The Meaning of Genesis 40:6 Explained

Genesis 40:6

KJV: And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

YLT: And Joseph cometh in unto them in the morning, and seeth them, and lo, they are morose;

Darby: And Joseph came in to them in the morning, and looked on them, and behold, they were sad.

ASV: And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and saw them, and, behold, they were sad.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Joseph  came in  unto them in the morning,  and looked  upon them, and, behold, they [were] sad. 

What does Genesis 40:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 40:1-8 - Joseph Fares Well In Prison
These two men remind us of the two thieves crucified beside our Lord; to the one He was a savor of life, to the other of death. Jeremy Taylor says that he must be in love with peevishness who chooses to sit down on his little handful of thorns, when there are so many causes that call for him. Wherever in the world we are, there is a fellowship of sad and lonely hearts for us to cultivate. Like Joseph, let us set about helping others, and so find solace and help for ourselves. We must move in and out among our fellows with "a glorious morning face." Keep your sorrows for your Lord and yourself, but learn from your own experiences how to comfort those who are in any sorrow by the comfort with which you yourself have been comforted of God. How quick Joseph was to detect the added anxiety on the two faces! It was because he had known similar alternations of experience. See 2 Corinthians 1:4. [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 40:6 mean?

And came in to them Joseph in the morning and looked at them and saw that they were sad
וַיָּבֹ֧א אֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹסֵ֖ף בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וַיַּ֣רְא אֹתָ֔ם וְהִנָּ֖ם זֹעֲפִֽים

וַיָּבֹ֧א  And  came  in 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֲלֵיהֶ֛ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יוֹסֵ֖ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
בַּבֹּ֑קֶר  in  the  morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
וַיַּ֣רְא  and  looked  at 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְהִנָּ֖ם  and  saw  that 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
זֹעֲפִֽים  they  were  sad 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: זָעַף 
Sense: to fret, be sad, be wroth, be vexed, be enraged, be out of humour.