Notes for Gen 39:1LEB
The disjunctive clause resumes the earlier narrative pertaining to Joseph by recapitulating the event described in Gen 37:36LEB. The perfect verbal form is given a past perfect translation to restore the sequence of the narrative for the reader.
Captain of the guard. See the note on this phrase in Gen 37:36LEB.
"from the hand of."
Notes for Gen 39:2LEB
"and he was a prosperous man." This does not mean that Joseph became wealthy, but that he was successful in what he was doing, or making progress in his situation (see Gen 24:21LEB).
"and he was."
Notes for Gen 39:3LEB
The Hebrew text adds "in his hand," a phrase not included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
Notes for Gen 39:4LEB
The Hebrew verb translated became his personal attendant refers to higher domestic service, usually along the lines of a personal attendant. Here Joseph is made the household steward, a position well-attested in Egyptian literature.
"him"; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
"put into his hand."
Notes for Gen 39:5LEB
"and it was from then."
"he"; the referent (Potiphar) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
The Hebrew word translated blessed carries the idea of enrichment, prosperity, success. It is the way believers describe success at the hand of Yahweh. The text illustrates the promise made to Abraham that whoever blesses his descendants will be blessed (Gen 12:1–3LEB).
"in the house and in the field." The word "both" has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
The passage gives us a good picture of Joseph as a young man who was responsible and faithful, both to his master and to his Yahweh. This happened within a very short time of his being sold into Egypt. It undermines the view that Joseph was a liar, a tattletale, and an arrogant adolescent.
Notes for Gen 39:6LEB
"he"; the referent (Potiphar) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
The Hebrew verb translated left indicates he relinquished the care of it to Joseph. This is stronger than what was said earlier. Apparently Potiphar had come to trust Joseph so much that he knew it was in better care with Joseph than with anyone else.
"hand." This is a metonymy for being under the control or care of Joseph.
"did not know."
The expression except the food he ate probably refers to Potiphar’s private affairs and should not be limited literally to what he ate.
"handsome of form and handsome of appearance." The same Hebrew expressions were used in Gen 29:17LEB for Rachel.
Notes for Gen 39:7LEB
"she lifted up her eyes toward," an expression that emphasizes her deliberate and careful scrutiny of him.
"lie with me." Here the expression "lie with" is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
The story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife has long been connected with the wisdom warnings about the strange woman who tries to seduce the young man with her boldness and directness (see Prov 5–7, especially Prov 7:6–27LEB). This is part of the literary background of the story of Joseph that gives it a wisdom flavor. See G. von Rad, Yahweh at Work in Israel, 19–35; and G. W. Coats, "The Joseph Story and Ancient Wisdom: A Reappraisal," CBQ 35 (1973): 285-97.
Notes for Gen 39:8LEB
"and he said."
"know."
The word "here" has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
"hand." This is a metonymy for being under the control or care of Joseph.
Notes for Gen 39:9LEB
The nuance of potential imperfect fits this context.
Notes for Gen 39:10LEB
The verse begins with the temporal indicator, followed by the infinitive construct with the preposition ךְּ (ké). This clause could therefore be taken as temporal.
"listen to."
"to lie beside her to be with her." Here the expression "to lie beside" is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
Notes for Gen 39:11LEB
"and it was about this day."
"the men of the house."
Notes for Gen 39:12LEB
"he fled and he went out." The construction emphasizes the point that Joseph got out of there quickly.
For discussion of this episode, see A. M. Honeyman, "The Occasion of Joseph’s Temptation," VT 2 (1952): 85-87.
Notes for Gen 39:14LEB
The verb has no expressed subject, and so it could be treated as a passive ("a Hebrew man was brought in"; cf. NIV). But it is clear from the context that her husband brought Joseph into the household, so Potiphar is the apparent referent here. Thus the translation supplies "my husband" as the referent of the unspecified pronominal subject of the verb (cf. NEB, NRSV).
A Hebrew man. Potiphar’s wife raises the ethnic issue when talking to her servants about what their boss had done.
"to make fun of us." The verb translated "to humiliate us" here means to hold something up for ridicule, or to toy with something harmfully. Attempted rape would be such an activity, for it would hold the victim in contempt.
"he came to me to lie with me." Here the expression "lie with" is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
"and I cried out with a loud voice."
Notes for Gen 39:15LEB
"that I raised."
Notes for Gen 39:17LEB
"and she spoke to him according to these words, saying."
That Hebrew slave. Now, when speaking to her husband, Potiphar’s wife refers to Joseph as a Hebrew slave, a very demeaning description.
"came to me to make fun of me." The statement needs no explanation because of the connotations of "came to me" and "to make fun of me." See the note on the expression "humiliate us" in v. 14.
Notes for Gen 39:19LEB
"and when his master heard the words of his wife which she spoke to him, saying."
"according to these words."
"did to me."
"his anger burned."
Notes for Gen 39:20LEB
"the house of roundness," suggesting that the prison might have been a fortress or citadel.
The story of Joseph is filled with cycles and repetition: He has two dreams (chap. 37), he interprets two dreams in prison (chap. 40) and the two dreams of Pharaoh (chap. 41), his brothers make two trips to see him (chaps. 42–43), and here, for the second time (see Gen 37:24LEB), he is imprisoned for no good reason, with only his coat being used as evidence. For further discussion see H. Jacobsen, "A Legal Note on Potiphar’s Wife," HTR 69 (1976): 177.
Notes for Gen 39:21LEB
"and he extended to him loyal love."
Or "the chief jailer" (also in the following verses).
Notes for Gen 39:22LEB
"all which they were doing there, he was doing." This probably means that Joseph was in charge of everything that went on in the prison.
Notes for Gen 39:23LEB
"was not looking at anything."
"his"; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.