The Meaning of Genesis 40:7 Explained

Genesis 40:7

KJV: And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?

YLT: and he asketh Pharaoh's eunuchs who are with him in charge in the house of his lord, saying, 'Wherefore are your faces sad to-day?'

Darby: And he asked Pharaoh's chamberlains that were with him in custody in his lord's house, saying, Why are your faces so sad to-day?

ASV: And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in ward in his master's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sad to-day?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he asked  Pharaoh's  officers  that [were] with him in the ward  of his lord's  house,  saying,  Wherefore look  ye [so] sadly  to day? 

What does Genesis 40:7 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 40:7 mean?

So he asked - the officers of Pharaoh who [were] with him in the custody of house of his lord saying why do you look [so] sad today
וַיִּשְׁאַ֞ל אֶת־ סְרִיסֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אִתּ֧וֹ בְמִשְׁמַ֛ר בֵּ֥ית אֲדֹנָ֖יו לֵאמֹ֑ר מַדּ֛וּעַ פְּנֵיכֶ֥ם רָעִ֖ים ؟ הַיּֽוֹם

וַיִּשְׁאַ֞ל  So  he  asked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
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.
סְרִיסֵ֣י  the  officers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרִיס  
Sense: official, eunuch.
פַרְעֹ֗ה  of  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
אֲשֶׁ֨ר  who  [were] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אִתּ֧וֹ  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
בְמִשְׁמַ֛ר  in  the  custody 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁמָר 
Sense: place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance.
בֵּ֥ית  of  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֲדֹנָ֖יו  of  his  lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מַדּ֛וּעַ  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מַדּוּעַ  
Sense: why?, on what account?, wherefore?.
פְּנֵיכֶ֥ם  do  you  look 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
רָעִ֖ים  [so]  sad 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
؟ הַיּֽוֹם  today 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 40:7?

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