Genesis 40 15

Genesis 40:15 kjv

For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

Genesis 40:15 nkjv

For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon."

Genesis 40:15 niv

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."

Genesis 40:15 esv

For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit."

Genesis 40:15 nlt

For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I'm here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it."

Genesis 40 verses

Genesis 40 15 meaning

Genesis 40:15 conveys Joseph’s direct appeal to the chief cupbearer for intervention, presenting his suffering as a clear case of twofold injustice. He declares he was forcibly removed from his homeland, "the land of the Hebrews," without cause, and likewise, his current imprisonment in Egypt is without any wrongdoing on his part, firmly asserting his complete innocence regarding the charges that led to his incarceration.

Genesis 40 15 Context

Joseph, now a prisoner in Egypt, is in the "prison where the king's prisoners were bound" (Gen 39:20), which later in chapter 40 is described as a "dungeon." This imprisonment followed a false accusation by Potiphar's wife (Gen 39:14-19), despite Joseph's impeccable service and moral integrity. Prior to this, Joseph had already suffered immense injustice at the hands of his brothers, who envied him, cast him into a pit, and subsequently sold him into slavery (Gen 37). In the immediate context of Genesis 40, Joseph has just successfully interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and chief baker. Empowered by divine insight, Joseph takes this opportunity to humbly but directly state his case to the cupbearer, hoping for deliverance once the cupbearer is restored to Pharaoh's service. The historical context of ancient Egypt includes systems of slavery and imprisonment, often without fair trial for slaves or foreigners, making Joseph's predicament plausible and his plea for external intervention understandable.

Genesis 40 15 Word analysis

• For indeed (כִּי־גְנֹב, ki-gnov):

  • Word: "For" (כִּי, ki) here functions as an emphatic or causal conjunction, meaning "indeed," "certainly," or "surely." It underscores the truth and certainty of Joseph's claim.
  • Significance: It lends a declarative and definitive tone to Joseph's statement, presenting it not as a mere complaint, but as a verifiable fact establishing his innocence.

• I was stolen (גֻנַּבְתִּי, gunnavti):

  • Word: This is the Niphal perfect form of the verb גָּנַב (ganav), meaning "to steal" or "to kidnap." The passive voice "I was stolen" emphasizes that the action was done to Joseph, highlighting his lack of agency in the matter.
  • Significance: It refers directly to his brothers selling him into slavery (Gen 37:28) and implies he was taken forcibly against his will, thus a victim of theft/kidnapping rather than a lawful transfer. This establishes the initial injustice of his entire ordeal.

• out of the land of the Hebrews (מֵאֶרֶץ הָעִבְרִים, me'erets ha'ivrim):

  • Word: "Land" (אֶרֶץ, erets) signifies his homeland, Canaan. "Hebrews" (הָעִבְרִים, ha'ivrim) is an early ethnolinguistic term for Joseph's people, possibly derived from 'Eber (Gen 10:21) or meaning "those who crossed over" (from Mesopotamia).
  • Significance: This identifies his origin and distinct national identity, separating him from the Egyptians. It emphasizes his foreign status and how he was taken from his rightful place among his own people, reinforcing the concept of his being a stranger and an alien suffering far from home. This distinct identifier is crucial in a foreign land.

• and here also (וְגַם־כֹּה, vegam-koh):

  • Word: "And" (וְ, ve) is connective. "Also" (גַּם, gam) signifies addition or continuation. "Here" (כֹּה, koh) points to his current location – Egypt, specifically the dungeon.
  • Significance: It links his current unjust imprisonment directly to the past injustice of being stolen from his land. It conveys a cumulative sense of hardship and blameless suffering, stressing that his misfortune isn't an isolated incident but a pattern of wrongful adversity.

• I have done nothing (לֹא־עָשִׂיתִי מְאוּמָה, lo-asity me'umah):

  • Word: "Nothing" (מְאוּמָה, me'umah) means "nothing whatsoever," or "absolutely nothing." It’s an emphatic negation. "Done" (עָשִׂיתִי, asity) from asah, "to do/make."
  • Significance: This is a strong declaration of blamelessness concerning the specific charges leading to his imprisonment (Potiphar's wife's accusation). It highlights Joseph's unwavering moral character and integrity, maintaining righteousness even under extreme duress and temptation. He presents himself as utterly innocent.

• that they should put me (כִּי־שָׂמוּ אֹתִי, ki-samu oti):

  • Word: "That" (כִּי, ki) implies cause or result. "They put" (שָׂמוּ, samu) refers implicitly to those responsible for his imprisonment, namely Potiphar acting on the false accusation.
  • Significance: It states the specific consequence of the baseless charges – his physical confinement. It connects his asserted innocence to the action of being imprisoned, arguing for the clear injustice of his situation.

• into the dungeon (בַּבּוֹר, ba'bor):

  • Word: "Into" (בַּ, ba) specifies location. "Dungeon" (בּוֹר, bor) literally means "pit" or "cistern," often used to refer to a deep, dark, underground prison cell, evoking a grave-like or hopeless condition.
  • Significance: This term deliberately echoes the "pit" his brothers threw him into (Gen 37:24), creating a powerful thematic parallel. It underscores the severity of his confinement and connects his physical entrapment in Egypt to the earlier abandonment by his family, reinforcing the double nature of his suffering and isolation.

• Words-group Analysis: "For indeed I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing..."

  • This phrase masterfully sets up a contrast between two distinct yet equally unjust phases of Joseph's life. "Stolen from the land of the Hebrews" speaks to his initial foundational trauma, the violation of his family and homeland. "Here also I have done nothing" addresses his current immediate injustice in Egypt. Together, these statements paint a picture of Joseph as a man who has consistently been a victim of wrongdoing, through no fault of his own. This twofold declaration of innocence forms the powerful basis for his appeal. It emphasizes that his entire journey, from Canaan to this Egyptian prison, has been characterized by undeserved suffering.

Genesis 40 15 Bonus section

The detailed language of Gen 40:15—especially the passive "I was stolen" (gunnavti) and the use of bor (pit/dungeon)—suggests an ancient legal-ethical context where being taken unlawfully was a serious charge, akin to kidnapping. Joseph isn't merely stating a personal misfortune but a legally demonstrable injustice. His appeal to the cupbearer, then, functions almost like an attempt to leverage a legal avenue through the powerful. Furthermore, his mention of "the land of the Hebrews" points to an emerging, distinct identity for Abraham's descendants, predating the formation of Israel as a nation, indicating their ancestral connection to Canaan even as sojourners. Joseph's life journey, from pit to prison to palace, exemplifies how God's divine plan unfolds even through human malice and unjust suffering.

Genesis 40 15 Commentary

Genesis 40:15 is a pivotal moment in Joseph's narrative, showcasing his enduring character and a quiet act of faith in divine providence, even while taking practical steps. His succinct yet comprehensive plea to the cupbearer encapsulates the profound injustice he has suffered. He is not merely complaining but presenting a reasoned, factual case based on his undeniable innocence both in being forcibly removed from his homeland by his brothers and in the false accusation by Potiphar's wife that led to his current confinement. The repetition of "nothing" (implicit in "stolen" for cause and explicit in "done nothing") emphasizes his blamelessness. This verse highlights Joseph’s persistent reliance on the truth amidst adversity, choosing honesty and hope rather than bitterness. It also subtly prepares the reader for the eventual recognition of God's unseen hand working through these injustices for a greater purpose, which Joseph himself will articulate later (Gen 45:5; 50:20). Joseph, suffering innocently, foreshadows the innocent suffering of Christ.