Genesis 39

This chapter is part of the Joseph narrative in the latter part of Genesis. The story of Joseph, who was sold to Potiphar at the end of chapter 37, resumes here after chapter 38, which recounts an episode involving Judah.

Outline

• Verses 1–6 Potiphar, captain of the guard, buys Joseph from the Ishmaelites. Potiphar makes Joseph overseer of his house (a steward in charge of the entire household), and the LORD blesses the house for Joseph's sake.
• Verses 7–10 His master's wife urges him day after day to lie with her. Joseph refuses, calling it a sin against God.
• Verses 11–18 When the woman seizes his garment, Joseph leaves it in her hand and flees. Displaying the garment, she falsely claims that Joseph tried to force himself on her.
• Verses 19–23 Potiphar, enraged, puts Joseph into the prison where the king's prisoners are kept. The keeper of the prison (the official in charge of the prison) entrusts all the affairs of the prison to Joseph.

Key Verses

• Genesis 39:2 "And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man" — a statement that runs through the whole chapter and recurs in verse 23.
• Genesis 39:9 "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" — shows that Joseph understood the temptation as a matter of his accountability to God.

Characters and Places

• Joseph — a son of Jacob, sold by his brothers and brought to Egypt as a slave.
• Potiphar — an Egyptian, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard (the official responsible for the king's protection).
• Potiphar's wife — not named in the text. She calls Joseph a "Hebrew."
• The keeper of the prison — the official in charge of the prison where Joseph is confined.

Points for Reflection

• The statement that "the LORD was with" Joseph appears both when he prospers (verses 2–3) and when he is unjustly imprisoned (verses 21, 23). Many interpreters connect this with the theme of providence that runs throughout the Joseph narrative.
• Some interpreters read the chapter in contrast with the account of Judah in chapter 38.
• Later Jewish and Islamic traditions gave Potiphar's wife a name and expanded the story. These additions are not found in the text of Genesis.
• In the New Testament, Stephen declares that God was with Joseph and delivered him out of all his afflictions (Acts 7:9–10).

In the Korean Church

The Joseph narrative is frequently taught in Sunday school. Chapter 39 is commonly used as a sermon text on the meaning of "prosperity" or on living a life that overcomes temptation.