Genesis 39 (JPS)

1And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, that had brought him down thither.Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

3And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.When his master saw that the LORD was with him and made him prosper in all he did,

4And Joseph found favour in his sight, and he ministered unto him. And he appointed him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned.

5And it came to pass from the time that he appointed 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.From the time that he put Joseph in charge of his household and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s household on account of him. The LORD’s blessing was on everything he owned, both in his house and in his field.

6And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and, having him, he knew not aught save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was of beautiful form, and fair to look upon.So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

7And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said: 'Lie with me.'and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.”

8But he refused, and said unto his master's wife: 'Behold, my master, having me, knoweth not what is in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my hand;But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care.

9he is not 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?'No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”

10And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.Although Potiphar’s wife spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be near her.

11And it came to pass on a certain day, when he went into the house to do his work, and there was none of the men of the house there within,One day, however, Joseph went into the house to attend to his work, and not a single household servant was inside.

12that she caught him by his garment, saying: 'Lie with me.' And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.She grabbed Joseph by his cloak and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his cloak in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.

13And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,

14that she called unto the men of her house, and spoke unto them, saying: 'See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.she called her household servants. “Look,” she said, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us. He came to me so he could sleep with me, but I screamed as loud as I could.

15And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out.'When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

16And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.So Potiphar’s wife kept Joseph’s cloak beside her until his master came home.

17And she spoke unto him according to these words, saying: 'The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me.Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me,

18And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.'but when I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

19And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke unto him, saying: 'After this manner did thy servant to me'; that his wrath was kindled.When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is what your slave did to me,” he burned with anger.

20And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound; and he was there in the prison.So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined. While Joseph was there in the prison,

21But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

22And 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.And the warden put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care, so that he was responsible for all that was done in the prison.

23The 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.The warden did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Joseph Falsely Imprisoned

You’ve read Genesis 39

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Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Joseph Falsely Imprisoned

You’ve read Genesis 39

Go deeper