Genesis 40:23
New International Version
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

New Living Translation
Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.

English Standard Version
Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Berean Standard Bible
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot all about him.

King James Bible
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

New King James Version
Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

New American Standard Bible
Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

NASB 1995
Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

NASB 1977
Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Amplified Bible
Yet [even after all that] the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot [all about] him.

Christian Standard Bible
Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

American Standard Version
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Contemporary English Version
but the king's personal servant completely forgot about Joseph.

English Revised Version
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Nevertheless, the chief cupbearer didn't remember Joseph. He forgot all about him.

Good News Translation
But the wine steward never gave Joseph another thought--he forgot all about him.

International Standard Version
Despite all of this, the senior security advisor not only didn't remember Joseph, he deliberately forgot him.

Majority Standard Bible
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot all about him.

NET Bible
But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph--he forgot him.

New Heart English Bible
But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

World English Bible
Yet the chief cup bearer didn’t remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the chief of the butlers has not remembered Joseph, but forgets him.

Young's Literal Translation
and the chief of the butlers hath not remembered Joseph, but forgetteth him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the chief of the cup-bearers did not remember Joseph, and he will forget him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his interpreter.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And although he advanced with so much prosperity, the chief cupbearer forgot his interpreter of dreams.

New American Bible
Yet the chief cupbearer did not think of Joseph; he forgot him.

New Revised Standard Version
Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Chief of Drinking did not remember Yoseph, and he forgot him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Yet did not the chief cupbearer remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cupbearer and the Baker
22But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had described to them in his interpretation. 23The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot all about him.

Cross References
Exodus 1:8
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt.

Psalm 31:12
I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind. I am like a broken vessel.

Psalm 105:19-22
until his prediction came true and the word of the LORD proved him right. / The king sent and released him; the ruler of peoples set him free. / He made him master of his household, ruler over all his substance, ...

Ecclesiastes 9:15-16
Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. / And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

Isaiah 49:15
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Jeremiah 23:28
Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD.

Daniel 2:48-49
Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. / And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to manage the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.

Daniel 5:11-14
There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king, / did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.” / So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? ...

Matthew 26:75
Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Mark 14:72
And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Luke 23:42-43
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” / And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

John 13:38
“Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.

Acts 7:9-10
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

Acts 12:11
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”


Treasury of Scripture

Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.

but forgat him.

Job 19:14
My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

Psalm 31:12
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

Psalm 105:19
Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

Jump to Previous
Butler Butlers Chief Cupbearer Cup-Bearers Forgat Forgetteth Forgot However Joseph Mind Remember Remembered Thought Wine-Servant
Jump to Next
Butler Butlers Chief Cupbearer Cup-Bearers Forgat Forgetteth Forgot However Joseph Mind Remember Remembered Thought Wine-Servant
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.














The chief cupbearer
The role of the chief cupbearer in ancient Egypt was one of significant trust and responsibility. This position was not merely about serving drinks; it involved being a close confidant to the Pharaoh, often having influence in the royal court. The Hebrew term used here, "sar hamashqim," indicates a high-ranking official. Historically, cupbearers were often chosen for their loyalty and integrity, as they protected the king from potential poisoning. This context highlights the gravity of the cupbearer's forgetfulness, as someone in such a trusted position should have been more mindful of promises made.

however
This conjunction introduces a contrast to the preceding narrative, where Joseph had interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. The use of "however" underscores the unexpected nature of the cupbearer's actions. Despite the positive outcome of his dream interpretation, which Joseph provided, the cupbearer's failure to remember Joseph is a stark deviation from what might be anticipated. This serves as a reminder of human fallibility and the often unpredictable nature of human relationships.

did not remember
The phrase "did not remember" is significant in the Hebrew context, where memory is often linked to action. The Hebrew verb "zakar" implies more than just recalling information; it suggests acting upon that memory. In biblical narratives, remembering often leads to fulfilling a promise or obligation. The cupbearer's failure to remember Joseph is not just a lapse in memory but a failure to act on the commitment he implicitly made to Joseph.

Joseph
Joseph, the central figure in this narrative, is a model of faithfulness and integrity. His account is one of divine providence and human resilience. Despite being wronged by his brothers and unjustly imprisoned, Joseph remains steadfast in his faith and service. His character is a testament to the belief that God is sovereign over all circumstances, working through even the most challenging situations to fulfill His purposes.

he forgot him
The repetition of the idea that the cupbearer "forgot him" emphasizes the depth of the oversight. In Hebrew, the verb "shakach" conveys a sense of neglect or disregard. This forgetfulness is not merely passive but suggests a failure to prioritize Joseph's plight. From a theological perspective, this moment of forgetfulness sets the stage for God's timing and intervention. It serves as a reminder that while humans may forget, God does not. The delay in Joseph's deliverance is part of a larger divine plan, illustrating the theme of waiting on God's perfect timing.

Verse 23. - Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph (as Joseph had desired, and as he doubtless had promised), but forgot him - as Joseph might almost have expected (cf. Ecclesiastes 9:15, 16).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The chief
שַֽׂר־ (śar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

cupbearer,
הַמַּשְׁקִ֛ים (ham·maš·qîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4945: Causing to drink, a butler, drink, a well-watered region

however, did not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

remember
זָכַ֧ר (zā·ḵar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male

Joseph;
יוֹסֵ֖ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

he forgot all about him.
וַיִּשְׁכָּחֵֽהוּ׃ (way·yiš·kā·ḥê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention


Links
Genesis 40:23 NIV
Genesis 40:23 NLT
Genesis 40:23 ESV
Genesis 40:23 NASB
Genesis 40:23 KJV

Genesis 40:23 BibleApps.com
Genesis 40:23 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 40:23 Chinese Bible
Genesis 40:23 French Bible
Genesis 40:23 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 40:23 Yet the chief cupbearer didn't remember Joseph (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 40:22
Top of Page
Top of Page