The Meaning of Genesis 40:15 Explained

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.

YLT: for I was really stolen from the land of the Hebrews; and here also have I done nothing that they have put me in the pit.'

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

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 40:15 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 40:15 mean?

For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews and also here not have I done anything that they should put me into the dungeon
כִּֽי־ גֻנֹּ֣ב גֻּנַּ֔בְתִּי מֵאֶ֖רֶץ הָעִבְרִ֑ים וְגַם־ פֹּה֙ לֹא־ עָשִׂ֣יתִֽי מְא֔וּמָה כִּֽי־ שָׂמ֥וּ אֹתִ֖י בַּבּֽוֹר

גֻנֹּ֣ב  indeed 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Infinitive absolute
Root: גָּנַב  
Sense: to steal, steal away, carry away.
גֻּנַּ֔בְתִּי  I  was  stolen  away 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: גָּנַב  
Sense: to steal, steal away, carry away.
מֵאֶ֖רֶץ  from  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הָעִבְרִ֑ים  of  the  Hebrews 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: עִבְרִי  
Sense: a designation of the patriarchs and the Israelites adj.
וְגַם־  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
פֹּה֙  here 
Parse: Adverb
Root: פֹּה  
Sense: here, from here, hither.
עָשִׂ֣יתִֽי  have  I  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
מְא֔וּמָה  anything 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְאוּמָה  
Sense: anything.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
שָׂמ֥וּ  they  should  put 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
אֹתִ֖י  me 
Parse: Direct object marker, first person common singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בַּבּֽוֹר  into  the  dungeon 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּור 
Sense: pit, well, cistern.