New American Standard Bible 1995

Back to Reader

Genesis

40

:

16

When the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, he said to Joseph, "I also saw in my dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head;

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
When the chief chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince Noun H8269 שַׂר־ sar-
baker to bake Verb H644 הָאֹפִ֖ים ha·'o·fim
saw to see Verb H7200 וַיַּ֥רְא vai·yar·
that he had interpreted to interpret Verb H6622 פָּתָ֑ר pa·tar;
favorably, pleasant, agreeable, good Adjective H2896 טֹ֣וב to·vv
he said to utter, say Verb H559 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ vai·yo·mer
to Joseph, "he increases," a son of Jacob, also the name of several Isr. Noun H3130 יֹוסֵ֔ף yo·v·sef,
Analysis:
Read more about: Joseph
"I also also, yea Conjunction H637 אַף־ af-
[saw] in my dream, a dream Noun H2472 בַּחֲלֹומִ֔י ba·cha·lo·v·mi,
and behold, lo! behold! Particle H2009 וְהִנֵּ֗ה ve·hin·neh
[there were] three a three, triad Noun H7969 שְׁלֹשָׁ֛ה she·lo·shah
Analysis:

Three: Purposes of God in: Testing, revealing, proving, documenting, victory and if applied to God, holiness

The number "three" is one of the most significant numbers in the Scriptures. Its primary purpose is for the sake of revealing or documenting something as fact (testing to validate something). It is also connected to the outcome of the will of God. One of the most famous occurrences for the number three is found in the book of Jonah, where Jonah is in the belly of the fish "three days and three nights."  A major aspect of the book of Jonah is that the prophet was fleeing from the presence of HaShem. Instead of Jonah going to Nineveh as God had commanded, the prophet desired not to obey this commandment, even if it meant that his relationship with God would be destroyed. HaShem decided to test to see if Jonah preferred to end his relationship with God rather than go to Nineveh. By placing Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, it would be revealed whether it was true that Jonah wanted to end his relationship with God over this commandment to go to Nineveh. It is most significant that immediately after (in the next verse) the reader is informed that Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.  What does Jonah do? The text states that Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from within the fish. Hence, the three days and three nights ultimately revealed, proved, or documented that what Jonah said he wanted was not true. One could also say that Jonah was tested for those three days and three nights and the test results showed that he did not want to end his relationship with God and in the end Jonah went to Nineveh.

In a similar manner, Peter rejects Yeshua's statement that he will deny Him. Therefore, Yeshua says to Peter that he will deny Him three times. These three denials prove, document, and reveal to the reader that Yeshua's statement was factual. It is not a coincidence that when Yeshua reinstated Peter after the resurrection, He asked him three times, "do you love Me?” In this context, Yeshua was testing the validity of Peter's statement. 

Yeshua also revealed that He, in a similar manner to Jonah being in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, would be in the belly of the earth three days and three nights and then rise from the dead. In this passage, the number three not only documents the fact that He died, but also the resurrection. It is also very significant that Yeshua rose on the third day.

The number three also relates to victory, as in the completion of God's purposes and plans. In the book of Genesis, one reads about the offering of Isaac. This passage has great theological significance and is one of the first passages which is read in the morning synagogue service each day. This section begins with HaShem commanding Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering on one of the mountains in the land of Moriah. The climax of this portion of Scripture comes about on the third day. It was on the third day that HaShem provided the ram so that Isaac would live. In this passage, Isaac represents the promise (of God) which would have died (ended) had not HaShem acted. There is not a conflict between the two concepts for the number three of victory (the fulfillment of God’s will) and revelation or documentation. Often, it is the climax of what HaShem wants to do, which is simply being revealed or proved with the use of the number three.

Please note that when the number three is applied to God, then it can relate to holiness; whereas the number seven relates to holiness when this number is about man (see explanation for the number seven).

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

baskets basket Noun H5536 סַלֵּ֥י sal·lei
of white bread white (bread) Noun H2751 חֹרִ֖י cho·ri
on my head; head Noun H7218 רֹאשִֽׁי׃ ro·shi.

People

Joseph

  Joseph There are three famous people in the Bible named Joseph: All three of their profiles are shown below: Joseph, a son of Jacob/Israel Joseph was one of 12 sons of Jacob. He was the first born son of Rachel (Gen 30:22-24). He received preferential treatment which angered his ten older brothers. His brothers faked his death to their father Jacob, and sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelite traders who were on their way to Egypt. God ga... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 When the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, he said to Joseph, "I also saw in my dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head;
King James Bible When the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, the interpretation was good, he said to unto Joseph, "I I also saw was in my dream, and and, behold, there were I had three white baskets of white bread on my head;head:
Hebrew Greek English When the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, he said to Joseph, "I also saw in my dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head;