In Webster’s Dictionary the definitions for these very same words are as follows:Dream: A series of thoughts, images, or emotions, occurring during sleep.Throughout the biblical world, dreams were recognized as vehicles of divine communication. Several instances of this are encountered in the book of Genesis. God revealed His will in dreams to Avimelech, King of Gerar, to Jacob and to Laban. In each experience the theophany is straightforward and the message perfectly clear. This is not the case with Joseph's dreams, nor with those of the butler and the baker and Pharaoh. Here, the symbol, not the words, is the language of intelligence, and the dream is therefore enigmatic.
What are dreams for? What can dreams tell us?
Dreams are given for an individual or for a national interest by God. They tell about God’s provision or an upcoming danger to an individual life or a blessing.
National Interest: Gen 41:1-7 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
7 Cows <-------- PHAROAH--------> 7 Heads Of Grain
Gen 41:28-32 "It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
Individual Interest: Gen 40:8-19 "We both had dreams," they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them." Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."
So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, "In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup in his hand."
"This is what it means," Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position and you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon."
When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, "I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread. In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."
"This is what it means," Joseph said. "The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh."
Cup bearer <-----DREAMS-----> Chief Butler
Good Dream<----------------->Bad Dream
Good Interpretation<-------->Right Interpretation
Genesis 40:8 "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams." This was the question asked by Joseph to the cup bearer.
Interpretation to any dream can be done through God and the Word of God.