The Bible — World English Bible
Genesis 39
In brief
Genesis 39 tells of Joseph as a slave in Egypt. In Potiphar’s house, Yahweh is with him and everything he undertakes succeeds. When his master’s wife presses him day after day, he refuses out of faithfulness to God and runs away. Falsely accused, he is thrown into prison. The chapter repeats the same sentence: Yahweh was with Joseph. In success as in injustice, the presence of God makes the difference, and it does not depend on where we are.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there.
2Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand.
4Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. Yahweh’s blessing was on all that he had, in the house and in the field.
6He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome.
7After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
8But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand.
9No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
10As she spoke to Joseph day by day, he didn’t listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside.
12She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside.
13When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside,
14she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
15When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”
16She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
17She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
18and as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”
19When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his wrath was kindled.
20Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody.
21But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it.
23The keeper of the prison didn’t look after anything that was under his hand, because Yahweh was with him; and that which he did, Yahweh made it prosper.
Key verses
Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
The chapter opens with a statement that returns at the end: “Yahweh was with Joseph”. His success is not first a matter of talent, it comes from the presence of God.
No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
To refuse, Joseph does not say he might be found out: he speaks of the wrong done against God. It is the fear of God that guides his conduct, even far from any watching eye.
She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside.
Joseph does not argue and does not try to stand up to her: he leaves his garment and flees. Facing some temptations, wisdom is to move away rather than resist up close.
But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Joseph is in prison, but the text says that Yahweh was with him and showed him kindness. God does not abandon him in injustice.
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Frequently asked questions about Genesis 39
Why does Joseph run away from Potiphar’s wife?
Joseph refuses because he does not want to betray his master’s trust or sin against God. When she grabs him by his garment, he stops arguing and flees. His flight is not cowardice: it is a clear-eyed choice to avoid a situation where temptation becomes too strong.
What does “Yahweh was with Joseph” mean?
The phrase appears at the start and at the end of the chapter. It says that God accompanies Joseph in Potiphar’s house as in prison. It does not promise a life without trial: Joseph suffers injustice. It affirms that God’s presence does not depend on circumstances.
What is the main message of Genesis 39?
We can stay faithful to God in a position of power as in injustice. Joseph refuses temptation, pays the price of a false accusation, and yet God stays with him. The chapter invites us to hold firm in uprightness and to count on God’s presence rather than on success.
Articles quoting Genesis 39
World English Bible translation — public domain.