Genesis 40 14

Genesis 40:14 kjv

But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

Genesis 40:14 nkjv

But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.

Genesis 40:14 niv

But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.

Genesis 40:14 esv

Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.

Genesis 40:14 nlt

And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place.

Genesis 40 verses

Genesis 40 14 meaning

Genesis 40:14 captures Joseph's heartfelt plea to the chief cupbearer after interpreting his dream. Joseph, still unjustly imprisoned, seeks an act of "kindness" (hesed) rooted in faithful remembrance and intercession. He asks the cupbearer, once restored to his position and influence with Pharaoh, to mention his case to the monarch, hoping this advocacy will lead to his release from the "prison" (referred to as "this house"). This verse reveals Joseph's human desire for freedom and his hope placed, at this moment, in human intervention following divine revelation.

Genesis 40 14 Context

Genesis chapter 40 takes place during Joseph's unjust imprisonment in Egypt. After being sold into slavery by his brothers (Gen 37) and falsely accused by Potiphar's wife (Gen 39), Joseph is cast into the pharaoh's prison, which was also where the king's own prisoners were confined. Due to the LORD's favor, the warden placed Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. Into this prison come two of Pharaoh's officials: the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, who had offended the king. One night, both men have dreams, and Joseph, recognizing their distress, offers to interpret their dreams, clearly attributing the ability to God (Gen 40:8). The interpretation of the cupbearer's dream predicts his restoration to Pharaoh's service in three days, while the baker's dream foretells his execution. It is in light of this impending release and reunion with the pharaoh that Joseph makes this direct and vulnerable request for help to the cupbearer. The verse stands as a poignant moment of human hope amidst adversity, highlighting Joseph's expectation of earthly justice, which, though delayed by human forgetfulness, is ultimately part of God's greater redemptive plan.

Genesis 40 14 Word analysis

• But think of me / וְזָכַרְתַּ֤נִי (və·zā·ḵar·tā·nî): This is from the Hebrew root zakhar (זכר), meaning "to remember," "to call to mind," or "to mention." The verb is in the perfect consecutive, linking it directly to the preceding promise of the cupbearer's restoration. The suffix "-ni" is "me." It implies more than a casual thought; it conveys an active, intentional recollection that leads to action, an intercessory act. This request highlights Joseph's dependence on others for his deliverance at this stage.
• when it is well with you / כִּי־ט֣וֹב לָךְ (kî-ṭōḇ lāḵ): "When it is well with you" implies prosperity, restoration, and favor. Ṭōḇ (טוב) means "good," "well," "pleasant," "beneficial." This conditionality suggests Joseph's strategic appeal, leveraging the cupbearer's good fortune. It assumes the cupbearer will be in a position of influence to help.
• and please show kindness / וְעָשִׂיתָ־נָּא עִמָּדִי חָ֑סֶד (və·‘ā·śî·ṯā-nnā ’im·mā·ḏî ḥā·seḏ): This phrase translates as "and please show me steadfast love/loyalty/kindness."
  • ʿāśâ (עשה): "to do," "to make."
  • Nāʾ (נא): A particle expressing earnest entreaty or request, softening the command into a plea, meaning "please" or "I beg you." It adds an emotional weight to Joseph's request.
  • ʿimmāḏî: "with me."
  • Ḥāseḏ (חֶסֶד): This is a profound Hebrew term often translated as "lovingkindness," "steadfast love," "mercy," "loyalty," or "covenant faithfulness." It denotes an active, committed loyalty often extended within a relationship. Here, Joseph asks a pagan official for an act typically associated with covenant partners, indicating his deep need and a plea for genuine compassion beyond mere obligation.
• and mention me to Pharaoh / וְהִזְכַּרְתַּ֖נִי אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה (və·hiz·kar·tā·nî ’el-par·‘ōh): Hizkartení is the Hiphil form of zakhar, meaning "to cause to remember" or "to mention." This specifies the action Joseph desires: direct advocacy on his behalf. Pharaoh (Parʿōh) is the ultimate authority, the key to Joseph's freedom. This illustrates the channel through which Joseph hoped deliverance would come.
• and get me out of this prison / וְהוֹצֵאתַ֖נִי מִן־הַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּֽה (və·hō·wṣê·ṯā·nî min-hab·ba·yiṯ haz·zeh):
  • Hôṣēʾtāní is the Hiphil form of yāṣāʾ (יצא), meaning "to go out," and in Hiphil, "to cause to go out," "to bring out," or "to deliver." This is the desired outcome.
  • min-hab-bayit haz-zeh: "out of this house." The term bayit (בַּיִת), meaning "house," "dwelling," or "household," is here a euphemism for the "prison" or "dungeon." This subtly portrays the oppressive nature of his confinement within a structure typically associated with shelter, making his entrapment more stark. It contrasts the idea of a house as home with its reality as a place of unjust incarceration.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But think of me when it is well with you": This pairing sets up the conditionality and reliance on the cupbearer's restored favor. It's a natural human plea based on hope that someone experiencing prosperity will extend kindness. This reflects Joseph's very human expectation of reciprocation.
• "and please show kindness to me, and mention me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison": This sequence of requests builds urgency and outlines a clear action plan. The emotional appeal for "kindness" (ḥāseḏ) leads to specific, concrete actions: mention, then release. It underlines Joseph's detailed thinking and fervent desire for liberty, illustrating the psychological weight of unjust imprisonment. Joseph appeals to humanity and not yet completely trusting God’s way.
• The overall phrasing, "וְזָכַרְתַּ֤נִי... וְעָשִׂיתָ־נָּא... וְהִזְכַּרְתַּ֖נִי... וְהוֹצֵאתַ֖נִי," (and remember me... and please show... and mention... and bring me out): The repetition of "and" (waw consecutive) at the beginning of each verb underscores the successive steps Joseph envisions, creating a flow of earnest pleas. It implies an unbroken sequence of actions Joseph hopes will lead to his freedom.

Genesis 40 14 Bonus section

Joseph's request for "ḥāseḏ" from a pagan cupbearer is significant. While ḥāseḏ implies a deep, covenantal loyalty typically found between people committed to one another (e.g., Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathan), Joseph is asking for this profound sense of obligation from someone outside of a covenantal relationship with the true God. This reflects the desperation of his situation and his hope that a universal sense of mercy and righteousness might prevail even among those unfamiliar with YHWH. The subsequent forgetfulness of the cupbearer underscores the thematic distinction between relying on fleeting human memory and power versus the eternal, covenantal remembrance of God, which ultimately delivers Joseph at the appointed time. This episode serves as a quiet polemic against placing ultimate trust in human systems, connections, or gods worshipped in Egypt (like those connected to dreams or the king's favor), subtly advocating for the absolute sovereignty and remembrance of the one true God who fulfills His purposes. Joseph's plea is human; God's answer is divine.

Genesis 40 14 Commentary

Genesis 40:14 represents a poignant and vulnerable moment for Joseph. Despite his divinely gifted wisdom and righteous character, he finds himself in an unjust predicament, far from home and family. His appeal to the chief cupbearer is a very human attempt to orchestrate his own release, hoping that human favor, a sense of ḥāseḏ (loyalty/kindness), and influence will lead to freedom. This verse stands as a testament to the common human experience of desperation, longing for intervention, and placing hope in tangible means. It highlights that even deeply spiritual individuals may first look to human channels for help, especially when the path of divine intervention is unclear or protracted. Ultimately, this human request is forgotten by the cupbearer, demonstrating the fleeting nature of human promises and reliance on man. This failure on the cupbearer's part providentially positions Joseph for God's perfect timing and method of release (Gen 41:9-14), showing that God's plan often works through, and sometimes despite, human actions and inactions, always leading to His intended outcome.