Butler
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Properly a servant in charge of the wine (Gen 40:1-13; 41:9). The Hebrew word, mashkeh, thus translated is rendered also (plural) “cup-bearers” (1 Kgs 10:5; 2 Chr 9:4). Nehemiah (1:11) was cup-bearer to king Artaxerxes. It was a position of great responsibility and honour in royal households.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
but'-ler: An officer in households of kings, or other dignitaries, having charge of wines and other potables. mashqeh, "one who gives drink" (Gen 40:1-23; Gen 41:9), rendered "cupbearer" in 1 Kgs 10:5; 2 Chr 9:4; Neh 1:11. The office was one of consider ble importance in oriental courts, because of the danger to the king's life through plots of poison, etc. Nehemiah held this position to King Artaxerxes. Wealthy courts, as that of Solomon, usually had more than one (1 Kgs 10:5); over these cupbearers or butlers was the sar ha-mash-qim, or chief butler (Gen 40:9).
Edward Bagby Pollard
Kilde: Easton's Bible Dictionary (M.G. Easton, 1897) og International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (red. James Orr, 1915/1939), public domain. Translated into Danish with AI and not yet proofread (fully or partially). Links to people and places: Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0).