9
So the chiefוַ שַׂרof the cupbearersהַמַּשְׁקִיםtoldיְסַפֵּרhis dreamאֶת חֲלֹמוֹto Josephלְיוֹסֵףand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“In my dream,בַּחֲלוֹמִיlook,וְהִנֵּהa vineגֶפֶןwas before me,לְפָנָי
Genesis 40:9
Study it in the app“So the chief of the cupbearers told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream, look, a vine was before me,”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 40:9, word by word
- So the chiefשַׂרsar
chief
Someone set over others, in the army or in the state.
Where else “sar” appears- of the cupbearersמַּשְׁקִיםmashkim
cupbearer
The one who served the king's drink.
Where else “mashkim” appears- toldיְסַפֵּרyesaper
recount
To relate, declare: the heavens proclaim the glory of El.
Where else “yesaper” appears- his dreamחֲלֹמchalom
dream
Dream: what one sees while asleep. In the Bible, God sometimes speaks through dreams.
Where else “chalom” appears- to Josephיוֹסֵףyosef
Joseph
Joseph, a name borne by several Israelites, above all the son of Jacob and Rachel, sold into Egypt, who became ruler there and saved his family; his sons Ephraim and Manasseh became tribes. The name means "may he add".
Where else “yosef” appears- and saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- a vineגֶפֶןgefen
vine
Vine: the plant that bears grapes.
Where else “gefen” appears- was before meפָנָfana
before
Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.
Where else “fana” appears
The context
8They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it.” Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to Elohim? Please tell them to me.”
9 · This verse (above)
10and on the vine were three branches; and as it budded, its blossoms came up, and its clusters ripened into grapes.
To study Genesis 40 in a group
1. What it says
What did Joseph interpret for the two officials, and what happened to the cupbearer (vv. 12-23)?
2. What it means
What does Joseph say about himself when he says interpretations belong to Elohim (v. 8)?
3. How I live it
How can you serve others even in your own difficult times?