The account of Joseph focuses on the power of God. God is able to protect his people despite the evil actions of some. He also is able to continue to bless them despite their circumstances. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#peopleofgod and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless)
The interpretation of dreams was important in the ancient Near East. It was seen as possible only through divine power. Yahweh gave Joseph the power to interpret dreams in order to bring himself glory and to protect Joseph and the Hebrew people. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#glory)
This phrase is used here to mark a new event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
This is the person who brought drinks to the king.
This is the person who made food for the king.
"upset their master"
"the leading cupbearer and the leading baker"
"He put them in the prison that was in the house that was overseen by the captain of the guard"
The king did not put them in prison but rather he commanded for them to be imprisoned. Alternate translation: "He had them put" or "He commanded his guard to put" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "This was the same prison that Joseph was in" or "This was the same prison Potiphar put Joseph in" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"They remained in prison for a long time"
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"Joseph came to the cupbearer and the baker"
The word "behold" here shows that Joseph was surprised by what he saw. Alternate translation: "He was surprised to see that they were sad" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This refers to the cupbearer and the baker.
"In prison in him master's house." "His master" refers to Joseph's master, the captain of the guard.
Joseph uses a question for emphasis. This can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "Interpretations belong to God!" or "It is God who can tell the meaning of dreams!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
Joseph asks for them to tell him their dreams. Alternate translation: "Tell me the dreams, please" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
The most important person who brings drinks to the king. See how you translated this in Genesis 40:2.
"In my dream, I saw a vine in front of me!" The cupbearer uses word "behold" here to show that he was surprised by what he saw in his dream and to alert Joseph to pay attention.
"its clusters ripened into grapes"
This means that he squeezed the juice out of them. Alternate translation: "squeezed the juice from them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"Here is what the dream means"
"The three branches represent three days"
"In three more days"
Here "lift up your head" is a metaphor for "restore your honor." If the meaning is not clear, it can be explained in the text or a footnote. Alternate translation: "will lift up your head in honor" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"will give you back your job"
"just as you did when"
"please be kind to me"
Joseph means for the cupbearer to tell Pharaoh about him so that Pharaoh will release him from prison. Alternate translation: "Help me get out of this prison by telling Pharaoh about me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "For indeed people took me" or "For indeed the Ishmaelites took me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"the land where the Hebrew people live"
"and also while I have been here in Egypt, I have done nothing for which I deserved to be put in prison"
This refers to the leading person who made food for the king. See how this was translated in Genesis 40:2.
"I also had a dream, and in my dream,"
"there were three baskets of bread on my head!" The baker uses word "behold" here to show that he was surprised by what he saw in his dream and to alert Joseph to pay attention.
"baked foods for Pharaoh"
"Here is what the dream means"
"The three baskets represent three days"
In verse 13 Joseph said "lift up your head," but there it had a different meaning. Here "lift up your head from you" means either that the prisoner's head would be cut off his body, or the prisoner's head would be lifted when a noose was put around his neck and he was hanged. Alternate translation: "will lift up your head with a knife" or "will lift up your head with a noose"
Here "flesh" literally means the soft tissue on a person's body.
"Afterward, on the third day." The phrase "it came about" is used here to mark a new event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
"He had a feast"
The author writes that Pharaoh lifted up both men's heads so that it would sound like he did the same thing to both men. But the meaning of "lift up the head" for each man is different and is explained in verses 21 and 22. This can also be shortened. Alternate translation: "He lifted up the heads of the chief of the cupbearers and the chief of the bakers"
This was the leading person who prepared and served drinks to the king. See how these were translated in Genesis 40:2.
This refers to the leading person who made food for the king. See how this was translated in Genesis 40:2.
The chief of the cupbearer's "responsibility" refers to his job as chief of the cupbearers. Alternate translation: "He gave the chief of the cupbearers his job back" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
Pharaoh did not personally hang the baker, rather he commanded for him to be hanged. Alternate translation: "But he commanded for the chief of the bakers to be hanged" or "But he commanded his guards to hang the chief of the bakers" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
This refers to when Joseph interpreted their dreams. Alternate translation: "just as Joseph had said would happen when he interpreted the two men's dreams" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
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