Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 39

Introduction

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

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
A. M. 2276. B.C. 1728. Joseph
37:36, 45:4, Psalms 105:17, Acts 7:9
the Ishmeelites
37:25,28
Verse 2

And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
the Lord
21,22, 21:22, 26:24,28, 28:15, 1 Samuel 3:19, 16:18, 18:14,28, Psalms 1:3, Psalms 46:7,11, 91:15, Isaiah 8:9,10, 41:10, 43:2, Jeremiah 15:20, Matthew 1:23, Acts 7:9,10, 8:31
house
1 Corinthians 7:20-24, 1 Timothy 6:1, Titus 2:9,10
Verse 3

And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
saw that
21:22, 26:24,28, 30:27,30, 1 Samuel 18:14,28, Zechariah 8:23, Matthew 5:16, Philippians 2:15,16, Revelation 3:9
prosper
23, 30:27, Joshua 1:7,8, 1 Chronicles 22:13, 2 Chronicles 26:5, Nehemiah 2:20, Psalms 1:3, 1 Corinthians 16:2
Verse 4

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Joseph
21, 18:3, 19:19, 32:5, 33:8,10, 1 Samuel 16:22, Nehemiah 2:4,5, Proverbs 16:7
overseer
22, 15:2, 24:2, 41:40,41, Proverbs 14:35, 17:2, 22:29, 27:18, Acts 20:28
Verse 5

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
for Joseph's
12:2, 19:29, 30:27, Deuteronomy 28:3-6, 2 Samuel 6:11,12, Psalms 21:6, 72:17, Acts 27:24, Ephesians 1:3
Verse 6

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
he left
4,8,23, Luke 16:10, 19:17
save
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.
12:14,15, 29:17, 1 Samuel 16:12, 17:42, Acts 7:20
Verse 7

And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
A. M. 2285. B.C. 1719. cast
6:2, Job 31:1, Psalms 119:37, Ezekiel 23:5,6,12-16, Matthew 5:28, 2 Peter 2:14, 1 John 2:16
Lie
2 Samuel 13:11, Proverbs 2:16, 5:9, 7:13, Jeremiah 3:3, Ezekiel 16:25,32,34
Verse 8

But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
refused
Proverbs 1:10, 2:10,16-19, 5:3-8, 6:20-25,29,32,33, 7:5,25-27, 9:13-18, Proverbs 22:14, 23:26-28
my master
Proverbs 18:24
Verse 9

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
none
24:2, Nehemiah 6:11, Luke 12:48, 1 Corinthians 4:2, Titus 2:10
how then
20:3,6, Leviticus 20:10, 2 Samuel 11:27, Job 31:9-12,23, Proverbs 6:29,32, Jeremiah 5:8,9, 1 Corinthians 6:9,10, Galatians 5:19-21, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 21:8, 22:15
sin
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
Verse 10

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
as she spake
8, Proverbs 2:16, 5:3, 6:25,26, 7:5,13, 9:14,16, 22:14, 23:27
or to be
Proverbs 1:15, 5:8, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 15:33, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, 1 Timothy 5:14, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Peter 2:11
Verse 11

And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
none of the men
Job 24:15, Proverbs 9:17, Jeremiah 23:24, Malachi 3:5, Ephesians 5:3,12
Verse 12

And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
caught
8,10, Proverbs 7:13-27, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Ezekiel 16:30,31
and he left
1 Samuel 15:27, Proverbs 1:15, 5:8, 6:5, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Mark 14:51,52, 1 Corinthians 15:33, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Peter 2:11
Verse 14

That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
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
17, 10:21, 14:13, 40:15, Psalms 120:3, Ezekiel 22:5
he came
7, Psalms 35:11, 55:3, Proverbs 10:18, Isaiah 51:7, 54:17, Matthew 5:11, 26:59, Luke 23:2, 2 Corinthians 6:8, 1 Peter 2:20, 3:14-18, 4:14-19
loud
Heb. great.
Verse 16

And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
Psalms 37:12,32, Jeremiah 4:22, 9:3-5, Titus 3:3
Verse 17

And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
14, Exodus 20:16, 23:1, 1 Kings 18:17, 21:9-13, Psalms 37:14, 55:3, 120:2-4, Proverbs 12:19, 19:5,9, Matthew 26:65
Verse 19

And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
heard
Job 29:16, Proverbs 18:17, 29:12, Acts 25:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:11
his wrath
4:5,6, Proverbs 6:34,35, Song of Solomon 8:7
Verse 20

And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
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.
40:15, 41:14, Psalms 105:18,19, Isaiah 53:8, Daniel 3:21,22, 2 Timothy 2:9, 1 Peter 2:19
the king's
40:1-3,15, 41:9-14, Psalms 76:10
Verse 21

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
the Lord
2, 21:22, 49:23,24, Isaiah 41:10, 43:2, Daniel 6:22, Romans 8:31,32,37, 1 Peter 3:13,14,17, 4:14-16
shewed him mercy
Heb. extended kindness unto him. gave him.
40:3, Exodus 3:21, 11:3, 12:36, Psalms 105:19,22, 106:46, Proverbs 16:7, Daniel 1:9, Acts 7:9,10
Verse 22

And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
committed
4,6,7,9, 40:3,4, 1 Samuel 2:30, Psalms 37:3,11
Verse 23

The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
keeper
40:3,4
because
2,3, 49:23,24, 1 Samuel 2:30, Psalms 1:3, 37:3-11, Isaiah 43:2, Daniel 6:22

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