Genesis 40:22
“but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.”
What does Genesis 40:22 mean?
The chief baker's execution is the sobering conclusion to Joseph's interpretations in Pharaoh's prison. Days earlier, both men had dreams, and Joseph explained that the baker's dream meant he would die within three days, while the cupbearer would be restored to favor. This verse confirms that Joseph's interpretation came true exactly as he predicted, which later becomes important because the cupbearer, once freed, eventually remembers Joseph and mentions him to Pharaoh, setting the stage for Joseph's own release from prison. It's a difficult moment, but it also shows that Joseph's ability to interpret dreams was genuine, making his advice trustworthy when Pharaoh later calls on him in crisis.