Neville Goddard on Genesis 40:4-23 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Genesis 40 in context

Scripture Focus

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 40:4-23

Biblical Context

In Genesis 40:4-23, Joseph tends two prisoners who share dreams; he interprets them as coming from God, foretelling three days, with the butler restored and the baker executed, while Joseph himself remains forgotten for a season.

Neville's Inner Vision

Joseph’s prison scene is a map of your inner world. The butler and the baker are states of consciousness under discipline, awaiting meaning. Joseph’s question, 'Do not interpretations belong to God?' redirects you to the I AM within—your true interpreter. The dreams are not external prophecies but calls to your imagination, commands issued to your own mind. The three branches and three days symbolize cycles through which a mind reorganizes itself; when the interpretation arrives, events unfold to reflect that inner shift: restoration or judgment. The forgotten Joseph represents the hidden, guiding self waiting to be acknowledged. The phrase 'think on me' invites you to anchor your revision in gratitude and to trust that your inner guide is organizing the path for release, even when outward appearances seem still. Remember: Providence is your own awareness in action, moving you toward the state you have already assumed inwardly.

Practice This Now

Imaginative act: In a quiet moment, assume you are already free and recognized; declare inwardly that interpretations belong to God and you are the interpreter of your life. Then visualize a concrete scene where your need is met and feel the reality of that fulfillment.