Genesis 39: Faithful in Prosperity and in Prison
Yahweh is with Joseph in Potiphar's house, and Joseph keeps his integrity even when it costs him his freedom.
Genesis 39 (WEB)
1 Joseph 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.
2 Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand.
4 Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. Yahweh’s blessing was on all that he had, in the house and in the field.
6 He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome.
7 After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
8 But 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.
9 He isn’t greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
10 As she spoke to Joseph day by day, he didn’t listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside.
12 She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside.
13 When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside,
14 she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
15 When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”
16 She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
17 She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
18 and as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”
19 When 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.
20 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 custody.
21 But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 The 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.
23 The keeper of the prison didn’t look after anything that was under his hand, because Yahweh was with him; and that which he did, Yahweh made it prosper.
Genesis 39 (KJV)
1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made 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.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9 There is none 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?
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 And 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.
23 The 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.
Genesis 39 (ASV)
1 And 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.
2 And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he ministered unto him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was upon all that he had, in the house and in the field.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not aught that was with him, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was comely, and well-favored.
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my hand:
9 he is not greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that he went into the house to do his work; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14 that she called unto the men of her house, and spake 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:
15 and 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.
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18 and it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.
19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
20 And 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.
21 But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 And 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.
23 The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand, because Jehovah was with him; and that which he did, Jehovah made it to prosper.
Summary
Joseph is brought down to Egypt and bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Yahweh is with Joseph so that everything he does prospers, and Potiphar makes him overseer of his whole house. Day after day Potiphar's wife tries to seduce Joseph, but he refuses, asking how he could do such great wickedness and sin against God. When she finally seizes his garment, he leaves it in her hand and flees. She accuses him falsely, and Potiphar, enraged, throws Joseph into the prison where the king's prisoners are bound. Yet even there Yahweh remains with Joseph, granting him favor with the keeper of the prison, who entrusts all the prisoners to his care. Whatever Joseph does, Yahweh makes it prosper.
Main Characters
- Joseph — The faithful servant who prospers under God's blessing and refuses to sin even when falsely accused and imprisoned.
- Potiphar — Pharaoh's officer who entrusts his entire household to Joseph, then imprisons him on his wife's false charge.
- Potiphar's wife — The woman who repeatedly tries to seduce Joseph and falsely accuses him when he refuses.
- The prison keeper — The warden who, seeing Yahweh with Joseph, entrusts all the prisoners to his hand.
Key Verse
Genesis 39:9 (WEB)
He isn’t greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Lessons Learned
- God's presence sustains his people in both honor and hardship.
- True integrity refuses sin even when no one would know and the cost is high.
- Sin is ultimately an offense against God, not merely against people.
- Doing right does not guarantee fair treatment, but God remains faithful through injustice.
- God's presence is the source of true success. Yahweh is with Joseph so that he prospers, and his master sees that Yahweh makes all he does succeed (Genesis 39:2-3, WEB).
- Faithfulness in small charge earns greater trust. Potiphar puts everything he has into Joseph's hand, confident in his integrity (Genesis 39:4-6, WEB).
- Integrity says no even when sin seems safe. Day by day Joseph refuses Potiphar's wife and will not even be with her (Genesis 39:10, WEB).
- Sin is first an offense against God. Joseph asks how he could do this great wickedness and sin against God, not merely betray his master (Genesis 39:9, WEB).
- Flee temptation rather than negotiate with it. When she seizes his garment, Joseph leaves it and runs outside rather than linger (Genesis 39:12, WEB).
- God stays near even in unjust suffering. In prison Yahweh is still with Joseph, showing him kindness and favor with the keeper (Genesis 39:21, WEB).
- How is Yahweh's presence with Joseph shown both in Potiphar's house and in the prison (Genesis 39:2-3, 21)?
- What reasons does Joseph give for refusing Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:8-9)?
- Why does Joseph describe the temptation as sinning 'against God' rather than only against Potiphar (Genesis 39:9)?
- How do you respond when doing the right thing leads to suffering rather than reward?
- Where do you most need to trust that God is with you even when circumstances seem to say otherwise?
- In Potiphar's house Yahweh makes everything Joseph does prosper and gives him favor (39:2-3); in prison Yahweh again shows him kindness and grants favor with the keeper (39:21), so God's presence does not depend on Joseph's circumstances.
- Joseph points to the trust Potiphar placed in him, noting his master has kept back nothing except his wife, and asks how he could betray that trust and sin against God (39:8-9).
- Joseph recognizes that all sin is ultimately against God himself; though he would wrong Potiphar, the deeper offense is against the God whose holiness sets the standard (39:9).
- Personal: invite members to share honestly. Encourage them that Joseph's faithfulness was not immediately rewarded, yet God was with him; doing right is worthwhile even when costly.
- Personal: let people name areas where circumstances feel like abandonment. Point them to Joseph's prison, where Yahweh was still present and at work, as grounds for trust.