The Meaning of Genesis 40:12 Explained

Genesis 40:12

KJV: And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

YLT: And Joseph saith to him, 'This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days;

Darby: And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days.

ASV: And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Joseph  said  unto him, This [is] the interpretation  of it: The three  branches  [are] three  days: 

What does Genesis 40:12 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 40:12 mean?

And said to him Joseph this [is] the interpretation of it three the branches three days they are
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ יוֹסֵ֔ף זֶ֖ה : פִּתְרֹנ֑וֹ שְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙ הַשָּׂ֣רִגִ֔ים שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִ֖ים הֵֽם

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לוֹ֙  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
יוֹסֵ֔ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
זֶ֖ה  this  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
: פִּתְרֹנ֑וֹ  the  interpretation  of  it 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פִּתָּרֹון  
Sense: interpretation.
שְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙  three 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
הַשָּׂ֣רִגִ֔ים  the  branches 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׂרִיג  
Sense: tendril, twig, branch.
שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת  three 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
יָמִ֖ים  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הֵֽם  they  are 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.