Genesis 40:8 "We both had dreams," they replied, "but there is no one to interpret them." Then Joseph said to them, "Don't interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."

◄ Genesis 40:8 ►

New International Version
“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

New Living Translation
And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.” “Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.”

English Standard Version
They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

Berean Standard Bible
“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

King James Bible
And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

New King James Version
And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

New American Standard Bible
And they said to him, “We have had a dream, and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do interpretations not belong to God? Tell it to me, please.”

NASB 1995
Then they said to him, “We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please.”

NASB 1977
Then they said to him, “We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then they said to him, “We have had a dream, and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Recount it to me, please.”

Amplified Bible
And they said to him, “We have [each] dreamed [distinct] dreams and there is no one to interpret them.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell me [your dreams].”

Christian Standard Bible
“We had dreams,” they said to him, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
We had dreams,” they said to him, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

American Standard Version
And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you.

Contemporary English Version
"We each had a dream last night," they answered, "and there is no one to tell us what they mean." Joseph replied, "Doesn't God know the meaning of dreams? Now tell me what you dreamed."

English Revised Version
And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"We both had dreams," they answered him, "but there's no one to tell us what they mean." "Isn't God the only one who can tell what they mean?" Joseph asked them. "Why don't you tell me all about them."

Good News Translation
They answered, "Each of us had a dream, and there is no one here to explain what the dreams mean." "It is God who gives the ability to interpret dreams," Joseph said. "Tell me your dreams."

International Standard Version
"We had a dream," they replied, "but there's no one to interpret it." "Interpretations belong to God," Joseph told them, "so please tell me your stories."

Majority Standard Bible
?We both had dreams,? they replied, ?but there is no one to interpret them.? Then Joseph said to them, ?Don?t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.?

NET Bible
They told him, "We both had dreams, but there is no one to interpret them." Joseph responded, "Don't interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me."

New Heart English Bible
They said to him, "We both had dreams, but there is no one who can interpret it." Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me."

Webster's Bible Translation
And they said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

World English Bible
They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And they say to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it”; and Joseph says to them, “Are interpretations not with God? Please recount to me.”

Young's Literal Translation
And they say unto him, 'A dream we have dreamed, and there is no interpreter of it;' and Joseph saith unto them, 'Are not interpretations with God? recount, I pray you, to me.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will say to him, We dreamed a dream, and there is none interpreting it And Joseph will say to them, Are not interpretations to God? Relate now to me.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
They answered: We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to interpret it to us. And Joseph said to them: Both not interpretation belong to God? Tell me what you have dreamed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They responded, “We have seen a dream, and there is no one to interpret it for us.” And Joseph said to them, “Doesn’t interpretation belong to God? Recount for me what you have seen.”

New American Bible
They answered him, “We have had dreams, but there is no one to interpret them.” Joseph said to them, “Do interpretations not come from God? Please tell me the dreams.”

New Revised Standard Version
They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And they said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one to interpret it. And Joseph said to them, Behold, the interpretations belong to God; tell them to me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they said to him, “We dreamed a dream and there is no interpreter for it.” Yoseph said to them, “Behold, interpretations are of God; relate them to me.”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And they said unto him: 'We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it.' And Joseph said unto them: 'Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they said to him, We have seen a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said to them, Is not the interpretation of them through god? tell them than to me.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Cupbearer and the Baker
…7So he asked the officials of Pharaoh who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so downcast today?” 8“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” 9So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream: “In my dream there was a vine before me,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Daniel 2:27-28
Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires. / But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:

Daniel 2:47
The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”

Daniel 4:8-9
But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream: / “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.

Daniel 5:12
did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.”

Daniel 5:16
But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:26
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.

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 2:30
But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne.

Acts 16:9-10
During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” / As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Acts 18:9-10
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. / For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”

Numbers 12:6
He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.

Judges 7:13-15
And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.” / 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.” / When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Get up, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your 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
One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”

Treasury of Scripture

And they said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

Do not, etc.

Genesis 41:15,16
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it…

Job 33:15,16
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; …

Psalm 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

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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.

Berean Study Bible

We both had dreams
In the ancient Near Eastern context, dreams were often considered significant, believed to be messages from the divine. The Hebrew word for "dreams" is "ḥălôm," which frequently appears in the Old Testament as a means through which God communicates His will or future events. This phrase sets the stage for the unfolding of God's providence in Joseph's life, as dreams have been a recurring theme in his story, starting with his own dreams in Genesis 37.

they replied
The response of the cupbearer and the baker indicates their shared experience and mutual concern. In the narrative, their reply signifies a moment of vulnerability and openness, as they seek understanding and clarity. This interaction highlights the human quest for meaning and the need for divine insight, which Joseph is about to provide.

but there is no one to interpret them
The absence of an interpreter underscores the limitations of human wisdom and the need for divine intervention. In the Egyptian context, professional dream interpreters were common, yet here, in the confines of prison, they are unavailable. This sets the stage for Joseph, who, through God's wisdom, will fulfill this role, demonstrating that true interpretation comes from God alone.

Then Joseph said to them
Joseph's response is immediate and confident, reflecting his faith and reliance on God. His willingness to engage with the cupbearer and baker shows his compassionate nature and readiness to serve others, even in his own time of distress. This moment is pivotal, as it marks the beginning of Joseph's rise to prominence through the use of his God-given gift.

Do not interpretations belong to God?
Joseph's rhetorical question emphasizes the sovereignty of God over all mysteries and the divine source of true wisdom. The Hebrew word for "interpretations" is "pittārôn," which implies a solution or explanation. By attributing the ability to interpret dreams to God, Joseph acknowledges that human understanding is limited without divine revelation, reinforcing the biblical theme of God's omniscience.

Tell me your dreams
Joseph invites the cupbearer and baker to share their dreams, positioning himself as a vessel through which God can work. This invitation is an act of faith, as Joseph trusts that God will provide the necessary insight. It also reflects Joseph's humility and willingness to be used by God, despite his own uncertain circumstances. This phrase encapsulates the essence of Joseph's character—a man of faith, service, and reliance on God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) There is no interpreter.--In Egypt it was the business of men trained for the purpose, called in Genesis 41:8, magicians and wise men, to interpret dreams, and to such the butler and baker could have no access from their prison. But Joseph denies that art and training can really avail, and claims that the interpretation belongs to God.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - And they said unto him, We hays dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it - literally, a dream have we dreamt, and interpreting it there is none. This must be noted as a third peculiarity connected with these dreams, that both of their recipients were similarly affected by them, though there was much in the butler s dream to inspire hope rather than dejection. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? - literally, Are not interpretations to Elohim? i.e. the Supreme Being (cf. Genesis 41:16; Daniel 2:11, 28, 47). The Egyptians believed ὅτι ἀνθρώπων μὲν οὐδενὶ προσκέεται ἡ τέχνη μαντικὴ τῶν δὲ θεῶν μετεξετέροισε (Herod., 2:83). Tell me them, I pray you. Joseph's request implies that the consciousness of his Divine calling to be a prophet had begun to dawn upon him, and that he was now speaking from an inward conviction, doubtless produced within his mind by Elohim, that he could unfold the true significance of the dreams.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“We both had dreams,”
חֲל֣וֹם (ḥă·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2472: A dream

they replied,
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“but there is no one
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

to interpret them.”
וּפֹתֵ֖ר (ū·p̄ō·ṯêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6622: To open up, interpret

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

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

to them,
אֲלֵהֶ֜ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Don’t
הֲל֤וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

interpretations
פִּתְרֹנִ֔ים (piṯ·rō·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6623: Interpretation

belong to God?
לֵֽאלֹהִים֙ (lê·lō·hîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Tell me your dreams.”
סַפְּרוּ־ (sap·pə·rū-)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate

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OT Law: Genesis 40:8 They said to him We have dreamed (Gen. Ge Gn)