Genesis 39

Genesis 39:1

Joseph was brought down to Egypt

"The Ishmaelites had taken Joseph to Egypt"

Genesis 39:2

Yahweh was with Joseph

"Yahweh guided Joseph and helped him"

He lived in the house

"he worked in the house"

his Egyptian master

Joseph was now Potiphar's slave.

Genesis 39:3

that Yahweh prospered everything that he did

"Yahweh caused everything that Joseph did to prosper"

Genesis 39:4

Joseph found favor in his sight

Possible meanings are 1) Alternate translation: "Potiphar was pleased with Joseph" or 2) Alternate translation: "Yahweh was pleased with Joseph"

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"

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

"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"

The blessing of Yahweh was on

"Yahweh blessed"

everything that Potiphar had in the house and in the field

"Potiphar's household and all of his crops and livestock"

Genesis 39:6

Potiphar put everything that he had under Joseph's care

"So Potiphar put Joseph in charge of everything that he had"

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

"The only thing he had to think about was the food that he ate"

Now

The word "now" marks a stop in the story as the author gives background information about Joseph.

handsome and attractive

"handsome and strong"

Genesis 39:7

It came about after this that

"And so." This phrase is used here to mark a new event.

Lie with me

"Have sexual relations with me"

Genesis 39:8

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

"he has put me in charge of everything that belongs to him"

Genesis 39:9

No one is greater in this house than I am

"I have more authority in this house than anyone else"

He has not kept back anything from me but you

"He has given me everything except you"

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

"I certainly cannot do such a wicked thing and sin against God."

Genesis 39:10

She spoke to Joseph day after day

"She kept on asking Joseph to sleep with her"

to be with her

"to be near her"

Genesis 39:11

None of the men of the house

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

Genesis 39:12

fled, and went outside

"and quickly ran outside" or "and 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

"He came into my room to have sexual relations with me"

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.

came in to mock me

"came into where I was and tried to force me to sleep with him"

Genesis 39:18

fled outside

"ran quickly out of the house"

Genesis 39:19

his master

"Joseph's master, Potiphar"

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

"the place where the king put his prisoners"

He was there

"Joseph stayed there"

Genesis 39:21

But Yahweh was with Joseph

"But Yahweh was kind to Joseph" or "But Yahweh took care of Joseph"

showed covenant faithfulness to him

"was faithful to his covenant with him" or "faithfully loved him"

He gave him favor in the sight of the prison warden

"Yahweh caused the prison warden to be pleased with Joseph"

the prison warden

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

Genesis 39:22

gave into Joseph's hand

"put Joseph in charge of"

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

"because Yahweh guided Joseph"

Whatever he did, Yahweh prospered

"Yahweh caused everything that Joseph did to prosper"