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Genesis 40:20

in Genesis 40

On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants.

KJV

And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

This verse in Genesis 40

Commentary

4 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Pharaoh’s birthday - The distinguishing a birthday by a feast appears from this place to have been a very ancient custom. It probably had its origin from a correct notion of the immortality of the soul, as the commencement of life must appear of great consequence to that person who believed he was to live for ever. St. Matthew (Mat 14:6) mentions Herod’s keeping his birthday; and examples of this kind are frequent to the present time in most nations.

This site's exposition

which was Pharaoh’s birthday

on Genesis 40:20-22

Both readings come true on the third day. Clarke notes the first birthday feast in Scripture, and the only other the Bible reports is Herod's. Gill passes on a Jewish tradition that the cupbearer was cleared of a plot to poison Pharaoh and the baker held guilty.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday--This was a holiday season, celebrated at court with great magnificence and honored by a free pardon to prisoners.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

The words behind it

22 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיְהִ֣י׀and it was

    vayhiH1961 →3559 times

  • בַּיּ֣וֹםon the day

    baiyomH3117 →2304 times

  • הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י<the> third

    hashelishiH7992 →107 times

  • י֚וֹם[the] day of

    yomH3117 →2304 times

  • הֻלֶּ֣דֶתbeing born

    huledetH3205 →496 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • פַּרְעֹ֔הPharaoh

    parohH6547 →274 times

  • וַיַּ֥עַשׂand he made

    vaiyaasH6213 →2628 times

  • מִשְׁתֶּ֖הa feast

    mishtehH4960 →46 times

  • לְכָל־for all

    lekholH3605 →5413 times

  • עֲבָדָ֑יוservants his

    ʾavadavH5650 →799 times

  • וַיִּשָּׂ֞אand he lifted up

    vaiyisa'H5375 →656 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • רֹ֣אשׁ׀[the] head of

    roshH7218 →599 times

  • שַׂ֣ר[the] chief of

    sarH8269 →421 times

  • הַמַּשְׁקִ֗יםthe cup bearers

    hamashkimH4945 →19 times

  • וְאֶת־and <obj.>

    veetH853 →10935 times

  • רֹ֛אשׁ[the] head of

    roshH7218 →599 times

  • שַׂ֥ר[the] chief of

    sarH8269 →421 times

  • הָאֹפִ֖יםthe bakers

    haofimH644 →25 times

  • בְּת֥וֹךְin among

    betokhH8432 →418 times

  • עֲבָדָֽיו׃servants his

    ʾavadavH5650 →799 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Kings 25:27

    On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he released King Jehoiachin of Judah from…

    it leads to

    • Genesis 40:13

      Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Jeremiah 52:31–34

      On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the first year of the reign of Evil-merodach king of Babylon, he pardoned…

    • 2 Kings 24:12

      Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials all surrendered to the king of Babylon. So in the eighth year of his reign, the king of Babylon took him…

    • Proverbs 21:1

      The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

  • Through

    Mark 6:21

    On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

    it leads to

    • Esther 2:18

      Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.

  • Through

    Matthew 14:6

    On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod

    it leads to

    • Mark 6:21–23

      On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

    • Hosea 1:5–6

      And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”

  • Through

    Genesis 40:13

    Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 3:3

      But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Where this verse is studied

About Genesis

The Tower of Babel, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, 1563. Public domain.
The Tower of Babel, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, 1563. Public domain.

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).