Genesis39
King James Version · Public Domain
1And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither.
2And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
6And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
7And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
15And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
16And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
19And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
20And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
21But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
23The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 39.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Joseph preferred by Potiphar. (1–6). Joseph resists temptation. (7–12). Joseph is falsely accused by his mistress. (13–18). He is cast into prison, God is with him there. (19–23).
vv1-6
Our enemies may strip us of outward distinctions and ornaments; but wisdom and grace cannot be taken from us. They may separate us from friends, relatives, and country; but they cannot take from us the presence of the Lord. They may shut us from outward blessings, rob us of liberty, and confine us in dungeons; but they cannot shut us out from communion with God, from the throne of grace, or take from us the blessings of salvation. Joseph was blessed, wonderfully blessed, even in the house where he was a slave. God's presence with us, makes all we do prosperous. Good men are the blessings of the place where they live; good servants may be so, though mean and lightly esteemed. The prosperity of the wicked is, one way or other, for the sake of the godly. Here was a wicked family blessed for the sake of one good servant in it.
vv7-12
Beauty either in men or women, often proves a snare both to themselves and others. This forbids pride in it, and requires constant watchfulness against the temptation that attends it. We have great need to make a covenant with our eyes, lest the eyes infect the heart. When lust has got power, decency, and reputation, and conscience, are all sacrificed. Potiphar's wife showed that her heart was fully set to do evil. Satan, when he found he could not overcome Joseph with the troubles and the frowns of the world, for in them he still held fast his principle, assaulted him with pleasures, which have ruined more than the former. But Joseph, by the grace of God, was enabled to resist and overcome this temptation; and his escape was as great an instance of the Divine power, as the deliverance of the three children out of the fiery furnace. This sin was one which might most easily beset him. The tempter was his mistress, one whose favour would help him forward; and it was at his utmost peril if he slighted her, and made her his enemy. The time and place favoured the temptation. To all this was added frequent, constant urging. The almighty grace of God enabled Joseph to overcome this assault of the enemy. He urges what he owed both to God and his master. We are bound in honour, as well as justice and gratitude, not in any thing to wrong those who place trust in us, how secretly soever it may be done. He would not offend his God. Three arguments Joseph urges upon himself. 1. He considers who he was that was tempted. One in covenant with God, who professed religion and relation to him. 2. What the sin was to which he was tempted. Others might look upon it as a small matter; but Joseph did not so think of it. Call sin by its own name, and never lessen it. Let sins of this nature always be looked upon as great wickedness, as exceedingly sinful. 3. Against whom he was tempted to sin, against God. Sin is against God, against his nature and his dominion, against his love and his design. Those that love God, for this reason hate sin. The grace of God enabled Joseph to overcome the temptation, by avoiding the temper. He would not stay to parley with the temptation, but fled from it, as escaping for his life. If we mean not to do iniquity, let us flee as a bird from the snare, and as a roe from the hunter.
vv13-18
Joseph's mistress, having tried in vain to make him a guilty man, endeavoured to be avenged on him. Those that have broken the bonds of modesty, will never be held by the bonds of truth. It is no new thing for the best of men to be falsely accused of the worst of crimes, by those who themselves are the worst of criminals. It is well there is a day of discovery coming, in which all shall appear in their true characters.
Key Words
יוֹסֵף: Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
יָרַד: to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)
מִצְרַיִם: Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
פּוֹטִיפַר: Potiphar, an Egyptian
סָרִיס: a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state
פַּרְעֹה: Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
שַׂר: a head person (of any rank or class)
טַבָּח: properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner); also a cook (usually slaughtering the animal for food)
קָנָה: to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own
שָׁם: there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
Cross References
Genesis 39Stephen's speech summarizes Joseph's story: the patriarchs sold Joseph, but God was with him.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Stephen's speech explicitly summarizes this narrative: God was with him and delivered him.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Historical psalm tracking Joseph being sold as a servant into Egypt.
Expresses the physical harshness of Joseph's imprisonment, specifically that his feet were hurt with fetters.
Supported by JFB
Direct parallel showing God's presence followed Joseph from Potiphar's house into the prison.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the language of the Lord making whatever Joseph did to prosper.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct narrative link from the prior account of Joseph being sold to Potiphar.
Supported by Calvin
Parallel phrase 'the Lord was with Joseph' in his subsequent trial in prison.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
David's confession echoing Joseph's conviction that sin is ultimately committed against God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Describes the moral folly of committing adultery, destroying one's own soul.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God brought Daniel into favor with his overseer, mirroring Joseph's favor with the prison keeper.
A fulfillment of God making his captive people to be pitied by their captors.
Jesus' teaching on adultery starting with the lustful looking of the eyes.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Job's covenant with his eyes, demonstrating active resistance to the snare of lustful looking.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Wisdom's instruction to keep one's way far from the door of the adulterous woman.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Apostolic command to 'flee fornication' matches Joseph's physical flight from temptation.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates how God makes even a man's enemies to be at peace with him.
Joseph's promotion in prison mirrors his previous appointment as overseer in Potiphar's house.
Supported by Matthew Poole, Matthew Henry
Laban's recognition that the Lord blessed him for Jacob's sake, paralleling Joseph's blessing.
Supported by JFB
Explains why Potiphar's bread was excepted, as Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Exhortation to flee youthful lusts, exemplifying Joseph's physical flight.
Joseph's own subsequent defense that he did nothing to deserve being put in the dungeon.
Supported by JFB
The classic description of the righteous man: whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.