“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 40:13 is part of the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers but eventually rose to become a powerful leader in Egypt. In this particular verse, Joseph is interpreting the dreams of two fellow prisoners: Pharaoh’s chief butler and chief baker.
To provide some context, prior to this verse, both the butler and the baker had dreams that troubled them. Joseph, who possessed the ability to interpret dreams, was asked by the prisoners to explain the meaning behind their dreams. In response, Joseph provides the interpretation of the butler’s dream in verse 13.
According to Joseph’s interpretation, within three days, Pharaoh would lift up the butler’s head, which means that the butler would be released from prison and restored to his former position. Joseph also prophesies that the butler would once again serve Pharaoh by delivering his cup into his hand, just as he had done before.
This interpretation turned out to be accurate. As the story unfolds, we learn that the baker’s dream did not have a favorable outcome, as he was executed three days later, as Joseph had foretold. However, the butler was restored to his position, just as Joseph had predicted.
This passage demonstrates Joseph’s God-given gift of dream interpretation and foreshadows his eventual rise to power in Egypt. It also highlights God’s sovereignty and the fulfillment of His plans through the circumstances and events in Joseph’s life.
Overall, Genesis 40:13 showcases the accuracy of Joseph’s interpretations and the divine guidance he received. It also serves as a stepping stone in Joseph’s journey toward fulfilling the purpose God had for him, which ultimately included rescuing his family from famine and establishing them in Egypt.
