Bible Strands
Genesis 40:11
Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into his cup, and placed the cup in his hand.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The cupbearer speaks to Joseph in prison, recounting the exact sequence of his dream. He describes handling Pharaoh’s cup and processing the grapes himself.
The words — כּוֹס (Khos) means cup, and עֲנָבִים (AnaVim) means grapes. The verb אֶשְׂחַט (EsChat) literally denotes squeezing or pressing.
The thread — Royal cups and cupbearers appear in Nehemiah 1:11, 1 Kings 10:5, and 2 Chronicles 9:4. These passages track the same official role within court administration.
Why it lands — The text records a precise, unembellished sequence of physical actions. The reader must note how mundane service is preserved for later judicial meaning.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)
- 1 Kings 10:5 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.
- 2 Chronicles 9:4 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, the attire of his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.
- Genesis 40:21 Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.
- Genesis 49:11 He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
- Leviticus 10:9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.
- Proverbs 3:10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.