Neville Goddard on Genesis 40:1-23 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Genesis 40 in context

Scripture Focus

1And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.

2And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

3And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

4And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

5And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

6And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

7And 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?

8And 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.

9And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

10And 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:

11And 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.

12And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

13Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

14But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

15For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:

17And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

18And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

19Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

20And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

21And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:

22But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

23Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Genesis 40:1-23

Biblical Context

Joseph interprets dreams for the king's officers while they are in prison, revealing that understanding comes from the inner God. The tale shows how a right inner interpretation and faith can shift your state and open the path to outcomes.

Neville's Inner Vision

Genesis 40 is a parable of your inner state under pressure. The prison walls are the boundaries of a current circumstance; the butler and the baker are two faculties of mind awaiting the word from your God within. Joseph's question, 'Do not interpretations belong to God?' is your cue: the interpretation of every dream is a function of your awareness, not of prison walls or princes. When you notice their sadness, you are reminded that your inner images carry the power to restore or to condemn. The three grapes become three days, a countdown you can use in imagination to bring about your desired outcome. In this drama, the moment of 'lifting up the head' is your consciousness rising into a new state - being restored to your place, the cup in Pharaoh's hand, your own supply appearing as you align with the truth that you already possess the good you seek. The memory of Joseph's own situation shows you that timing is spiritual, not personal; stay faithful to the inner interpretation, and the outer scene will follow.

Practice This Now

Before sleep, assume the state 'I am free and restored now,' and envision the three-day window as your inner timing; feel the relief as you step back into your rightful place with your need already supplied.