The Meaning of Genesis 40:19 Explained

Genesis 40:19

KJV: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

YLT: yet, within three days doth Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and hath hanged thee on a tree, and the birds have eaten thy flesh from off thee.'

Darby: In yet three days will Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and hang thee on a tree; and the birds will eat thy flesh from off thee.

ASV: within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yet within three  days  shall Pharaoh  lift up  thy head  from off thee, and shall hang  thee on a tree;  and the birds  shall eat  thy flesh  from off thee. 

What does Genesis 40:19 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 40:9-23 - Joseph Interprets Two Dreams
Joseph as an interpreter was among a thousand. Because his pure heart was open to God, he could unriddle the mysteries of human life. Very often those who walk with God can solve and explain the dark riddles of human life for the less enlightened. Joseph was keenly alive to God's presence. It filled the prison with glory. He knew that thence must come all their hope and expectation; and God was "in the shadow, keeping watch above His own." He was contriving and superintending the chain of events which were to set His young servant on the throne. Man had despised and rejected him, but God had already prepared for him a position of honor and usefulness, to which his ministry to these men was as rungs in the upward ladder. Do not neglect small acts of ministry. Faithfulness in the very little leads to the throne-life. The butler's forgetfulness reminds us of our shameful forgetfulness of the Redeemer, who has brought us up out of the pit, and redeemed us with precious blood. Yet He said: "This do in remembrance of me." [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 40

1  The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh are also imprisoned
5  Joseph interprets their dreams
20  They are accomplished according to his interpretation
23  The ingratitude of the butler, in forgetting Joseph

What do the individual words in Genesis 40:19 mean?

Within three days will lift off Pharaoh - your head from you and hang you on a tree and will eat the birds your flesh from you
בְּע֣וֹד ׀ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֗ים יִשָּׂ֨א פַרְעֹ֤ה אֶת־ רֹֽאשְׁךָ֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְתָלָ֥ה אוֹתְךָ֖ עַל־ עֵ֑ץ וְאָכַ֥ל הָע֛וֹף בְּשָׂרְךָ֖ מֵעָלֶֽיךָ

בְּע֣וֹד ׀  Within 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת  three 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
יָמִ֗ים  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
יִשָּׂ֨א  will  lift  off 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
פַרְעֹ֤ה  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רֹֽאשְׁךָ֙  your  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ  from  you 
Parse: Preposition-m, second person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וְתָלָ֥ה  and  hang 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: תָּלָה  
Sense: to hang.
עֵ֑ץ  a  tree 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
וְאָכַ֥ל  and  will  eat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
הָע֛וֹף  the  birds 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹוף  
Sense: flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds.
בְּשָׂרְךָ֖  your  flesh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.
מֵעָלֶֽיךָ  from  you 
Parse: Preposition-m, second person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.