Bible/Genesis/40

Genesis 40:3

40:2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

KJV

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He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

40:4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

What does Genesis 40:3 mean?

Genesis 40:3 is a verse in the book of Genesis, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include נָתַן (nâthan), מִשְׁמָר (mishmâr), בַּיִת (bayith). It connects to 2 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
he
putנָתַןnâthan/naw-than'/H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
them
in
wardמִשְׁמָרmishmâr/mish-mawr'/H4929a guard (the man, the post or the prison); a deposit (figuratively); also (as observed) a usage (abstractly), or an example (concretely)
in
the
houseבַּיִתbayith/bah'-yith/H1004a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
of
the
captainשַׂרsar/sar/H8269a head person (of any rank or class)
of
the
guard,טַבָּחṭabbâch/tab-bawkh'/H2876properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner); also a cook (usually slaughtering the animal for food)
into
the
prison,בַּיִתbayith/bah'-yith/H1004a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
the
placeמָקוֹםmâqôwm/maw-kome'/H4725properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
where
JosephיוֹסֵףYôwçêph/yo-safe'/H3130Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
was
bound.אָסַרʼâçar/aw-sar'/H631to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle

Commentary on Genesis 40:3

HENRY_FULL · Genesis 40:1–4
nd Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. We should not have had this story of Pharaoh's butler and baker recorded in scripture if it had not been serviceable to Joseph's preferment. The world stands for the sake of the church, and is governed for its good. Observe, 1. Two of the great officers of Pharaoh's court, having offended the king, are committed to prison. Note, High places are slippery places; nothing more uncertain than the favour of princes. Those that make God's favour their happiness, and his service their business, will find him a better Master than Pharaoh was, and not so extreme to mark what they do amiss. Many conjectures there are concerning the offence of these servants of Pharaoh; some make it no less than an attempt to take away his life, others no more than the casual lighting of a fly into his cup and a little sand into his bread. Whatever it was, Providence by this means brought them into the prison where Joseph was. 2. The captain of the guard himself, who was Potiphar, charged Joseph with them ( v. 4 ), which intimates that he began now to be reconciled to him, and perhaps to be convinced of his innocence, though he durst not release him for fear of disobliging his wife. John Baptist must lose his head, to please Herodias. 5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 39:20

And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Genesis 39:23

The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Genesis 40:3.

Genesis 40:4

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

Genesis 39:1

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

Genesis 41:10

Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:

Genesis 12:15

The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.

Genesis 15:2

And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

Genesis 15:3

And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Genesis 20:13

And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

Genesis 24:23

And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?

Frequently asked questions

What does Genesis 40:3 say?

Genesis 40:3 (King James Version) reads: "And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound."

Is Genesis 40:3 in the Old or New Testament?

Genesis 40:3 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Genesis.

Who wrote the book of Genesis?

The book of Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses.

Reflect

As you read Genesis 40:3, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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