Genesis 39:10-21

10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside.
12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,
14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.
15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”
16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home.
17 Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me.
18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”
19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger.
20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison,
21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

Genesis 39:10-21 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 19

  • 1. Esther 3:4
  • 2. Exodus 18:20; Deuteronomy 1:18
  • 3. ver 14
  • 4. 2 Samuel 13:11; Proverbs 7:13
  • 5. S Genesis 38:16
  • 6. ver 15; Proverbs 5:8; 2 Timothy 2:22
  • 7. ver 11
  • 8. S Genesis 14:13
  • 9. S Genesis 21:9
  • 10. Deuteronomy 22:24,27
  • 11. S ver 12
  • 12. Exodus 20:16; Exodus 23:1,7; Deuteronomy 5:20; Psalms 101:5
  • 13. S Genesis 14:13
  • 14. Genesis 21:10
  • 15. S Genesis 34:7; S Esther 1:12; Proverbs 6:34
  • 16. Genesis 40:3; Genesis 41:10; Psalms 105:18
  • 17. S Genesis 21:20
  • 18. S Genesis 19:19
  • 19. Exodus 3:21; Exodus 11:3; Exodus 12:36; Esther 2:9; Psalms 106:46; Proverbs 16:7; Daniel 1:9
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