Bible Commentaries
Genesis 39

Introduction

Overview

Genesis 39:1, Joseph is bought by Potiphar, and preferred in the family; Genesis 39:7, He resists his mistress’s temptation; Genesis 39:13, He is falsely accused by her; Genesis 39:20, He is cast into prison; Genesis 39:21, God is with him there, and he is advanced by the keeper of prison.

Verse 1

am 2276, bc 1728

Joseph: Genesis 37:36, Genesis 45:4, Psalms 105:17, Acts 7:9

the Ishmeelites: Genesis 37:25, Genesis 37:28

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:13 - bought Genesis 30:24 - And she Genesis 40:4 - the captain Genesis 41:12 - servant Genesis 42:23 - he spake unto them by an interpreter Genesis 46:19 - Joseph Numbers 1:32 - General

Verse 2

the Lord: Genesis 39:21, Genesis 39:22, Genesis 21:22, Genesis 26:24, Genesis 26:28, Genesis 28:15, 1 Samuel 3:19, 1 Samuel 16:18, 1 Samuel 18:14, 1 Samuel 18:28, Psalms 1:3, Psalms 46:7, Psalms 46:11, Psalms 91:15, Isaiah 8:9, Isaiah 8:10, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:2, Jeremiah 15:20, Matthew 1:23, Acts 7:9, Acts 7:10, Acts 8:31

house: 1 Corinthians 7:20-24, 1 Timothy 6:1, Titus 2:9, Titus 2:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:20 - God Genesis 26:3 - I will be Genesis 30:27 - the Lord Genesis 39:23 - because Exodus 18:19 - God shall Deuteronomy 33:16 - and upon the top Joshua 6:27 - the Lord Judges 1:19 - the Lord 1 Samuel 18:5 - behaved 2 Kings 18:7 - And the Lord 2 Chronicles 1:1 - the Lord 2 Chronicles 17:3 - the Lord Proverbs 3:4 - shalt Proverbs 27:18 - so Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember Amos 5:14 - and so Matthew 28:20 - I am Luke 1:66 - And the

Verse 3

saw that: Genesis 21:22, Genesis 26:24, Genesis 26:28, Genesis 30:27, Genesis 30:30, 1 Samuel 18:14, 1 Samuel 18:28, Zechariah 8:23, Matthew 5:16, Philippians 2:15, Philippians 2:16, Revelation 3:9

prosper: Genesis 39:23, Genesis 30:27, Joshua 1:7, Joshua 1:8, 1 Chronicles 22:13, 2 Chronicles 26:5, Nehemiah 2:20, Psalms 1:3, 1 Corinthians 16:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:20 - God Genesis 24:42 - prosper Deuteronomy 33:16 - and upon the top Joshua 6:27 - the Lord 1 Samuel 18:5 - behaved 2 Kings 18:7 - And the Lord 2 Chronicles 15:9 - they saw 2 Chronicles 17:3 - the Lord Proverbs 2:16 - deliver Amos 5:14 - and so Matthew 28:20 - I am

Verse 4

Joseph: Genesis 39:21, Genesis 18:3, Genesis 19:19, Genesis 32:5, Genesis 33:8, Genesis 33:10, 1 Samuel 16:22, Nehemiah 2:4, Nehemiah 2:5, Proverbs 16:7

overseer: Genesis 39:22, Genesis 15:2, Genesis 24:2, Genesis 41:40, Genesis 41:41, Proverbs 14:35, Proverbs 17:2, Proverbs 22:29, Proverbs 27:18, Acts 20:28

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:10 - all the Genesis 39:6 - he left Genesis 43:16 - the ruler Ruth 2:6 - the servant 1 Kings 11:19 - found 1 Kings 16:9 - steward of 1 Kings 18:3 - the governor of his house Matthew 20:8 - unto Luke 7:2 - who Luke 19:17 - Well

Verse 5

for Joseph's: Genesis 12:2, Genesis 19:29, Genesis 30:27, Deuteronomy 28:3-6, 2 Samuel 6:11, 2 Samuel 6:12, Psalms 21:6, Psalms 72:17, Acts 27:24, Ephesians 1:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:3 - in thee Genesis 26:28 - was with Genesis 33:8 - to find Genesis 41:41 - General Genesis 43:16 - the ruler Deuteronomy 2:7 - blessed 1 Kings 18:3 - the governor of his house 1 Chronicles 13:14 - the Lord 2 Chronicles 31:10 - the Lord Job 1:10 - about John 11:15 - for Acts 7:9 - but

Verse 6

he left: Genesis 39:4, Genesis 39:8, Genesis 39:23, Luke 16:10, Luke 19:17

save: Genesis 43:32, Proverbs 31:11

a goodly person: Yephaih toar, weephaih maraih, "beautiful in person and beautiful in countenance." Joseph's beauty is so celebrated in the East, that a handsome man is frequently compared to him; and the Persian poets vie with each other in descriptions of his comeliness. Genesis 12:14, Genesis 12:15, Genesis 29:17, 1 Samuel 16:12, 1 Samuel 17:42, Acts 7:20

Reciprocal: Genesis 6:2 - that they Genesis 12:11 - a fair Genesis 24:16 - fair to look upon Genesis 34:2 - saw her Genesis 39:22 - committed 2 Samuel 9:2 - a servant 2 Samuel 11:2 - very beautiful 2 Samuel 13:1 - a fair sister

Verse 7

am 2285, bc 1719

cast: Genesis 6:2, Job 31:1, Psalms 119:37, Ezekiel 23:5, Ezekiel 23:6, Ezekiel 23:12-16, Matthew 5:28, 2 Peter 2:14, 1 John 2:16

Lie: 2 Samuel 13:11, Proverbs 2:16, Proverbs 5:9, Proverbs 7:13, Jeremiah 3:3, Ezekiel 16:25, Ezekiel 16:32, Ezekiel 16:34

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:6 - to the eyes Genesis 12:11 - a fair Genesis 12:14 - beheld Genesis 34:2 - saw her Genesis 39:14 - he came Genesis 39:22 - committed Genesis 49:23 - General 2 Samuel 11:4 - sent messengers Proverbs 1:10 - General Ezekiel 23:16 - as soon as she saw them with her eyes

Verse 8

refused: Proverbs 1:10, Proverbs 2:10, Proverbs 2:16-19, Proverbs 5:3-8, Proverbs 6:20-25, Proverbs 6:29, Proverbs 6:32, Proverbs 6:33, Proverbs 7:5, Proverbs 7:25-27, Proverbs 9:13-18, Proverbs 22:14, Proverbs 23:26-28

my master: Proverbs 18:24

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:2 - ruled Genesis 24:10 - all the Genesis 39:6 - he left Genesis 39:10 - as she spake Genesis 39:12 - caught Genesis 40:15 - done Genesis 44:15 - wot ye not Exodus 22:10 - General Exodus 32:1 - we wot Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember Luke 12:48 - For Acts 3:17 - wot Philippians 1:22 - I wot Titus 2:10 - showing

Verse 9

none: Genesis 24:2, Nehemiah 6:11, Luke 12:48, 1 Corinthians 4:2, Titus 2:10

how then: Genesis 20:3, Genesis 20:6, Leviticus 20:10, 2 Samuel 11:27, Job 31:9-12, Job 31:23, Proverbs 6:29, Proverbs 6:32, Jeremiah 5:8, Jeremiah 5:9, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:10, Galatians 5:19-21, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15

sin: Genesis 42:18, Leviticus 6:2, Numbers 32:23, 2 Samuel 12:13, Nehemiah 5:15, Psalms 51:4, Jeremiah 28:16, Jeremiah 50:7, 1 John 3:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 15:2 - the Genesis 20:9 - a great Genesis 24:10 - all the Genesis 39:22 - committed Leviticus 25:17 - fear 1 Kings 16:9 - steward of 1 Kings 18:3 - the governor of his house Job 31:11 - an heinous Psalms 119:161 - my heart Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember Romans 6:2 - How

Verse 10

as she spake: Genesis 39:8, Proverbs 2:16, Proverbs 5:3, Proverbs 6:25, Proverbs 6:26, Proverbs 7:5, Proverbs 7:13, Proverbs 9:14, Proverbs 9:16, Proverbs 22:14, Proverbs 23:27

or to be: Proverbs 1:15, Proverbs 5:8, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 15:33, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, 1 Timothy 5:14, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Peter 2:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 39:12 - caught Esther 3:4 - when they spake Proverbs 6:32 - lacketh

Verse 11

none of the men: Job 24:15, Proverbs 9:17, Jeremiah 23:24, Malachi 3:5, Ephesians 5:3, Ephesians 5:12

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 13:11 - Come lie Proverbs 7:9 - the twilight

Verse 12

caught: Genesis 39:8, Genesis 39:10, Proverbs 7:13-27, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Ezekiel 16:30, Ezekiel 16:31

and he left: 1 Samuel 15:27, Proverbs 1:15, Proverbs 5:8, Proverbs 6:5, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Mark 14:51, Mark 14:52, 1 Corinthians 15:33, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Peter 2:11

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 13:11 - Come lie 1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee

Verse 14

he hath: The base affection of this woman being disappointed, was changed into rancorous hatred, and she exults in the opportunity of being revenged on Joseph. She begins her accusation in the affected language of offended modesty, rage, and disdain, by charging her husband, whom we may reasonably assume she did not greatly love, with being an accessory to the indignity she pretended to have received: "He hath brought in a Hebrew," a very abomination to an Egyptian, "to mock us," insult and treat me in a base, unworthy manner.

an Hebrew: Genesis 39:17, Genesis 10:21, Genesis 14:13, Genesis 40:15, Psalms 120:3, Ezekiel 22:5

he came: Genesis 39:7, Psalms 35:11, Psalms 55:3, Proverbs 10:18, Isaiah 51:7, Isaiah 54:17, Matthew 5:11, Matthew 26:59, Luke 23:2, 2 Corinthians 6:8, 1 Peter 2:20, 1 Peter 3:14-18, 1 Peter 4:14-19

loud: Heb. great

Reciprocal: Proverbs 6:26 - the adulteress Jonah 1:9 - I am Matthew 2:16 - when

Verse 16

Psalms 37:12, Psalms 37:32, Jeremiah 4:22, Jeremiah 9:3-5, Titus 3:3

Verse 17

Genesis 39:14, Exodus 20:16, Exodus 23:1, 1 Kings 18:17, 1 Kings 21:9-13, Psalms 37:14, Psalms 55:3, Psalms 120:2-4, Proverbs 12:19, Proverbs 19:5, Proverbs 19:9, Matthew 26:65

Reciprocal: Matthew 2:16 - when Mark 6:19 - Herodias

Verse 19

heard: Job 29:16, Proverbs 18:17, Proverbs 29:12, Acts 25:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:11

his wrath: Genesis 4:5, Genesis 4:6, Proverbs 6:34, Proverbs 6:35, Song of Solomon 8:7

Verse 20

into the prison: Baith hassohar, "the round house," from the form of the building according to some; or, "the watch or guard house," from the Arabic sahara, to watch, according to others. Genesis 40:15, Genesis 41:14, Psalms 105:18, Psalms 105:19, Isaiah 53:8, Daniel 3:21, Daniel 3:22, 2 Timothy 2:9, 1 Peter 2:19

the king's: Genesis 40:1-3, Genesis 40:15, Genesis 41:9-14, Psalms 76:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 40:3 - the place Genesis 41:10 - Pharaoh Genesis 41:12 - servant Jeremiah 37:15 - put Hebrews 11:36 - bonds

Verse 21

the Lord: Genesis 39:2, Genesis 21:22, Genesis 49:23, Genesis 49:24, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:2, Daniel 6:22, Romans 8:31, Romans 8:32, Romans 8:37, 1 Peter 3:13, 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 3:17, 1 Peter 4:14-16

showed him mercy: Heb. extended kindness unto him

gave him: Genesis 40:3, Exodus 3:21, Exodus 11:3, Exodus 12:36, Psalms 105:19, Psalms 105:22, Psalms 106:46, Proverbs 16:7, Daniel 1:9, Acts 7:9, Acts 7:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:20 - God Genesis 26:3 - I will be Genesis 28:15 - I am Genesis 30:27 - favour Genesis 39:4 - Joseph Genesis 40:4 - the captain Genesis 43:14 - And God Joshua 6:27 - the Lord Judges 1:19 - the Lord 1 Samuel 3:19 - the Lord 1 Kings 11:19 - found 2 Chronicles 1:1 - the Lord 2 Chronicles 17:3 - the Lord Esther 2:9 - she obtained Proverbs 3:4 - shalt Matthew 28:20 - I am Acts 28:16 - but

Verse 22

committed: Genesis 39:4, Genesis 39:6, Genesis 39:7, Genesis 39:9, Genesis 40:3, Genesis 40:4, 1 Samuel 2:30, Psalms 37:3, Psalms 37:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:10 - all the Genesis 39:2 - the Lord Genesis 41:41 - General Proverbs 27:18 - so

Verse 23

keeper: Genesis 40:3, Genesis 40:4

because: Genesis 39:2, Genesis 39:3, Genesis 49:23, Genesis 49:24, 1 Samuel 2:30, Psalms 1:3, Psalms 37:3-11, Isaiah 43:2, Daniel 6:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:10 - all the Genesis 39:6 - he left 1 Samuel 16:18 - the Lord 1 Samuel 18:5 - behaved 1 Samuel 18:14 - the Lord 2 Samuel 6:11 - the Lord blessed 2 Chronicles 31:10 - the Lord Proverbs 27:18 - so Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember Amos 5:14 - and so Acts 27:24 - lo