Genesis 41:10
Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard.
Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,

Royal displeasure could bring swift imprisonment or death, revealing the insecurity of even the highest officials in Pharaoh’s court. God used Pharaoh’s anger to place the cupbearer and baker where they would encounter Joseph.

Gen 39:19 When his master heard the story his wife told him,…
Mat 18:34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers…

and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard.

The captain of the guard was likely Potiphar, Joseph’s former master, whose authority extended over the royal prison. What appeared to be Joseph’s humiliation became God’s appointed setting for the revelation of dreams, the restoration of the cupbearer, and Joseph’s eventual summons before Pharaoh.

Gen 39:20 So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown…
Gen 39:1 Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt,…
2Ki 25:8 On the seventh day of the fifth month,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt, considered a god by his people, who had the power to imprison or release individuals at his discretion.

2. Joseph
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, he is a central figure in the surrounding account, known for his ability to interpret dreams.

3. Chief Cupbearer
The speaker in this verse, who was imprisoned alongside the chief baker and later restored to his position.

4. Chief Baker
Another servant of Pharaoh who was imprisoned and later executed, as interpreted by Joseph.

5. Captain of the Guard
The official responsible for the prison where Joseph, the cupbearer, and the baker were held.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Trials
Even in unjust circumstances, God is in control and can use difficult situations for His purposes.

Faithfulness in Small Things
Joseph's faithfulness in prison, interpreting dreams accurately, led to his eventual rise to power.

The Importance of Remembering God's Servants
The cupbearer's eventual remembrance of Joseph highlights the importance of acknowledging those who help us.

Divine Timing
God's timing is perfect, as seen in how Joseph's interpretation of dreams eventually led to his elevation at the right moment.

Trust in God's Plan
Like Joseph, we should trust that God has a plan for our lives, even when we cannot see it.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the account of the cupbearer and baker illustrate the theme of divine justice and mercy?

2. In what ways can we see God's hand at work in Joseph's life, even during his imprisonment?

3. How can we apply Joseph's example of faithfulness in adversity to our own lives?

4. What lessons can we learn from the cupbearer's initial forgetfulness of Joseph, and how does it relate to our own relationships?

5. How does the account of Joseph encourage us to trust in God's timing and plan for our lives, especially when facing trials?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 40
Provides the background account of the cupbearer and baker's imprisonment and Joseph's interpretation of their dreams.

Genesis 41:12-13
Details the fulfillment of Joseph's interpretations, leading to the cupbearer's restoration and the baker's execution.

Psalm 105:19
Reflects on Joseph's trials and God's faithfulness in fulfilling His word.

Acts 7:9-10
Stephen's speech recounts Joseph's account, emphasizing God's providence and deliverance.
Confession of Sin DifficultGenesis 41:9-13
Faults RememberedT. Kidd.Genesis 41:9-13
Have You Forgotten Him?Spurgeon, Charles HaddonGenesis 41:9-13
Pharaoh's ButlerHomilistGenesis 41:9-13
Pharaoh's ButlerHomiletic ReviewGenesis 41:9-13
The Tried ManR.A. Redford Genesis 41
People
Asenath, Egyptians, Joseph, Manasseh, Pharaoh, Potipherah, Zaphnathpaaneah
Places
Egypt, Nile River, On
Topics
Angry, Army, Baker, Bakers, Bodyguard, Bondmen, Bread-maker, Captain, Charge, Chief, Confinement, Custody, Executioners, Furious, Giveth, Guard, Guard's, Imprisoned, Life-guard's, Pharaoh, Prison, Servants, Ward, Wroth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 41:10

     5222   baking
     5245   captain

Genesis 41:1-49

     8131   guidance, results

Genesis 41:9-13

     6682   mediation

Genesis 41:10-32

     7730   explanation

Library
The Covenant of Works
Q-12: I proceed to the next question, WHAT SPECIAL ACT OF PROVIDENCE DID GOD EXERCISE TOWARDS MAN IN THE ESTATE WHEREIN HE WAS CREATED? A: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge upon pain of death. For this, consult with Gen 2:16, 17: And the Lord commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Earliest Chapters in Divine Revelation
[Sidenote: The nature of inspiration] Since the days of the Greek philosophers the subject of inspiration and revelation has been fertile theme for discussion and dispute among scholars and theologians. Many different theories have been advanced, and ultimately abandoned as untenable. In its simplest meaning and use, inspiration describes the personal influence of one individual upon the mind and spirit of another. Thus we often say, "That man inspired me." What we are or do under the influence
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

Man's Chief End
Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial;
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
Syria: the part played by it in the ancient world--Babylon and the first Chaldaean empire--The dominion of the Hyksos: Ahmosis. Some countries seem destined from their origin to become the battle-fields of the contending nations which environ them. Into such regions, and to their cost, neighbouring peoples come from century to century to settle their quarrels and bring to an issue the questions of supremacy which disturb their little corner of the world. The nations around are eager for the possession
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4

Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision F. Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. ^C Luke XVI. 19-31. [The parable we are about to study is a direct advance upon the thoughts in the previous section. We may say generally that if the parable of the unjust steward teaches how riches are to be used, this parable sets forth the terrible consequences of a failure to so use them. Each point of the previous discourse is covered in detail, as will be shown by the references in the discussion of the parable.]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Roman Pilgrimage: the Miracles which were Wrought in It.
[Sidenote: 1139] 33. (20). It seemed to him, however, that one could not go on doing these things with sufficient security without the authority of the Apostolic See; and for that reason he determined to set out for Rome, and most of all because the metropolitan see still lacked, and from the beginning had lacked, the use of the pall, which is the fullness of honour.[507] And it seemed good in his eyes[508] that the church for which he had laboured so much[509] should acquire, by his zeal and labour,
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
Massecheth Berachoth, or Tractate on Benedictions [76] Mishnah--From what time is the "Shema" said in the evening? From the hour that the priests entered to eat of their therumah [77] until the end of the first night watch. [78] These are the words of Rabbi Eliezer. But the sages say: Till midnight. Rabban Gamaliel says: Until the column of the morning (the dawn) rises. It happened, that his sons came back from a banquet. They said to him: "We have not said the Shema.'" He said to them, "If the column
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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