1
Joseph had been brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites who had brought him there.
2
But the LORD was with Joseph, so that he became a man who prospered in all that he did; and he stayed in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
3
When his master saw that the LORD was with Joseph and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper,
4
Joseph found favor in his master’s sight, and he served him; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put under Joseph’s authority.
5
From the time he gave authority in his house and over all that he had to Joseph, the LORD blessed the house of the Egyptian because of Joseph, so that the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in the house and in the field.
6
He left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and with Joseph’s help he had no concern for anything except the food he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
7
After some time his master’s wife looked at Joseph with desire, and she said, “Come, lie with me.”
8
But Joseph refused and said to his master’s wife, “With my help my master no longer concerns himself with anything in this house, and he has put all that he has under my authority,
9
and in this house he is not greater than I am, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?”
10
Although she spoke to Joseph day after day, Joseph would not listen to her to lie beside her and to have relations with her.
11
One day Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was there in the house.
12
Then she caught him by his garment, saying, “Come, lie with me.” But Joseph left his garment in her hand and fled outside.
13
When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside,
14
she called to the men of her house and said to them, “See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. This man came near me to lie with me, but I cried out with a loud voice.
15
And when he heard that I raised my voice and cried out, he left his garment with me and fled outside.”
16
She kept Joseph’s garment beside her until his master came home.
17
That is what she told him, saying, “The Hebrew slave whom you brought here came to me to make sport of me.
18
But when I cried out loudly, he left his garment beside me and fled outside.”
19
When his master heard the words his wife spoke to him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” his anger was kindled.
20
So Joseph’s master took him and put him in the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And there Joseph was imprisoned.
21
But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love, and gave Joseph favor in the sight of the prison keeper.
22
Therefore the prison keeper put all the prisoners in the prison under Joseph’s care, and whatever was done there, he was the one who managed it.
23
The prison keeper did not concern himself with anything that was under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with him, and whatever he did the LORD made to prosper.
🛡️🔥 Summary of Genesis 39
Genesis 39 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt after he was sold by his brothers. In this chapter, Joseph shows faithfulness and integrity, yet still suffers because of Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation. Even so, God was with Joseph through every situation.
1. Joseph Becomes a Servant in Potiphar’s House (verses 1–6)
- Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian official, captain of Pharaoh’s guard.
- The LORD was with Joseph, so that he prospered in all his work.
- Potiphar saw Joseph’s success and made him overseer of his whole house.
- Potiphar’s house was blessed because of Joseph’s presence.
2. Temptation and False Accusation by Potiphar’s Wife (verses 7–20)
- Potiphar’s wife repeatedly tempted Joseph, but Joseph refused firmly because he feared God.
- Joseph said:
“How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?”
- In the end, Potiphar’s wife became angry because she was refused and falsely accused Joseph, claiming that he tried to assault her.
- Potiphar believed his wife and put Joseph in prison.
3. God Was with Joseph in Prison (verses 21–23)
- In prison, the LORD remained with Joseph and showed him favor in the sight of the prison keeper.
- The prison keeper entrusted all the affairs of the prison to Joseph, and once again, Joseph prospered in everything.
📖 Main Teaching
- The LORD is with those who live rightly, even in suffering.
- Integrity and faithfulness to God are more important than gain or comfort.
- Refusing sin may bring risk, but it remains right in God’s sight.
- At times, those who live rightly may still be slandered and suffer — yet God does not leave them.
- True success comes from God’s presence, not from circumstances or position.
✨ Spiritual Meaning
- Joseph is a clear example of one who is faithful and pure in temptation, showing perseverance and trust in God even when treated unjustly.
- This story affirms that God’s blessing rests on the righteous, even when it is not visible from a human point of view.
- God’s presence turns a place of suffering into a place of promotion.
- In Christ, like Joseph, believers are called to reject sin and live in holiness, even when no one is watching.
