Bible Commentary

Genesis 40:8

The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 40:8

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

And they said unto him, We hays dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it—literally, a dream have we dreamt, and interpreting it there is none. This must be noted as a third peculiarity connected with these dreams, that both of their recipients were similarly affected by them, though there was much in the butler's dream to inspire hope rather than dejection.

And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God?—literally, Are not interpretations to Elohim? i.e. the Supreme Being (cf. ; , , ). The Egyptians believed ὅτι ἀνθρώπων μὲν οὐδενὶ προσκέεται ἡ τέχνη μαντικὴ τῶν δὲ θεῶν μετεξετέροισε (Herod; 2:83).

Tell me them, I pray you. Joseph's request implies that the consciousness of his Divine calling to be a prophet had begun to dawn upon him, and that he was now speaking from an inward conviction, doubtless produced within his mind by Elohim, that he could unfold the true significance of the dreams.

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Matthew Henry on Genesis 40:1-19Genesis 40:1-19 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryIt was not so much the prison that made the butler and baker sad, as their dreams. God has more ways than one to sadden the spirits. Joseph had compassion towards them. Let us be concerned for the sadness of our brethre…The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 40:1-23Genesis 40:1-23 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe inspired man. Joseph is already supreme in the narrow sphere of the prison: "all was committed to his hand." The narrow sphere prepares him for the wider. The spiritual supremacy has now to be revealed. "Do not inte…The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 40:1-23Genesis 40:1-23 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITIONThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 40:1-23Genesis 40:1-23 · The Pulpit CommentaryJoseph in the round house at Heliopolis. I. THE PRISONERS AND THEIR ATTENDANT. 1. The prisoners. 2. Their attendant. In this new capacity Joseph behaved himself wisely and with discretion. With regard to his illustrious…Matthew Henry on Genesis 40:5-19Genesis 40:5-19 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleObserve, I. The special providence of God, which filled the heads of these two prisoners with unusual dreams, such as made extraordinary impressions upon them, and carried with them evidences of a divine origin, both in…The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 40:8Genesis 40:8 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe interpreter of God's message. We cannot but notice the importance often assigned in the Bible to dreams, as channels of revelation from God. The dreams of Jacob and of Pharaoh, and passages such as Deuteronomy 13:1…
commentaryMatthew Henry on Genesis 40:1-19It was not so much the prison that made the butler and baker sad, as their dreams. God has more ways than one to sadden the spirits. Joseph had compassion towards them. Let us be concerned for the sadness of our brethre…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 40:1-23The inspired man. Joseph is already supreme in the narrow sphere of the prison: "all was committed to his hand." The narrow sphere prepares him for the wider. The spiritual supremacy has now to be revealed. "Do not inte…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 40:1-23Joseph in the round house at Heliopolis. I. THE PRISONERS AND THEIR ATTENDANT. 1. The prisoners. 2. Their attendant. In this new capacity Joseph behaved himself wisely and with discretion. With regard to his illustrious…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 40:1-23EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryMatthew Henry on Genesis 40:5-19Observe, I. The special providence of God, which filled the heads of these two prisoners with unusual dreams, such as made extraordinary impressions upon them, and carried with them evidences of a divine origin, both in…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 40:8The interpreter of God's message. We cannot but notice the importance often assigned in the Bible to dreams, as channels of revelation from God. The dreams of Jacob and of Pharaoh, and passages such as Deuteronomy 13:1…Joseph S. Exell and contributors