Genesis 39:16-23

16 So she left his garment beside her until his master came home.
17 Then she 1spoke to him with these words, "The Hebrew slave, whom you brought to us, came in to me to make sport of me;
18 and as I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled outside."

Joseph Imprisoned

19 Now when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, "This * is what your slave did to me," 2his anger burned.
20 So Joseph's master took him and 3put him into the jail *, the place where the king's prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail *.
21 But 4the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and 5gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer *.
22 The chief jailer * 6committed to Joseph's charge all the prisoners who were in the jail *; so that whatever * was done there, he was responsible for it.
23 7The chief jailer * did not supervise anything * under Joseph's charge because 8the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, 9the LORD made to prosper.

Genesis 39:16-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 39

In this chapter the history returns to Joseph again, who being brought down to Egypt was sold to Potiphar, with whom he found favour, and who set him over his house, the Lord prospering everything in his hands, Ge 39:1-6; and being a young man of a comely aspect, his mistress lusted after him, and tempted him to lie with her from time to time, but he as constantly refused it, as being both ingratitude to his master, and a sin against God, Ge 39:7-10; at a certain time they being alone in the house, she renewed her solicitations, and laid hold on his garment, which he left in her hand and fled, Ge 39:11,12; upon which she called to her servants without, and accused Joseph of an ill design upon her, and reported the same to her husband when he came home, Ge 39:13-19; upon which his master put him into prison, but he found favour also with the keeper of it, who committed the prisoners and all things relative to them into his hands, Ge 39:20-23.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Exodus 23:1; Proverbs 26:28
  • 2. Proverbs 6:34
  • 3. Genesis 40:3; Psalms 105:18
  • 4. Genesis 39:2; Psalms 105:19; Acts 7:9
  • 5. Exodus 3:21; Exodus 11:3; Exodus 12:36
  • 6. Genesis 39:4; Genesis 40:3, 4
  • 7. Genesis 39:3, 8
  • 8. Genesis 39:2, 3
  • 9. Genesis 39:3

Footnotes 8

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.