In the context of the Bible, the term "butler" refers to a high-ranking servant responsible for managing the household and serving drinks, particularly wine, to their master. The role of a butler is most prominently featured in the account of Joseph in the Book of Genesis.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 40:1-23: The most notable mention of a butler in the Bible is found in the account of Joseph's imprisonment in Egypt. The "chief cupbearer," often translated as "butler," was imprisoned alongside Joseph. The butler and the chief baker both offended Pharaoh, leading to their incarceration. During their time in prison, they each had a dream, which Joseph interpreted. The butler's dream involved a vine with three branches that budded, blossomed, and produced grapes. Joseph interpreted this dream to mean that within three days, the butler would be restored to his position. As Joseph predicted, the butler was reinstated to his role, while the baker was executed. The butler, however, forgot to mention Joseph to Pharaoh, as Joseph had requested.

· Genesis 40:21 : "He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand."

2. Genesis 41:9-13: Later, when Pharaoh had troubling dreams, the butler remembered Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams. He recounted to Pharaoh how Joseph had accurately interpreted his and the baker's dreams, leading to Joseph's release from prison and his eventual rise to power in Egypt.

· Genesis 41:9 : "Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, 'Today I recall my failures.'"

Role and Significance:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the position of a butler or cupbearer was one of significant trust and responsibility. The butler was not merely a servant but a key official in the royal court, often holding influence due to their close proximity to the king. The butler's duties included selecting and serving wine, ensuring its safety, and sometimes even tasting it to protect the king from poisoning. This role required loyalty, discretion, and reliability.

The account of the butler in Genesis highlights themes of divine providence and the fulfillment of God's plans. Joseph's interaction with the butler serves as a pivotal moment in his life, leading to his eventual rise to power in Egypt. The butler's forgetfulness and later remembrance of Joseph illustrate the unfolding of God's timing and purpose.

Cultural Context:

In the broader cultural context of the ancient world, butlers or cupbearers were often depicted in art and literature as trusted confidants of the king. Their role extended beyond mere service to include advisory capacities, reflecting their esteemed position within the royal household.

The biblical narrative of the butler underscores the importance of faithfulness and the impact of seemingly small actions on the larger narrative of God's work in history. The butler's account is a testament to the intricate ways in which God orchestrates events to fulfill His promises and purposes.

Chapter xl
... And Pharaoh was angry at his two eunuchs, at the chief of the butlers and at the
chief of the bakers, and put them under guard in the house of the chief of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xl.htm

Chapter xli
... instrument. 9-13. And the chief of the butlers spoke to Pharaoh saying:
My sins do I for one call to mind this day. Pharaoh was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xli.htm

Goodness in a Dungeon
... Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief
of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/goodness in a dungeon.htm

Joseph and his Brethren
... Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, against the chief
of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. And ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/i joseph and his brethren.htm

The History of Solomon
... builded, and the meat and service of his table, the habitacles of his servants,
the order of the ministers, their clothing and array, his butlers and officers ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of solomon.htm

John iii. 35, 36
... [798] Not like us, who the instant we rise from our beds attend to this before anything
else, calling cooks and butlers, and giving our directions with all ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxi john iii 35.htm

Spurgeon -- Songs in the Night
... frame; keep a happy heart; keep a contented spirit; keep your eye up, and your heart
aloft, and you prove Christianity better than all the Butlers, and all the ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/spurgeon songs in the.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... verdict. Head-cooks, butlers, pantlers, pastrycooks, fishmongers, game
or fruit dealers"if all enumerated, would be endless. The ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

Homiletical.
... gardeners, and craftsmen, skilled in every art that can minister to necessity or
to enjoyment and luxury; cooks, confectioners, butlers, huntsmen, sculptors ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/iv homiletical.htm

Songs in the Night
... frame; keep a happy heart; keep a contented spirit; keep you eye up, and your heart
aloft, and you will prove Christianity better than all the Butlers, and all ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 44 1898/songs in the night.htm

Butlers (13 Occurrences)
...Butlers (13 Occurrences). Genesis 40:2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his
officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. ...
/b/butlers.htm - 10k

Butler (9 Occurrences)
... Wealthy courts, as that of Solomon, usually had more than one (1 Kings 10:5); over
these cupbearers or butlers was the sar ha-mash-qim, or chief butler ...
/b/butler.htm - 11k

Asshur (133 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:17 And the king of Asshur sendeth Tartan, and the chief of the eunuchs,
and the chief of the butlers, from Lachish, unto king Hezekiah, with a heavy ...
/a/asshur.htm - 46k

Eunuchs (33 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:2 and Pharaoh is wroth against his two eunuchs, against the chief
of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers, (YLT). ...
/e/eunuchs.htm - 17k

Officials (229 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Genesis 40:2 And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, against
the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. (See NAS NIV). ...
/o/officials.htm - 36k

Wroth (65 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV WBS). Genesis 40:2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers,
against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. ...
/w/wroth.htm - 26k

Forgetteth (10 Occurrences)
... blessed in his doing. (ASV). Genesis 40:23 and the chief of the butlers hath
not remembered Joseph, but forgetteth him. (YLT). Job 11:6 ...
/f/forgetteth.htm - 8k

Recounteth (13 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:9 And the chief of the butlers recounteth his dream to Joseph, and saith
to him, 'In my dream, then lo, a vine 'is' before me! (YLT). ...
/r/recounteth.htm - 10k

Remembered (120 Occurrences)
... this house, (YLT). Genesis 40:23 and the chief of the butlers hath not
remembered Joseph, but forgetteth him. (YLT). Genesis 41:31 ...
/r/remembered.htm - 37k

Butlership (1 Occurrence)

/b/butlership.htm - 6k

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