until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about a new Pharaoh; it highlights a profound shift from favor to forgetting. The phrase "did not know Joseph" signifies more than ignorance; it means the king didn't recognize or value Joseph's past contributions or the well-being of his people. This sets the stage for a dramatic reversal of fortunes, showing how quickly gratitude can fade and oppression can begin when a nation forgets its benefactors.
until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Stephen is recounting the history of Israel's oppression in Egypt, explaining how their prosperity under Joseph turned into slavery after a new Pharaoh came to power. This verse marks a significant shift, introducing a king who, whether out of ignorance or deliberate indifference, didn't value Joseph's contributions or protect his descendants. This change in leadership directly leads to the Egyptians oppressing and enslaving the Israelites, setting the stage for God's deliverance through Moses.
How could a nation go from honoring a wise immigrant to enslaving his descendants?
This verse marks a critical turning point in the Israelites' story in Egypt. For generations, they had been a respected part of Egyptian society, largely due to Joseph's influence. But a new leader brought a new agenda.
A Change in Leadership, A Change in Policy
What does it really mean for a king to 'not know' someone who saved his nation?
The phrase 'did not know Joseph' is more profound than simple ignorance. It signifies a deliberate disregard for Joseph's history, merits, and the people he represented.
More Than Just Forgetting
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
basileus · Greek Noun
A generic term for a monarch, ruler, or sovereign, often implying absolute or dictatorial authority in the context of ancient Near Eastern powers like Egypt.
The verse highlights a stark shift from a time of divine providence and Joseph's influence to one of national amnesia and oppression, setting the stage for God's dramatic rescue of His people.
c. 1700-1650 BC
Joseph's Rise to Power
Joseph, a Hebrew slave, rises to become the second-in-command of Egypt, saving the nation from famine through divine wisdom and astute administration. This period likely saw the Hyksos, a foreign dynasty, ruling parts of Egypt.
Unknown Date (likely after Joseph's death)— this verse
Shift in Egyptian Dynasty
A new dynasty, possibly native Egyptian rulers who overthrew the Hyksos, takes control of Egypt. This new regime had no memory or appreciation for Joseph's contributions or the favor shown to his family.
c. 1559-1537 BC (estimated)
Reign of the Oppressor Pharaoh
This period is often associated with Pharaoh Ahmose I, the founder of the 18th Dynasty, who expelled the Hyksos. He, or a successor, initiated policies of oppression against the growing Israelite population, fearing their numbers.
Unknown Date
Israelites Enslaved and Oppressed
The new rulers implement harsh policies, including forced labor and the infamous command to kill newborn Israelite boys, aiming to suppress the burgeoning Hebrew population.
This verse is directly quoted from Exodus, setting the stage for the oppression of the Israelites by a new Egyptian leadership that had forgotten Joseph's contributions.
Genesis 50:20This passage highlights Joseph's understanding that even though his brothers intended evil, God intended it for good; the new Pharaoh's 'not knowing Joseph' represents a turning away from God's sovereign plan and human decency.
Psalm 106:13This psalm speaks of how quickly the Israelites forgot God's mighty deeds; similarly, the new Pharaoh 'forgot' or disregarded the significant benefits Joseph had brought to Egypt, illustrating a pattern of national ingratitude.
Romans 1:28Paul describes people who, because they 'did not see fit to acknowledge God,' were given over to a 'depraved mind'; this echoes the Pharaoh's willful ignorance of Joseph, a refusal to acknowledge past good and God's working.
ellicottActs 7:18: "Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph."
(18) Which knew not Joseph. —The idiom was originally a Hebrew one, for “not remembering, not caring for;” but as the words are quoted from the LXX. they do not affect the question as to the language in which the speech was delivered.
barnesActs 7:18: "Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph."
Till another king arose - This is quoted from Exodus 1:8 . What was the "name" of this king is not certainly known. The "common" name of all the kings of Egypt was "Pharaoh," as "Caesar" became the common name of the emperors of Rome after the time of Julius Caesar: thus we say, Augustus Caesar, Tiberius Caesar, etc. It has commonly been supposed to have been the celebrated Rameses, the sixth king of the eighteenth dynasty, and the ev…
This verse isn't just about a new Pharaoh; it highlights a profound shift from favor to forgetting. The phrase "did not know Joseph" signifies more than ignorance; it means the king didn't recognize or value Joseph's past contributions or the well-being of his people. This sets the stage for a dramatic reversal of fortunes, showing how quickly gratitude can fade and oppression can begin when a nation forgets its benefactors.
Stephen is recounting the history of Israel's oppression in Egypt, explaining how their prosperity under Joseph turned into slavery after a new Pharaoh came to power. This verse marks a significant shift, introducing a king who, whether out of ignorance or deliberate indifference, didn't value Joseph's contributions or protect his descendants. This change in leadership directly leads to the Egyptians oppressing and enslaving the Israelites, setting the stage for God's deliverance through Moses.
Stephen is recounting the history of Israel's oppression in Egypt, explaining how their prosperity under Joseph turned into slavery after a new Pharaoh came to power. This verse marks a significant shift, introducing a king who, whether out of ignorance or deliberate indifference, didn't value Joseph's contributions or protect his descendants. This change in leadership directly leads to the Egyptians oppressing and enslaving the Israelites, setting the stage for God's deliverance through Moses.
"until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph." — This verse isn't just about a new Pharaoh; it highlights a profound shift from favor to forgetting. The phrase "did not know Joseph" signifies more than ignorance; it means the king didn't recognize…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026