Genesis 39

Genesis 39 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter
God's power

The account of Joseph focuses on the power of God. God is able to protect his people despite the evil actions of some. He also is able to continue to bless them despite their circumstances. This is a sign of Yahweh's covenant faithfulness. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#peopleofgod, /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sign and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenantfaith)

Joseph's character

Genesis just recorded a period of time where Joseph's ancestors and brothers struggled with sin. Joseph's character in this chapter is upright. He chose to do what was right, even when it could cause him harm. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sin)

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Genesis 39:1

Joseph was brought down to Egypt

Travelling to Egypt is always considered as going "down" in contrast to going "up" to the promised land. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The Ishmaelites had taken Joseph to Egypt" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 39:2

Yahweh was with Joseph

This means that Yahweh helped Joseph and was always with him. Alternate translation: "Yahweh guided Joseph and helped him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

He lived in the house

Here the author speaks of working in the master's house as if it were living in the master's house. Only the most trusted servants were permitted to work in their master's house. Alternate translation: "he worked in the house" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

his Egyptian master

Joseph was now Potiphar's slave.

Genesis 39:3

His master saw that Yahweh was with him

This means that the master saw how Yahweh was helping Joseph. Alternate translation: "His master saw that Yahweh was helping him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

that Yahweh prospered everything that he did

"Yahweh caused everything that Joseph did to prosper"

Genesis 39:4

Joseph found favor in his sight

"To find favor" means to be approved by someone. The idiom "in his sight" refers to a person's opinion. Possible meanings are 1) Alternate translation: "Potiphar was pleased with Joseph" or 2) Alternate translation: "Yahweh was pleased with Joseph" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

He served Potiphar

This means that he was Potiphar's personal servant.

Potiphar made Joseph manager over his house, and everything that he possessed

"Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and everything that belonged to Potiphar"

put under his care

When something is "put under someone's care," it means that the person is responsible for its care and safe-keeping. Alternate translation: "he had Joseph care for" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Genesis 39:5

It came about from the time that he made him manager over his house and over everything he possessed, that Yahweh blessed the Egyptian's house because of Joseph

You may need to use the words "Joseph" and "the Egyptian" before using pronouns to refer to them. "The Egyptian made Joseph manager over his house and over everything he possessed, and it came about from the time that that Yahweh blessed the Egyptian's house because of Joseph"

It came about

This phrase is used here to tell the reader that these two verses are background information for the next event. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

he made him manager over his house and over everything he possessed

"Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and everything that belonged to him"

blessed

Here "blessed" means to cause good and beneficial things to happen to the person or thing that is being blessed.

The blessing of Yahweh was on

Here the author speaks of the blessing that Yahweh gave as if it were a physical covering put over something. Alternate translation: "Yahweh blessed" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

everything that Potiphar had in the house and in the field

This refers his household and his crops and livestock. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "Potiphar's household and all of his crops and livestock" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 39:6

Potiphar put everything that he had under Joseph's care

When something is "put under someone's care," it means that the person is responsible for its care and safe-keeping. Alternate translation: "So Potiphar put Joseph in charge of everything that he had" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

He did not have to think about anything except the food that he ate

This double negative emphasizes that the food that he ate was the only thing he had to think about. This is probably an exaggeration or metaphor to say that Joseph took care of all the important business of the house while Potiphar thought only about minor personal affairs. Alternate translation: "The only thing he had to think about was the food that he ate" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublenegatives and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-hyperbole and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Now

The word "now" marks a stop in the story as the author gives background information about Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

handsome and attractive

Both of the words have same meaning. They refer to Joseph's pleasing appearance. He was likely good-looking and strong. Alternate translation: "handsome and strong" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)

Genesis 39:7

It came about after this that

"And so." This phrase is used here to mark a new event. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

Lie with me

This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "Have sexual relations with me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

Genesis 39:8

Look

"Listen." Joseph uses this word to get Potiphar's wife's attention.

my master does not pay attention to what I do in the house

"my master has no concern about his household with me in charge" or "my master trusts me with his household"

he has put everything that he owns under my care

When something is "put under someone's care," it means that the person is responsible for its care and safe-keeping. Alternate translation: "he has put me in charge of everything that belongs to him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Genesis 39:9

No one is greater in this house than I am

Here the author speaks of authority as if it were greatness. Alternate translation: "I have more authority in this house than anyone else" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

He has not kept back anything from me but you

This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "He has given me everything except you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-litotes)

How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?

Joseph uses a question for emphasis. This can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "I certainly cannot do such a wicked thing and sin against God." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)

Genesis 39:10

She spoke to Joseph day after day

This means that she kept asking him to sleep with her. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "She kept on asking Joseph to sleep with her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

to lie with her

This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "to have sexual relations with her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

to be with her

"to be near her"

Genesis 39:11

It came about

"And so." This phrase is used here to mark a new event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

None of the men of the house

"None of the other men who worked in the house"

Genesis 39:12

Lie with me

This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "Have sexual relations with me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

fled, and went outside

"and quickly ran outside" or "and quickly ran out of the house"

Genesis 39:13

It came about

"Then" The phrase "it came about" is used here to mark the next event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

had fled outside

"had quickly ran out of the house"

Genesis 39:14

the men of her house

"the men who worked in her house"

See

"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you."

He came to me to lie with me

Here Potiphar's wife is accusing Joseph of trying to seize her and have sexual relations with her. Alternate translation: "He came into my room to have sexual relations with me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

Genesis 39:15

It came about when he heard me scream, that he

"When he heard me scream, he." The phrase "it came about" is used here to mark the next event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

Genesis 39:16

his master

"Joseph's master." This refers to Potiphar.

Genesis 39:17

She told him this explanation

"She explained it like this"

brought to us

The word "us" refers to Potiphar, his wife, and includes the rest of the household. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)

came in to mock me

"came in to make a fool of me." Here, the word "mock" is a euphemism for "to seize and to sleep with." Alternate translation: "came into where I was and tried to force me to sleep with him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

Genesis 39:18

It came about that

"Then." Potiphar's wife uses this phrase to mark the next event in the account she is telling him about Joseph trying to sleep with her. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

fled outside

"ran quickly out of the house"

Genesis 39:19

It came about that

"And so." This phrase is used here to mark a new event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

his master

"Joseph's master." This refers to Potiphar. This information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "Joseph's master, Potiphar" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

heard the explanation his wife told him

"heard his wife explain to him." The word "his" and "him" here refer to Potiphar.

he became very angry

"Potiphar became very angry"

Genesis 39:20

the place where the king's prisoners were confined

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the place where the king put his prisoners" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

He was there

"Joseph stayed there"

Genesis 39:21

But Yahweh was with Joseph

This refers to how Yahweh took care of Joseph and was kind to him. Alternate translation: "But Yahweh was kind to Joseph" or "But Yahweh took care of Joseph" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

showed covenant faithfulness to him

The abstract noun "faithfulness" can be stated as "faithful" or "faithfully." Alternate translation: "was faithful to his covenant with him" or "faithfully loved him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)

He gave him favor in the sight of the prison warden

This means Yahweh caused the prison warden to approve of Joseph and to treat him well. Alternate translation: "Yahweh caused the prison warden to be pleased with Joseph" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

the prison warden

"the prison manager" or "the man in charge of the prison"

Genesis 39:22

gave into Joseph's hand

Here "hand" represents Joseph's power or trust. Alternate translation: "put Joseph in charge of" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Whatever they did there, Joseph was in charge of it

"Joseph was in charge of everything they did there"

Genesis 39:23

because Yahweh was with him

This refers to how Yahweh helped Joseph and guided him. Alternate translation: "because Yahweh guided Joseph" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

Whatever he did, Yahweh prospered

"Yahweh caused everything that Joseph did to prosper"