Genesis 39:1
וְיוֹסֵ֖ף הוּרַ֣ד מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיִּקְנֵ֡הוּ פּוֹטִיפַר֩ סְרִ֨יס פַּרְעֹ֜ה שַׂ֤ר הַטַּבָּחִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִצְרִ֔י מִיַּד֙ הַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ שָֽׁמָּה׃
Now Joseph had been caused to go down to Egypt, and Potifar, an official of Pharaoh, chief of the executioners, a man of Egypt, purchased him from the hand of the Ishmaelites, who had caused him to do down there.
Paraphrase: We turn now from Jacob and his sons to see what has become of Joseph. As we stated previously, the Ishmaelite merchants brought Joseph to Egypt where he was sold. The man who purchased him was an official in Pharaoh’s court. His name was Potifar, and he was the chief warden of the Egyptian prisons.
Comments:
Notice the directional marker on מִצְרָיְמָה.
On Potifar, see Driver’s article.
Genesis 39:2
וַיְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיְהִ֖י אִ֣ישׁ מַצְלִ֑יחַ וַיְהִ֕י בְּבֵ֥ית אֲדֹנָ֖יו הַמִּצְרִֽי׃
and it was that YHWH was with Joseph, and he was a man of success, and he was in the house of his lord, the Egyptian.
Paraphrase: Now even though Joseph was far from his father’s house, YHWH had not left him. In fact, YHWH was with Joseph to such an extent that Joseph actually became quite successful. Joseph showed himself to be a man of initiative who seized opportunities and made the most of them. This was how Joseph conducted himself as the servant of his master, Potifar, the Egyptian.
Comments:
Genesis 39:3
וַיַּ֣רְא אֲדֹנָ֔יו כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה אִתּ֑וֹ וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא עֹשֶׂ֔ה יְהוָ֖ה מַצְלִ֥יחַ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
and his master saw that YHWH was with him and all what he was doing, YHWH was causing it to prosper in his hand.
Paraphrase: It didn’t take long for Potifar to notice that Joseph was a highly competent individual. Joseph, of course, attributed all his success to YHWH and gave God the glory. Potifar, being a religious man (Acts 17:22), was more than happy to credit Joseph’s God with all his success
Comments:
Genesis 39:4
וַיִּמְצָ֨א יוֹסֵ֥ף חֵ֛ן בְּעֵינָ֖יו וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת אֹת֑וֹ וַיַּפְקִדֵ֙הוּ֙ עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ וְכָל־יֶשׁ־ל֖וֹ נָתַ֥ן בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
and Joseph found favor in his eyes, and he served him, and he gave him charge over his house and all that was to him, he gave in his hand.
Paraphrase: As Joseph’s reputation grew, Potifar came to trust him more and more. Soon he had relinquished complete control over his possessions and had turned over to Joseph the management of his entire estate.
Comments:
Genesis 39:5
וַיְהִ֡י מֵאָז֩ הִפְקִ֨יד אֹת֜וֹ בְּבֵית֗וֹ וְעַל֙ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־ל֔וֹ וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית הַמִּצְרִ֖י בִּגְלַ֣ל יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיְהִ֞י בִּרְכַּ֤ת יְהוָה֙ בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־ל֔וֹ בַּבַּ֖יִת וּבַשָּׂדֶֽה׃
and it was from the time that he had given him charge in his house and over all what was to him, that YHWH blessed the house of the Egyptian on account of Joseph, and the blessing of YHWH was on all what was to him in house and field.
Paraphrase: The more responsibility Potifar gave Joseph, the more success Potifar saw. Both in the house and outside the house, YHWH poured out blessings on the Egyptian because of Joseph’s wise and prudent leadership. His family was peaceful and well-managed while his business ventures were advancing on all fronts.
Comments:
מֵאָז serves as the DMW for the subsequent temporal clause.
Genesis 39:6
וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֮ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵף֒ וְלֹא־יָדַ֤ע אִתּוֹ֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא אוֹכֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף יְפֵה־תֹ֖אַר וִיפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה׃
and he abandoned all what was to him in the hand of Joseph, and he did not know anything with him except the food which he was eating. Joseph handsome in appearance and he was handsome to look at.
Paraphrase: Eventually, Potifar did not even know how much money he had in the bank, what businesses were in his investment portfolio, or even what houses, chariots, animals, etc. he owned. He had turned everything over to Joseph and left it all in his hands. The only decisions Potifar had to make each day was what to eat and what to drink. Not only was Joseph a wise and prudent leader, he was also a fine looking young man, physically strong and of a striking appearance.
Comments:
Genesis 39:7
וַיְהִ֗י אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַתִּשָּׂ֧א אֵֽשֶׁת־אֲדֹנָ֛יו אֶת־עֵינֶ֖יהָ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֑ף וַתֹּ֖אמֶר שִׁכְבָ֥ה עִמִּֽי׃
and it was, after these things, that his master’s wife lifted up her eyes to Joseph and said, “Lie down with me!“
Paraphrase: As time went on, it was not only Potifar who noticed Joseph’s success, but also his wife. She too noticed how well Joseph did his work and what a fine looking young man he was, and she began to desire him sexually. She started looking for those opportunities which would allow her to make her mind known to Joseph and thus satisfy her desires. It didn’t take long and the sought for opportunity presented itself. “Joseph!” she blurted out, “come let’s drink our fill of love! Potifar is gone and won’t be home for a while. We have the house to ourselves!” (Proverbs 7:18-20)
Comments:
See Hengstenberg (p25) on the state of morals amongst the Egyptians.
Genesis 39:8
וַיְמָאֵ֓ן׀ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֵ֣שֶׁת אֲדֹנָ֔יו הֵ֣ן אֲדֹנִ֔י לֹא־יָדַ֥ע אִתִּ֖י מַה־בַּבָּ֑יִת וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יֶשׁ־ל֖וֹ נָתַ֥ן בְּיָדִֽי׃
and he refused and said to his masters wife, “Behold, my master does not know what is in the house with me, and all what there is to him, he has given into my hand.
Paraphrase: Joseph was appalled and horrified. “What?!” he exclaimed, “my good master has given me responsibility over all his affairs. There is not a single thing in this house which he has kept from me.
Comments:
Genesis 39:9
אֵינֶ֨נּוּ גָד֜וֹל בַּבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּה֮ מִמֶּנִּי֒ וְלֹֽא־חָשַׂ֤ךְ מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־אוֹתָ֖ךְ בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתְּ־אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֨יךְ אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֜ה הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את וְחָטָ֖אתִי לֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃
There is no one greater in this house than me, and he has not withheld from me anything except you because his wife, and how will I do this great evil, and I will sin against God?
Paraphrase: He has given me authority over everything in this house, everything, that is, except you. And, of course, he hasn’t given you to me; you are his wife! Do you have so little respect for your own husband that you would so easily and callously violate his trust in you? and what about me? How could I show my face to my master, who has entrusted me with so much, if I should so grossly violate the trust he has placed in me? What a vile piece of wickedness is this which you are suggesting and not only against my master, but it is an abomination against the holiness of my God who I serve!” With that, Joseph hurried away from her presence.
Comments:
כִּי אִם presents an exception to the previous statement.
Gesenius notes (top of p90) that בַּאֲשֶׁר is literally “in that” and thus can mean “because.”
Genesis 39:10
וַיְהִ֕י כְּדַבְּרָ֥הּ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף י֣וֹם׀ י֑וֹם וְלֹא־שָׁמַ֥ע אֵלֶ֛יהָ לִשְׁכַּ֥ב אֶצְלָ֖הּ לִהְי֥וֹת עִמָּֽהּ׃
and it was, as she was speaking to Joseph day by day, and he did not listen to her to lie down near her or to be with her.
Paraphrase: Potifar’s wife did not give up easily, however. She continued her friendly advances; and day after day, she seized every opportunity to speak with Joseph. Over time, she softened her requests and invited him to sit near her and to spend time more time with her. She hoped his resolve would eventually wear down, and he would finally give in to her advances.
Comments:
כְּדַבְּרָהּ is an infinitive construct where the suffix is the agent of the verbal.
Genesis 39:11
וַיְהִי֙ כְּהַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א הַבַּ֖יְתָה לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת מְלַאכְתּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֨ין אִ֜ישׁ מֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י הַבַּ֛יִת שָׁ֖ם בַּבָּֽיִת׃
and it was according to this day, and he went to the house to do his work and there was no man from the men of the house there in the house.
Paraphrase: Finally, Potifar’s wife had reached her limit. She was going to have Joseph or else. She watched and waited for a day when the house would be empty except for her and Joseph. That day finally came; she watched from a window as she saw Joseph approaching the empty house.
Comments:
See Gesenius §126(s) on כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.
Genesis 39:12
וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧הוּ בְּבִגְד֛וֹ לֵאמֹ֖ר שִׁכְבָ֣ה עִמִּ֑י וַיַּעֲזֹ֤ב בִּגְדוֹ֙ בְּיָדָ֔הּ וַיָּ֖נָס וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַחֽוּצָה׃
and she seized him by his shirt saying, “Lie down with me!” and he abandoned his shirt in her hand and fled and went to the outside.
Paraphrase: She bided her time; and waited for Joseph to enter. Once he was in the house, she leapt forward, grabbed his shirt, and with a desperate cry said, “Come to bed with me now!” Joseph could see the desperation in her eyes, and he knew he had to act decisively. He whirled about in an attempt to get away, but she had such a grip on his shirt that he couldn’t run. Quick as a flash, he ducked his head down, twisted free of his shirt, and made a break for the door. Potifar’s wife wept with rage as she saw her plan dashed to pieces.
Comments:
Genesis 39:13
וַיְהִי֙ כִּרְאוֹתָ֔הּ כִּֽי־עָזַ֥ב בִּגְד֖וֹ בְּיָדָ֑הּ וַיָּ֖נָס הַחֽוּצָה׃
and it was, as she was seeing that he had left his shirt in her hand, and he had fled to the outside.
Paraphrase: In her frustration and rage, she stared helplessly at the shirt Joseph had left in her hand. Then, a thought flashed into her mind.
Comments:
Genesis 39:14
וַתִּקְרָ֞א לְאַנְשֵׁ֣י בֵיתָ֗הּ וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר רְא֗וּ הֵ֥בִיא לָ֛נוּ אִ֥ישׁ עִבְרִ֖י לְצַ֣חֶק בָּ֑נוּ בָּ֤א אֵלַי֙ לִשְׁכַּ֣ב עִמִּ֔י וָאֶקְרָ֖א בְּק֥וֹל גָּדֽוֹל׃
and she called to the men of her house, and she said to them saying, “Look! he has caused a man of the Hebrews to enter to us to mock against us. He came to me to lie with me, and I called with a loud voice.
Paraphrase: “Help!” she screamed, “help! help! Rape! Someone help me! I’ve been assaulted!” Immediately, her servants came rushing out of their quarters and ran into the house to see what had happened. “What a disgusting husband I have!” she yelled bitterly. “I suppose he thought this Hebrew slave would be a good thing for us, but really he did it to make us all look like fools. Why just now I was getting dressed here in my room, and suddenly Joseph burst in and attempted to rape me. He would have succeeded too if I hadn’t screamed so loud.
Comments:
Genesis 39:15
וַיְהִ֣י כְשָׁמְע֔וֹ כִּֽי־הֲרִימֹ֥תִי קוֹלִ֖י וָאֶקְרָ֑א וַיַּעֲזֹ֤ב בִּגְדוֹ֙ אֶצְלִ֔י וַיָּ֖נָס וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַחֽוּצָה׃
and it as, when he heard, that I raised my voice and I called, and he abandoned his shirt with me, and he fled, and he went forth to the outside.
Paraphrase: The second he heard my screaming, however, he left behind his shirt, which he had already taken off, and dashed out the back door!”
Comments:
Assuming her story to be true, the shirt in her hand is certainly difficult to explain. Why would she have grabbed and held on to his shirt if he was attempting to rape her?
Genesis 39:16
וַתַּנַּ֥ח בִּגְד֖וֹ אֶצְלָ֑הּ עַד־בּ֥וֹא אֲדֹנָ֖יו אֶל־בֵּיתֽוֹ׃
and she left his shirt near her until his master came to his house.
Paraphrase: Potifar’s wife then dismissed her servants and went to work on the room. She wanted the room to look like a rape attempt has just taken place. She put some of her own clothes on the ground, twisted up her hair, and did her best to make it look like a mighty struggle had taken place. The shirt, which Joseph had left behind, she carefully positioned near her to give further credence to her story. She didn’t move until Potifar had returned home. When his servants told him the story, he rushed in to see his wife. He was appalled at what he saw and demanded to know from her what had happened.
Comments:
Genesis 39:17
וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו כַּדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לֵאמֹ֑ר בָּֽא־אֵלַ֞י הָעֶ֧בֶד הָֽעִבְרִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־הֵבֵ֥אתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְצַ֥חֶק בִּֽי׃
and she spoke to him according to these words saying, “He came to me, the Hebrew servant which you caused to come for us to mock me.”
Paraphrase: Then Potifar’s wife told him the story she had concocted. “Look,” she said bitterly, “This is all your fault. You gave us this Hebrew slave who you said would be so good to us. You thought he was such a wonderful person. You put him in charge of everything. Well now, see what has come of your foolish idea. You probably did it intentionally to make fools of us all! Well are you satisfied? That vile dog came in here while I was dressing and tried to rape me!”
Comments:
Genesis 39:18
וַיְהִ֕י כַּהֲרִימִ֥י קוֹלִ֖י וָאֶקְרָ֑א וַיַּעֲזֹ֥ב בִּגְד֛וֹ אֶצְלִ֖י וַיָּ֥נָס הַחֽוּצָה׃
and it was, as I was lifting up my voice, and I called, and he abandoned his shirt near me, and he fled to the outside.
Paraphrase: Then Potifar’s wife began to sob hysterically. “I screamed as loud as I could and begged someone to come and help me! But when he heard me screaming, he ran out of the room so fast he forgot to take his shirt with him. Then he fled out the back door, and I haven’t seen him since.
Comments:
Notice the choppiness of the Hebrew here probably showing the hysterical and emotional speech she is making.
Genesis 39:19
וַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ אֲדֹנָ֜יו אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבְּרָ֤ה אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה עָ֥שָׂהּ לִ֖י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וַיִּ֖חַר אַפּֽוֹ׃
and it was, when his master heard the word of his wife which she spoke to him saying, “According to these words, your servant did to me.” that he burned with anger.
Paraphrase: Now when Potifar heard his wife’s story, his anger knew no bounds. Especially his wife’s words that his servant, his most trusted servant, had done this, stung him deeply.
Comments:
Genesis 39:20
וַיִּקַּח֩ אֲדֹנֵ֨י יוֹסֵ֜ף אֹת֗וֹ וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַסֹּ֔הַר מְק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־אֲסוּרֵי הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲסוּרִ֑ים וַֽיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית הַסֹּֽהַר׃
and the master of Joseph took him and gave him to the round house, a place which prisoners of the king were being imprisoned, and he was there in the round house.
Paraphrase: Then Potifar had Joseph arrested and sent him to the king’s prison. When Joseph looked around at his new home, he reflected on all what God had done for him. He thought of the time when he had been sold into slavery by his brothers. He thought of his years as the manager of Potifar’s affairs. He thought of all the times Potifar’s wife had tried to lead him away from YHWH. He thought of the terrible injustice which he had just endured. Then Joseph strengthened himself in YHWH his God. (1 Samuel 30:6)
Comments:
Genesis 39:21
וַיְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיֵּ֥ט אֵלָ֖יו חָ֑סֶד וַיִּתֵּ֣ן חִנּ֔וֹ בְּעֵינֵ֖י שַׂ֥ר בֵּית־הַסֹּֽהַר׃
and it was, YHWH was with Joseph and extended to him kindness, and He gave him favor in the eyes of the head of the round house.
Paraphrase: Now even in the prison, YHWH did not abandon His servant. Here too, YHWH was with Joseph every step of the way. Now the situation was interesting since Potifar himself was the warden over the entire prison system. He, of course, knew Joseph’s skill and competence and probably saw through his wife’s crazy story. He knew Joseph too well and had complete confidence in his ability and integrity.
Comments:
The suffix on חִנּוֹ is an IO.
This verse certainly gives credence to the idea that Potifar did not really believe his wife’s story. Edersheim notes (p150) that the punishment for such a crime was far more severe than what Potifar meted out. Candlish writes (p152):
Perhaps he [Potifar] doubted all along the truth of the accusation against Joseph, and suspected its unworthy motive, although he felt himself constrained to yield to influence and importunity that he dared not withstand, and sacrifice to the malice of disappointed desire, one in whom he had no fault to find.
Henry quips (p173): “John Baptist must lose his head, to please Herodias.”
Genesis 39:22
וַיִּתֵּ֞ן שַׂ֤ר בֵּית־הַסֹּ֙הַר֙ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֵ֚ת כָּל־הָ֣אֲסִירִ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית הַסֹּ֑הַר וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר עֹשִׂים֙ שָׁ֔ם ה֖וּא הָיָ֥ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃
Genesis 39:23
אֵ֣ין׀ שַׂ֣ר בֵּית־הַסֹּ֗הַר רֹאֶ֤ה אֶֽת־כָּל־מְא֙וּמָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אִתּ֑וֹ וַֽאֲשֶׁר־ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֖ה יְהוָ֥ה מַצְלִֽיחַ׃ס