The Meaning of Genesis 40:11 Explained

Genesis 40:11

KJV: 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.

YLT: and Pharaoh's cup is in my hand, and I take the grapes and press them into the cup of Pharaoh, and I give the cup into the hand of Pharaoh.'

Darby: And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 40:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 40:9-23 - Joseph Interprets Two Dreams
Joseph as an interpreter was among a thousand. Because his pure heart was open to God, he could unriddle the mysteries of human life. Very often those who walk with God can solve and explain the dark riddles of human life for the less enlightened. Joseph was keenly alive to God's presence. It filled the prison with glory. He knew that thence must come all their hope and expectation; and God was "in the shadow, keeping watch above His own." He was contriving and superintending the chain of events which were to set His young servant on the throne. Man had despised and rejected him, but God had already prepared for him a position of honor and usefulness, to which his ministry to these men was as rungs in the upward ladder. Do not neglect small acts of ministry. Faithfulness in the very little leads to the throne-life. The butler's forgetfulness reminds us of our shameful forgetfulness of the Redeemer, who has brought us up out of the pit, and redeemed us with precious blood. Yet He said: "This do in remembrance of me." [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 40

1  The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh are also imprisoned
5  Joseph interprets their dreams
20  They are accomplished according to his interpretation
23  The ingratitude of the butler, in forgetting Joseph

What do the individual words in Genesis 40:11 mean?

And the cup of Pharaoh [was] in my hand and I took - the grapes and pressed them into cup of Pharaoh and placed the cup in hand of Pharaoh
וְכ֥וֹס פַּרְעֹ֖ה בְּיָדִ֑י וָאֶקַּ֣ח אֶת־ הָֽעֲנָבִ֗ים וָֽאֶשְׂחַ֤ט אֹתָם֙ אֶל־ כּ֣וֹס פַּרְעֹ֔ה וָאֶתֵּ֥ן הַכּ֖וֹס עַל־ כַּ֥ף פַּרְעֹֽה

וְכ֥וֹס  And  the  cup 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כֹּוס 
Sense: cup.
פַּרְעֹ֖ה  of  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
בְּיָדִ֑י  [was]  in  my  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וָאֶקַּ֣ח  and  I  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָֽעֲנָבִ֗ים  the  grapes 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵנָב  
Sense: grape(s).
וָֽאֶשְׂחַ֤ט  and  pressed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׂחַט  
Sense: (Qal) to squeeze, press out.
אֶל־  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
כּ֣וֹס  cup 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כֹּוס 
Sense: cup.
פַּרְעֹ֔ה  of  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
וָאֶתֵּ֥ן  and  placed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
הַכּ֖וֹס  the  cup 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: כֹּוס 
Sense: cup.
כַּ֥ף  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.
פַּרְעֹֽה  of  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.