Genesis Chapter 39 — Joseph’s Integrity in Egypt
Joseph rises to power in Potiphar's house but is falsely accused by Potiphar's wife and imprisoned, though God remains with him throughout.
1Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there.
2The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3His master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand.
4Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. The LORD’s blessing was on all that he had, in the house and in the field.
6He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate.
7After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
8But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand.
9No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
10As she spoke to Joseph day by day, he didn’t listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside.
12She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!”
13When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside,
14she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
15When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”
16She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
17She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
18and as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”
19When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his wrath was kindled.
20Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody.
21But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it.
23The keeper of the prison didn’t look after anything that was under his hand, because the LORD was with him; and that which he did, the LORD made it prosper.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Genesis 39:2
“The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”
This verse establishes the central theme of the chapter: Joseph's success is a direct result of God's presence.
Genesis 39:9
“No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
This reveals that Joseph's primary motivation for his integrity is his relationship with and accountability to God.
Genesis 39:21
“But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”
It confirms that God's favor is not dependent on Joseph's external circumstances, whether in a palace or a prison.
Chapter Summary
Genesis 39 details Joseph’s life in Egypt after being sold by his brothers. He is purchased by Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. Because the LORD is with Joseph, he prospers and eventually becomes the overseer of Potiphar's entire household. This blessing extends to everything Potiphar owns. However, Potiphar's wife attempts to seduce Joseph. He repeatedly refuses her, stating he cannot betray his master's trust or sin against God. When she eventually traps him alone and grabs his garment, Joseph flees, leaving the cloak behind. She uses the garment to falsely accuse him of attempted assault. Potiphar, enraged, has Joseph cast into the king's prison. Even in confinement, the text notes that the LORD remains with Joseph, showing him kindness and giving him favor with the prison keeper. Joseph is soon placed in charge of all the other prisoners, as God continues to make him successful in all his responsibilities despite his bonds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Potiphar was an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard. He purchased Joseph from the Ishmaelites and eventually promoted him to be the overseer of his entire household.
Joseph was imprisoned because Potiphar's wife falsely accused him of attempted assault. She used Joseph's garment, which he left behind while fleeing her advances, as false evidence against him.
Joseph refused her repeatedly, citing his loyalty to Potiphar and his desire not to sin against God. When she physically grabbed him, he fled the house to maintain his integrity.
While in prison, the LORD remained with Joseph and gave him favor with the keeper of the prison. The keeper eventually put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and all activities within the facility.
Study Note
The repetitive phrase 'the LORD was with Joseph' serves as a literary refrain, emphasizing divine presence regardless of Joseph's social status as a slave or prisoner.
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