Verse

Genesis 40:6

ESV When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled.
NIV When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected.
NASB When Joseph came to them in the morning and saw them, behold, they were dejected.
CSB When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they looked distraught.
NLT When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset.
KJV And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.
NKJV And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad.

What does Genesis 40:6 mean?

Joseph rose to a position of authority under his Egyptian master, Potiphar (Genesis 39:1–6). He was unfairly jailed, based on a lie told by his master's wife, whose seduction Joseph had rejected (Genesis 39:11–15). Joseph's character and skill make him valuable even in prison (Genesis 39:21–23). Now, he has likely been in this state for several years. At some point during that stretch, the Egyptian Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker are jailed for an unspecified offense (Genesis 40:1–4). They've been there for "some time," likely more than a few years.

Strangely, both the king's former cupbearer and his former baker had powerful dreams on the same night. They're convinced that each dream means something specific, and they're right. Joseph finds the pair "troubled" or "dejected" the next morning. They cannot explain their dreams, but they know they are abnormal. That stress is obvious enough that Joseph sees it the next day. The following verses will reveal they have no way of understanding these obviously important dreams.
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