King James Version

What Does Genesis 40:8 Mean?

Genesis 40:8 in the King James Version says “And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not in...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 40 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.”

Genesis 40:8 · KJV

Prayer

Context

6

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

7

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? look: Heb. are your faces evil?

8

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

9

And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

10

And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:

Read Genesis 40 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said ... This passage is part of the Joseph narrative, a masterfully crafted account demonstrating God's sovereign providence working through human choices and circumstances to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The Joseph cycle shows how God transforms evil intentions into instruments of salvation.

Central themes include divine providence orchestrating events toward redemptive ends, the testing and refinement of character through suffering and success, forgiveness overcoming betrayal and injustice, and the preservation of God's covenant people through famine. Joseph's rise from slavery to second-in-command of Egypt illustrates how God exalts the humble and uses seeming disasters for ultimate good.

Theologically, these chapters reveal: (1) God's meticulous sovereignty over all events, even evil human actions; (2) suffering as preparation for future service rather than punishment; (3) forgiveness as reflecting divine character and enabling reconciliation; (4) God's covenant faithfulness across generations ensuring the survival and blessing of His people; (5) how present suffering gains meaning when viewed from the perspective of God's larger purposes. Joseph's words "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (50:20) epitomize biblical theodicy and providence.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding this verse shape our doctrine of humanity, sin, or salvation?
  2. How should this truth about Forgotten Promise shape our daily decisions and priorities?
  3. How does understanding Christ as the ultimate fulfillment illuminate this passage's meaning?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 16

“And they said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלָ֔יו2 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

חֲל֣וֹם3 of 16

“a dream”

H2472

a dream

חָלַ֔מְנוּ4 of 16

“unto him We have dreamed”

H2492

properly, to bind firmly, i.e., (through the figurative sense of dumbness) to dream

וּפֹתֵ֖ר5 of 16

“and there is no interpreter”

H6622

to open up, i.e., (figuratively) interpret (a dream)

אֵ֣ין6 of 16
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

אֹת֑וֹ7 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר8 of 16

“And they said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲלֵהֶ֜ם9 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יוֹסֵ֗ף10 of 16

“of it And Joseph”

H3130

joseph, the name of seven israelites

הֲל֤וֹא11 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

לֵֽאלֹהִים֙12 of 16

“belong to God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

פִּתְרֹנִ֔ים13 of 16

“unto them Do not interpretations”

H6623

interpretation (of a dream)

סַפְּרוּ14 of 16

“tell me”

H5608

properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e., (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e., celebra

נָ֖א15 of 16
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

לִֽי׃16 of 16
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 40:8 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 40:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 2:47Genesis 41:15-16Daniel 2:28Isaiah 8:191 Corinthians 12:10-11Amos 3:7

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