Genesis 40 in the early church

45 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 40, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 22 · 23

Genesis 40:1

Some time later, the king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:1Fragments on Genesis, column 129 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 40:1–23On the Good of Modesty 8 · Novatianallusion, high confidencemid-3rd cent. (disputed)
Gen 40:1Commentary on Matthew 15.5 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 246–248
Gen 40:1On Joseph 29 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 40:1–11Genesis, lines 1200–1224 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Gen 40:1–22Part 1, chapter 28 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

Genesis 40:2

Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:2On Joseph 29 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:3

and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:3Commentary on Romans 3:19 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 366–384
Gen 40:3Commentary on Romans 5:13 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 366–384

Genesis 40:4

The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant. After they had been in custody for some time,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:4On Joseph 29 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:6

When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were distraught.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:6On Joseph 29 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:7

So he asked the officials of Pharaoh who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so downcast today?”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:7The Conferences 17.4 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Genesis 40:8

“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:8Fragments on Genesis, column 133 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 40:8Against Celsus 4.47 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 248
Gen 40:8On the Holy Spirit 5.12 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 374–375
Gen 40:8On Jacob and the Happy Life 2.42 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-390
Gen 40:8Homilies on Matthew 59.3 · John Chrysostomquotation, high confidenceca. 390
Gen 40:8On Joseph 29 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 40:8The Conferences 17.4 · John Cassianallusion, high confidenceca. 426–429

Genesis 40:9

So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream: “In my dream there was a vine before me,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:9Fragments on Genesis, column 131 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 40:9On Joseph 29 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:10

and on the vine were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms opened and its clusters ripened into grapes.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:10Fragments on Genesis, column 131 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 40:10On Joseph 29 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:11

Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into his cup, and placed the cup in his hand.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:11On the Making of Man 13 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidence379
Gen 40:11On Joseph 29 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:12

Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:12Fragments on Genesis, column 129 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 40:12On Joseph 29 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 40:12–23Genesis, lines 1225–1250 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.

Genesis 40:13

Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:13On Joseph 29 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:14

But when it goes well for you, please remember me and show me kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh, that he might bring me out of this prison.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:14On Joseph 29 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 40:14On Joseph 32 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:15

For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for which they should have put me in this dungeon.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:15Fragments on Genesis, column 129 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 40:15Question 108, section 2 · Ambrosiasterallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–384
Gen 40:15On Joseph 29 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:16

When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: There were three baskets of white bread on my head.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:16On the Making of Man 13 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidence379
Gen 40:16On Joseph 34 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:18

Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:18Fragments on Genesis, column 129 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254

Genesis 40:19

Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. Then the birds will eat the flesh of your body.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:19On Joseph 34 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:20

On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:20Fragments on Genesis, column 129 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 40:20Homilies on Leviticus 8.3 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Gen 40:20Commentary on Matthew 10.22 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 246–248

Genesis 40:22

But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had described to them in his interpretation.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:22Homilies on Leviticus 8.3 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Gen 40:22Commentary on Matthew 10.22 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 246–248
Gen 40:22On Joseph 34 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 40:23

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot all about him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 40:23On Joseph 32 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390