Genesis 40
Commentary from 3 fathers
And Pharao was wroth with his two eunuchs, with his chief cupbearer, and with his chief baker.
καὶ ὠργίσθη Φαραὼ ἐπὶ τοῖς δυσὶν εὐνούχοις αὐτοῦ, ἐπὶ τῷ ἀρχιοινοχόῳ καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ἀρχισιτοποιῷ,
И҆ разгнѣ́васѧ фараѡ́нъ на ѻ҆́ба є҆ѵнꙋ́хи своѧ̑, на старѣ́йшинꙋ вїна́рска и҆ на старѣ́йшинꙋ жита́рска,
And he put them in ward, into the prison, into the place whereinto Joseph had been led.
καὶ ἔθετο αὐτοὺς ἐν φυλακῇ εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον, εἰς τὸν τόπον, οὗ ᾿Ιωσὴφ ἀπῆκτο ἐκεῖ.
и҆ вве́рже и҆̀хъ въ темни́цꙋ во ᲂу҆зи́лище, въ мѣ́сто, и҆дѣ́же і҆ѡ́сифъ вве́рженъ бѧ́ше.
And the chief keeper of the prison committed them to Joseph, and he stood by them; and they were [some] days in the prison.
καὶ συνέστησεν ὁ ἀρχιδεσμώτης τῷ ᾿Ιωσὴφ αὐτούς, καὶ παρέστη αὐτοῖς· ἦσαν δὲ ἡμέρας ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ.
И҆ врꙋчѝ и҆̀хъ старѣ́йшина темни́цы і҆ѡ́сифꙋ, и҆ предста̀ и҆̀мъ: и҆ бѣ́ста дни̑ (нѣ̑кїѧ) въ темни́цѣ,
But what shall I say about these eunuchs? who should be an example to the other eunuchs, because their status is fragile and delicate, and all their hope lies in the king's will, for whom a slight offense would be a great danger: but their secondary matters are lowly service. One boasted that he was in charge of the wine, the other that he was in charge of the bakers. Both offended, and were sent to prison, and were entrusted to the holy Joseph by the keeper of the prison.
On Joseph the Patriarch
And they both had a dream in one night; and the vision of the dream of the chief cupbearer and chief baker, who belonged to the king of Egypt, who were in the prison, was this.
καὶ εἶδον ἀμφότεροι ἐνύπνιον ἐν μιᾷ νυκτί· ἡ δὲ ὅρασις τοῦ ἐνυπνίου τοῦ ἀρχιοινοχόου καὶ ἀρχισιτοποιοῦ, οἳ ἦσαν τῷ βασιλεῖ Αἰγύπτου, οἱ ὄντες ἐν τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ, ἦν αὕτη.
и҆ ви́дѣста ѻ҆́ба со́нъ во є҆ди́нꙋ но́щь: видѣ́нїе же со́нное старѣ́йшины вїна́рска и҆ старѣ́йшины жита́рска, и҆̀же бѣ́ста царѧ̀ є҆гѵ́петска, сꙋ́ще въ темни́цѣ, бѧ́ше сїѐ.
Joseph went in to them in the morning, and saw them, and they had been troubled.
εἰσῆλθε δὲ πρὸς αὐτοὺς ᾿Ιωσὴφ τῷ πρωΐ καὶ εἶδεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἦσαν τεταραγμένοι.
Вни́де же къ ни̑мъ і҆ѡ́сифъ заꙋ́тра и҆ ви́дѣ и҆̀хъ, и҆ бѧ́хꙋ смꙋще́ни:
And he asked the eunuchs of Pharao who were with him in the prison with his master, saying, Why is it that your countenances are sad to-day?
καὶ ἠρώτα τοὺς εὐνούχους Φαραώ, οἳ ἦσαν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ παρὰ τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ, λέγων· τί ὅτι τὰ πρόσωπα ὑμῶν σκυθρωπὰ σήμερον;
и҆ вопроша́ше є҆ѵнꙋ́хѡвъ фараѡ́нихъ, и҆̀же бы́ша съ ни́мъ въ темни́цѣ, ᲂу҆ господи́на своегѡ̀, глаго́лѧ: что̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ ли́ца ва̑ша ᲂу҆ны̑ла дне́сь;
This remarkable man, however, concerned for their comfort, noticed that they were dismayed by the experience of the dreams and confused in mind; so he asked, “Why so downcast today?” The dejection on their faces, you see, betrayed the apprehension within them. Hence a sage too has said, “When the heart is free from care, the face beams, but when it is in mourning the face falls.” So, when he saw them lost in dejection from the experience of their dreams, he questioned them to discover the cause. See how, even when he found himself in prison, he gave evidence of his characteristic virtue and was concerned to relieve the sadness of others.
Homilies on Genesis 63.4
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.
οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· ἐνύπνιον εἴδομεν, καὶ ὁ συγκρίνων οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτό. εἶπε δὲ αὐτοῖς ᾿Ιωσήφ· οὐχὶ διὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ διασάφησις αὐτῶν ἐστι; διηγήσασθε οὖν μοι.
Ѻ҆ни́ же рѣ́ша є҆мꙋ̀: со́нъ ви́дѣхомъ, и҆ разсꙋжда́ѧй є҆го̀ нѣ́сть. Рече́ же и҆̀мъ і҆ѡ́сифъ: є҆да̀ не бг҃омъ и҆з̾ѧвле́нїе и҆́хъ є҆́сть; повѣ́дите ᲂу҆̀бо мнѣ̀.
And the chief cupbearer related his dream to Joseph, and said, In my dream a vine was before me.
καὶ διηγήσατο ὁ ἀρχιοινοχόος τὸ ἐνύπνιον αὐτοῦ τῷ ᾿Ιωσὴφ καὶ εἶπεν· ἐν τῷ ὕπνῳ μου ἦν ἄμπελος ἐναντίον μου·
И҆ повѣ́да старѣ́йшина вїна́рскъ со́нъ сво́й і҆ѡ́сифꙋ и҆ речѐ: во снѣ̀ мое́мъ бѧ́ше вїногра́дъ предо мно́ю:
And in the vine [were] three stems; and it budding shot forth blossoms; the clusters of grapes were ripe.
ἐν δὲ τῇ ἀμπέλῳ τρεῖς πυθμένες, καὶ αὐτὴ θάλλουσα ἀνενηνοχυῖα βλαστούς· πέπειροι οἱ βότρυες σταφυλῆς.
въ вїногра́дѣ же трѝ лѣ̑торасли, и҆ то́й цвѣтꙋ́щь произнесѐ ѿ́расли, зрѣ̑лы гро́зды лѡ́зныѧ:
(Verse 10) And behold, a vine was before me, and in it there were three branches, and it was sprouting three shoots. The words in Hebrew, which are called Sarigim, signify three scourges and three branches or shoots.
Hebrew Questions on Genesis
And the cup of Pharao was in my hand; and I took the bunch of grapes, and squeezed it into the cup, and gave the cup into Pharao's hand.
καὶ τὸ ποτήριον Φαραὼ ἐν τῇ χειρί μου· καὶ ἔλαβον τὴν σταφυλὴν καὶ ἐξέθλιψα αὐτὴν εἰς τὸ ποτήριον καὶ ἔδωκα τὸ ποτήριον εἰς τὴν χεῖρα Φαραώ.
и҆ ча́ша фараѡ́нова въ рꙋцѣ̀ мое́й: и҆ взѧ́хъ гре́знъ, и҆ и҆зжа́хъ ѻ҆́ный въ ча́шꙋ, и҆ да́хъ ча́шꙋ въ рꙋ́кꙋ фараѡ́ню.
And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it. The three stems are three days.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ᾿Ιωσήφ· τοῦτο ἡ σύγκρισις αὐτοῦ· οἱ τρεῖς πυθμένες τρεῖς ἡμέραι εἰσίν·
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ і҆ѡ́сифъ: сїѐ разсꙋжде́нїе семꙋ̀: трѝ лѣ̑торасли трѝ дни̑ сꙋ́ть:
Yet three days and Pharao shall remember thy office, and he shall restore thee to thy place of chief cupbearer, and thou shalt give the cup of Pharao into his hand, according to thy former high place, as thou wast wont to be cupbearer.
ἔτι τρεῖς ἡμέραι καὶ μνησθήσεται Φαραὼ τῆς ἀρχῆς σου καὶ ἀποκαταστήσει σε ἐπί τὴν ἀρχιοινοχοΐαν σου, καὶ δώσεις τὸ ποτήριον Φαραὼ εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν ἀρχήν σου τὴν προτέραν, ὡς ἦσθα οἰνοχοῶν.
є҆щѐ трѝ дни̑, и҆ помѧне́тъ фараѡ́нъ са́нъ тво́й, и҆ па́ки поста́витъ тѧ̀ въ старѣ́йшинство твоѐ вїна́рско, и҆ пода́си ча́шꙋ фараѡ́нꙋ въ рꙋ́кꙋ є҆гѡ̀ по са́нꙋ твоемꙋ̀ пе́рвомꙋ, ꙗ҆́коже бы́лъ є҆сѝ вїноче́рпчїй:
I do not wish to speak of someone else's dream. You certainly remember my words, that even then I refused to interpret it because I fear its outcome, the death that I dread. Let us first speak of the man who, when he was in charge of wine, seemed to be happy and believed that this was the pinnacle of power because he gave the cup to the king. This was his glory, this was his magnificence in this world, and he grieved being deprived of it; he rejoiced when it was restored to him. But this is a dream, and all worldly power is a dream, not truth. Finally, through the dream, he saw his authority restored to him. And Isaiah says that such are the people who delight in the things of this world, just as one who eats and drinks in dreams seems to himself to be filled with food or drink, while he sleeps; but when he wakes up, he begins to hunger even more; and then he understands how empty that food and drink of the dreamer were: so does one who sleeps in this world, not opening his eyes to the divine mysteries, as long as he is burdened by the sleep of the body, think that this worldly power is of some importance, as if he sees it in dreams; but when he wakes up, he realizes how empty this worldly pleasure is.
Consider now that true Hebrew, not of a dream but of truth and splendid vision, interpreter, who has come from the fullness of divinity, from the freedom of heavenly grace into this earthly prison, whom the allurements of this world could not change, no worldly corruption could overthrow, who, though tempted, did not fall, did not desire forbidden things, finally seized by the deceitful hand of the Synagogue in a deceptive garment of the body, shed the flesh, ascended free from death. The prostitute has been falsely accused. She was unable to hold the man whom prison did not frighten, whom even the underworld did not hold. Moreover, where he had descended as if to be punished, from there he freed others. Where the chains of death were binding them, there he himself loosened the chains of the dead.
On Joseph the Patriarch
But remember me of thyself, when it shall be well with thee, and thou shalt deal mercifully with me, and thou shalt make mention of me to Pharao, and thou shalt bring me forth out of this dungeon.
ἀλλὰ μνήσθητί μου διὰ σεαυτοῦ, ὅταν εὖ γένηταί σοι, καὶ ποιήσεις ἐν ἐμοὶ ἔλεος καὶ μνησθήσει περὶ ἐμοῦ πρὸς Φαραὼ καὶ ἐξάξεις με ἐκ τοῦ ὀχυρώματος τούτου·
но помѧни́ мѧ тобо́ю, є҆гда̀ бла́го тѝ бꙋ́детъ, и҆ сотвори́ши надо мно́ю ми́лость, и҆ да помѧне́ши ѡ҆ мнѣ̀ фараѡ́нꙋ, и҆ и҆зведе́ши мѧ̀ ѿ тверды́ни сеѧ̀:
Therefore, consider that Hebrew saying to the eunuch, who had incurred the wrath of the king, whom he had restored to his position: Remember yourself, when you are doing well, and show mercy towards me, and remember me. He repeated it a second time, because he knew that he would not recall what had happened once he regained his power. He reminded him a second time, because he had saved him a second time; so that if he did not remember the first favor, or if he betrayed the second favor, he would not despise the one who saved him, and violate his trust with treacherous disobedience. But what is worse, the quickly creeping forgetfulness of a favor comes with good fortunes. He who has returned to his own duty has not become mindful of the interpreter, but has forgotten him. But although he was forgetting, Christ was not forgetting: but he was speaking to him, and he was speaking through a servant saying to him: Remember through yourself, that is, remember what you have heard through the contemplation of your duty. But even if you have now forgotten, you will remember me; so that you may escape danger, you who have forgotten the favor. However, elevated in power, he did not remember. And what power it was, when it came to the service of wine! Behold, from where all the boasting; for he was in charge of the eunuchs, who served wine in the royal goblets.
On Joseph the Patriarch
When you hear this, dearly beloved, far from despising the good man’s pusillanimity, be amazed rather at the fact that despite the onset of such awful difficulties, he put up with his internment there nobly and thankfully. I mean, even though he had often been given authority by the chief jailer, still he found it harsh to be locked up and live with squalid and filthy people. Notice, in fact, his philosophical attitude even from his bearing it in courageous fashion and giving evidence of great humility in every circumstance. “Have compassion on me, remind Pharaoh of me, and get me out of this dungeon.” Consider in this, I ask you, how Joseph says nothing against that disgusting adulteress, does not blame his master or recount his brothers’ inhumanity to him. Instead, he suppresses all that in saying, “Remember me, and have me taken out of this dungeon, for I was really abducted from the land of the Hebrews and have done nothing here and yet have been cast into this prison.”Instead of passing this idly by, let us consider his philosophical frame of mind in finding such a suitable opportunity and in not maligning the Egyptian woman (I make the same point, note) or drawing attention to his master or his brothers, aware as he was that the chief cupbearer was in the ideal position to acquaint the king of his situation once he had come into his own. Joseph assigned no blame for his being sentenced to a term in prison and was in no hurry to demonstrate the injustice committed against him. Rather, his one concern was not for them to be roundly condemned but only for someone to speak on his behalf. On the one hand, he obscured the role of his brothers when he said, “I was abducted from the land of the Hebrews,” and, on the other hand, he drew attention neither to the doings of the wanton Egyptian woman nor to his master’s unjust rage against him. Instead, what did he say? “I have done nothing here, and yet have been cast into this prison.” Hearing this let us learn, when we fall foul of such people, not to be bent on railing against them and sharpening our tongue in accusing them. [Instead, let us] … demonstrate our innocence meekly and mildly and imitate this remarkable man in that, though being in difficulties, he did not bring himself to parade the Egyptian woman’s incontinence even by word of mouth. You are aware, of course, that often enough many people who are liable to accusation have recourse to vile abuse in endeavoring to fix their own crimes on others. This man, on the contrary, though in fact more spotless than the sun and in a position to tell the complete truth in exposing her frenzy and putting himself in the clear, did not draw attention to them. You see, far from hankering for the esteem of mortals, Joseph was content with favor from on high and wanted for an admirer of his conduct only that unsleeping eye. Hence, as he kept silence and endeavored to conceal everything, the loving Lord brought him to wonderful prominence when he saw with approbation the athlete under pressure.
Homilies on Genesis 63.7-9
For surely I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here I have done nothing, but they have cast me into this pit.
ὅτι κλοπῇ ἐκλάπην ἐκ γῆς ῾Εβραίων καὶ ὧδε οὐκ ἐποίησα οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐνέβαλόν με εἰς τὸν λάκκον τοῦτον.
ꙗ҆́кѡ татьбо́ю ᲂу҆кра́денъ бы́хъ и҆з̾ землѝ є҆вре́йскїѧ, и҆ здѣ̀ ничто̀ ѕло̀ сотвори́хъ, но вверго́ша мѧ̀ въ ро́въ се́й.
And the chief baker saw that he interpreted aright; and he said to Joseph, I also saw a dream, and methought I took up on my head three baskets of mealy food.
καὶ εἶδεν ὁ ἀρχισιτοποιός, ὅτι ὀρθῶς συνέκρινε, καὶ εἶπε τῷ ᾿Ιωσήφ· κἀγὼ εἶδον ἐνύπνιον καὶ ᾤμην τρία κανᾶ χονδριτῶν αἴρειν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς μου·
И҆ ви́дѣ старѣ́йшина жита́рскъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ прѧ́мѡ разсꙋдѝ, и҆ речѐ і҆ѡ́сифꙋ: и҆ а҆́зъ ви́дѣхъ со́нъ, и҆ мнѧ́хсѧ трѝ кѡ́шницы хлѣ́бѡвъ держа́ти на главѣ̀ мое́й:
(Verse 16.) And it seemed to me that I was carrying three baskets of wheat on my head. For the three baskets of wheat, he has three measures of flour in Hebrew.
Hebrew Questions on Genesis
And in the upper basket there was the work of the baker of every kind which Pharao eats; and the fowls of the air ate them out of the basket that was on my head.
ἐν δὲ κανῷ τῷ ἐπάνω ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν γενῶν, ὧν Φαραὼ ἐσθίει ἔργον σιτοποιοῦ, καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατήσθιεν αὐτὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ κανοῦ τοῦ ἐπάνω τῆς κεφαλῆς μου.
въ ко́шницѣ же ве́рхней ѿ всѣ́хъ родѡ́въ, ꙗ҆̀же фараѡ́нъ ꙗ҆́стъ, дѣ́ло хлѣ́бенное, и҆ пти̑цы небє́сныѧ ꙗ҆дѧ́хꙋ та̑ѧ ѿ ко́шницы, ꙗ҆́же на главѣ̀ мое́й.
And Joseph answered and said to him, This is the interpretation of it; The three baskets are three days.
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ᾿Ιωσὴφ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· αὕτη ἡ σύγκρισις αὐτοῦ· τὰ τρία κανᾶ τρεῖς ἡμέραι εἰσίν·
Ѿвѣща́въ же і҆ѡ́сифъ, речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: сїѐ разсꙋжде́нїе є҆гѡ̀: трѝ кѡ́шницы трѝ дні́е сꙋ́ть:
Yet three days, and Pharao shall take away thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree, and the birds of the sky shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
ἔτι τριῶν ἡμερῶν καὶ ἀφελεῖ Φαραὼ τὴν κεφαλήν σου ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ κρεμάσει σε ἐπὶ ξύλου, καὶ φάγεται τὰ ὄρνεα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τὰς σάρκας σου ἀπὸ σοῦ.
є҆щѐ трѝ дні́е, и҆ ѿи́метъ фараѡ́нъ главꙋ̀ твою̀ ѿ тебє̀ и҆ повѣ́ситъ тѧ̀ на дре́вѣ, и҆ и҆з̾ѧдѧ́тъ пти̑цы небє́сныѧ пло́ть твою̀ ѿ тебє̀.
And it came to pass on the third day that it was Pharao's birth-day, and he made a banquet for all his servants, and he remembered the office of the cupbearer and the office of the baker in the midst of his servants.
ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ, ἡμέρα γενέσεως ἦν Φαραώ, καὶ ἐποίει πότον πᾶσι τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐμνήσθη τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ οἰνοχόου καὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ σιτοποιοῦ ἐν μέσῳ τῶν παίδων αὐτοῦ,
Бы́сть же въ де́нь тре́тїй, де́нь рожде́нїѧ бѧ́ше фараѡ́нѧ, и҆ творѧ́ше пи́ръ всѣ̑мъ ѻ҆трокѡ́мъ свои̑мъ: и҆ помѧнꙋ̀ старѣ́йшинство старѣ́йшины вїна́рска и҆ старѣ́йшинство старѣ́йшины жита́рска, посредѣ̀ ѻ҆́трѡкъ свои́хъ:
And he restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he gave the cup into Pharao's hand.
καὶ ἀποκατέστησε τὸν ἀρχιοινοχόον ἐπὶ τὴν ἀρχὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔδωκε τὸ ποτήριον εἰς τὴν χεῖρα Φαραώ,
и҆ поста́ви старѣ́йшинꙋ вїна́рска въ старѣ́йшинство є҆гѡ̀: и҆ подадѐ ча́шꙋ въ рꙋ́кꙋ фараѡ́ню:
And he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph, interpreted to them.
τὸν δὲ ἀρχισιτοποιὸν ἐκρέμασε, καθὰ συνέκρινεν αὐτοῖς ᾿Ιωσήφ.
старѣ́йшинꙋ же жита́рска повѣ́си (на дре́вѣ), ꙗ҆́коже сказа̀ и҆́ма і҆ѡ́сифъ.
Yet did not the chief cupbearer remember Joseph, but forgot him.
καὶ οὐκ ἐμνήσθη ὁ ἀρχιοινοχόος τοῦ ᾿Ιωσήφ, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπελάθετο αὐτοῦ.
И҆ не помѧнꙋ̀ старѣ́йшина вїна́рскъ і҆ѡ́сифа, но забы̀ є҆го̀.
See once again the good man, as though competing in some gymnasium or wrestling ring, giving a demonstration of his characteristic virtue by not showing signs of alarm, panic or disappointment. I mean, had it been somebody else, any one of a thousand, he might have said, What’s this? The chief cupbearer was all too ready to regain his former prosperity by my interpreting what he saw in his dream but now has no thought for me despite my predicting it. He is enjoying great relief, whereas I, who committed no crime, am locked up here with murderers, grave robbers, thieves and perpetrators of countless crimes. Joseph said nothing of the sort; he entertained no such thoughts. He realized that the race was longer for him, so that by striving consistently he might win a glorious crown.…Joseph, you see, had to await the right moment for release from there to come his way along with renown. After all, if before Pharaoh’s dreams the chief cupbearer had by his own intervention freed him from prison, perhaps his virtue would not have become known to many people. As it was, however, the wise and creative Lord, who like a fine craftsman knew how long the gold should be kept in the fire and when it ought be taken out, allowed forgetfulness to affect the chief cupbearer for a period of two years so that the moment of Pharaoh’s dreams should arrive and that by force of circumstances the good man should become known to the whole of Pharaoh’s kingdom.
Homilies on Genesis 63.11-12
AND it came to pass after these things, that the chief cupbearer of the king of Egypt and the chief baker trespassed against their lord the king of Egypt.
ΕΓΕΝΕΤΟ δὲ μετὰ τὰ ρήματα ταῦτα ἥμαρτεν ὁ ἀρχιοινοχόος τοῦ βασιλέως Αἰγύπτου καὶ ὁ ἀρχισιτοποιὸς τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτῶν βασιλεῖ Αἰγύπτου.
Бы́сть же по словесѣ́хъ си́хъ, согрѣшѝ старѣ́йшина вїна́рскъ царѧ̀ є҆гѵ́петска и҆ старѣ́йшина жита́рскъ господи́нꙋ своемꙋ̀ царю̀ є҆гѵ́петскомꙋ.