
And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days.

New American Standard Bible
Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;

NASB 1995
Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;

NASB 1977
Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;

Amplified Bible
Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches represent three days;

Christian Standard Bible
“This is its interpretation,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is its interpretation,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.

American Standard Version
And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;

Contemporary English Version
Joseph said: This is the meaning of your dream. The three branches stand for three days,

English Revised Version
And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"This is what it means," Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days.

Good News Translation
Joseph said, "This is what it means: the three branches are three days.

International Standard Version
Then Joseph told him, "This is what your dream means: The three branches are three days.

Majority Standard Bible
Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days.

NET Bible
"This is its meaning," Joseph said to him. "The three branches represent three days.

New Heart English Bible
Then Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days;

World English Bible
Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joseph says to him, “This [is] its interpretation: the three branches are three days;

Young's Literal Translation
And Joseph saith to him, 'This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joseph will say to him, This its interpretation: The three shoots they are three days.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The three branches are yet three days:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Joseph responded: “This is the interpretation of the dream. The three shoots are the next three days,

New American Bible
Joseph said to him: “This is its interpretation. The three branches are three days;

New Revised Standard Version
Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of your dream: The three branches are three days;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Yoseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of your dream: three branches are three days:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joseph said unto him: 'This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it. The three stems are three days.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cupbearer and the Baker
11Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into his cup, and placed the cup in his hand.” 12Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days. 13Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer.…

Cross References
Daniel 2:36-45
This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation. / You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. / Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. ...

Daniel 4:19-27
For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies! / The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth, / whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested— ...

Genesis 41:12-13
Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us individually. / And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”

Genesis 41:25-32
At this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. / The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning. / Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine. ...

Judges 7:14
His friend replied: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has delivered Midian and the whole camp into his hand.”

1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

1 Kings 3:5-15
One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!” / Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day. / And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. ...

1 Kings 22:15-18
When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.” / But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?” / So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’” ...

2 Kings 8:10-13
Elisha answered, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that in fact he will die.” / Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep. / “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.” ...

Jeremiah 23:28
Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD.

Matthew 1:20-21
But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. / She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 2:12-13
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route. / When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”

Matthew 27:19
While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

Acts 2:17
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Acts 10:10-16
He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. / He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. / It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

This.

Genesis 40:18
And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

Genesis 41:12,25,26
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…

Judges 7:14
And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.

The three.

Genesis 41:26
The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

Judges 7:14
And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.

Matthew 26:26
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

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Genesis 40
1. The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh are also imprisoned.
5. Joseph interprets their dreams.
20. They are accomplished according to his interpretation.
23. The ingratitude of the butler, in forgetting Joseph.














This is the interpretation
The phrase signifies the act of revealing or explaining the meaning of a dream, which is a recurring theme in the life of Joseph. In Hebrew, the word for "interpretation" is "pithron," which implies a solution or explanation. Joseph's ability to interpret dreams is a gift from God, emphasizing the divine wisdom bestowed upon him. This moment foreshadows Joseph's future role in Egypt, where his interpretations will lead to his rise in power. It also highlights the importance of seeking divine insight in understanding life's mysteries.

Joseph said to him
Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, is the speaker here. His presence in prison is a result of false accusations, yet he remains faithful and uses his God-given talents to serve others. This phrase underscores Joseph's humility and willingness to help, even in dire circumstances. Historically, Joseph's account is a testament to God's providence and the fulfillment of His promises, as Joseph's journey from the pit to the palace is orchestrated by divine intervention.

The three branches
The imagery of branches is significant in biblical symbolism, often representing life, growth, and connection to a source. In Hebrew, "branches" is "sarigim," which can also mean tendrils or shoots. The three branches in the dream are symbolic, and Joseph's interpretation reveals their prophetic nature. This symbolism is consistent with other scriptural references where branches signify prosperity and fruitfulness, pointing to the unfolding of God's plan.

are three days
The specification of "three days" is a precise and prophetic element in the dream's interpretation. The number three in biblical terms often signifies completeness or divine perfection. In this context, it indicates a short, divinely appointed period before the fulfillment of the dream's prophecy. This timeframe is crucial, as it sets the stage for the events that will lead to Joseph's eventual rise to power. The historical and scriptural significance of the number three is seen throughout the Bible, often associated with resurrection, restoration, and divine intervention.

Verses 12-15. - And Joseph (acting no doubt under a Divine impulse) said unto him, This is the interpretation of it (cf. ver. 18; 41:12, 25; Judges 7:14; Daniel 2:36; Daniel 4:19): The three branches (vide supra, ver. 10) are three days: - literally, three days these (cf. Genesis 41:26) - yet within three days (literally, in yet three days, i.e. within three more days, before the third day is over) shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, - not μνησθήσεται τῆς ἀρχῆς σου (LXX.), record-abitur ministerii tui (Vulgate), a rendering which has the sanction of Onkelos, Samaritan, Jarchi, Rosenmüller, and others; but shall promote thee from the depths of thy humiliation (Gesenius, Furst, Keil, Kalisch, etc.), to which there is an assonance, and upon which there is an intentional play, in the opposite phrase employed to depict the fortunes of the baker (vide infra, ver. 19) and restore thee unto thy place: - epexegetic of the preceding clause, the כֵּן (or pedestal, from כָּגַן, unused, to stand upright, or stand fast as a base) upon which the butler was to be set being his former dignity and office, as is next explained - and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. After which Joseph adds a request for himself. But think on me when it shall be well with thee (literally, but, or only, thou shalt remember me with thee, according as, or when, it goes well with thee), and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me (cf. Joshua 2:12; 1 Samuel 20:14, 15; 2 Samuel 9:1; 1 Kings 2:7), and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, - literally, bring me to remembrance before Pharaoh (cf. 1 Kings 17:18; Jeremiah 4:16; Ezekiel 21:28) - and bring me out of this house: for indeed I was stolen (literally, for stolen I was stolen, i.e. I was furtively abducted, without my knowledge or consent, and did not voluntarily abscond in consequence of having perpetrated any crime) away out (literally, from) of the land of the Hebrews: - i.e. the land where the labrum live (Keil); an expression which Joseph never could have used, since the Hebrews were strangers and sojourners in the land, and had no settled possession in it, and therefore a certain index of the lateness of the composition of this portion of the narrative (Block, 'Introd.,' § 80); but if Abram, nearly two centuries earlier, was recognized as a Hebrew (Genesis 14:13), and if Potiphar's wife could, in speaking to her Egyptian husband and domestics, describe Joseph as an Hebrew (Genesis 39:14, 17), there does not appear sufficient reason why Joseph should not be able to characterize his country as the land of the Hebrews. The Hebrews had through Abraham become known at least to Pharaoh and his Court as belonging to the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:15-20); and it is not a violent supposition that in Joseph s time "the land of the Hebrews" was a phrase quite intelligible to an Egyptian, as signifying not perhaps the entire extent of Palestine, but the region round about Hebron and Mamre (Nachmanides, Clericus, Rosenmüller) - scarcely as suggesting that the Hebrews had possession of the land prior to the Canaanites (Murphy). And here also have I done nothing (i.e. committed no crime) that they should (literally, that they have) put me into the dungeon. The term בּור is here used to describe Joseph's place of confinement, because pits or cisterns or cesspools, when empty, were frequently employed in primitive times for the incarceration of offenders (el. Jeremiah 38:6; Zechariah 9:11).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Joseph
יוֹסֵ֔ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

replied,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“This [is]
זֶ֖ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

the interpretation:
פִּתְרֹנ֑וֹ (piṯ·rō·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6623: Interpretation

The three
שְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙ (šə·lō·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

branches
הַשָּׂ֣רִגִ֔ים (haś·śā·ri·ḡîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8299: Tendril, twig

are three
שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (šə·lō·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

days.
יָמִ֖ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day


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OT Law: Genesis 40:12 Joseph said to him This is its (Gen. Ge Gn)
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