Genesis 39:1

Genesis 39:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.

Context of Genesis 39:1

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the [royal] guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there. 2The Lord was with Joseph, and he [even though a slave] became a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. 3Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper (succeed) in his hand.

Genesis 39:1 word by word

וְיוֹסֵ֖ף הוּרַ֣ד מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיִּקְנֵ֡הוּ פּוֹטִיפַר֩ סְרִ֨יס פַּרְעֹ֜ה שַׂ֤ר הַטַּבָּחִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִצְרִ֔י מִיַּד֙ הַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ שָֽׁמָּה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
• was brought downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• to Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
• and Potipharפּוֹטִיפַרpôţîyphar · PotipharH6318
• an officerסָרִיסsârîys sâris · eunuchH5631
• of Pharaohפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
• captainשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of the guardטַבָּחţabbâch · guardH2876
• an Egyptianמִצְרִיmitsrîy · EgyptianH4713
• an Egyptianאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• boughtקָנָהqânâh · to buyH7069
• him of the handsיָדyâd · hand: toH3027
• of the Ishmeelitesיִשְׁמְעֵאלִיyishmâ‛ê'lîy · IshmaeliteH3459

Cross-references for Genesis 39:1

• Genesis 37:36Meanwhile, in Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph [as a slave] to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the [royal] guard.
• Genesis 45:4And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they approached him. And he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
• Psalms 105:17He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
• Acts 7:9“The [ten elder] patriarchs, overwhelmed with jealousy, sold [their younger brother] Joseph into [slavery in] Egypt; but God was with him,
• Genesis 37:25Then they sat down to eat their meal. When they looked up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead [east of the Jordan], with their camels bearing ladanum resin [for perfume] and balm and myrrh, going on their way to carry the cargo down to Egypt.

Commentaries on Genesis 39:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1An officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard - Mr. Ainsworth, supposing that his office merely consisted in having charge of the king's prisoners, calls Potiphar provost marshal! See Clarke on Genesis 37:36; (note), See Clarke on Genesis 40:3; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-23Verses 1-23 - Joseph in Potiphar‘s House According to our reckoning, Perez and Zerah were born when Judah was in his twenty-eighth year, and therefore, Joseph in his twenty-fourth. Here, then, we go back seven years to resume the story of Joseph. Genesis 39:1-6 Joseph fares well with his first master. “Potiphar.” This is a racapitulation of the narrative in Genesis 12:3. “Beautiful in form and look” Genesis 29:17. This prepares the way for the following…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Joseph preferred by Potiphar. (1-6) Joseph resists temptation. (7-12) Joseph is falsely accused by his mistress. (13-18) He is cast into prison, God is with him there. (19-23) Verses 1-6 Our enemies may strip us of outward distinctions and ornaments; but wisdom and grace cannot be taken from us. They may separate us from friends, relatives, and country; but they cannot take from us the presence of the Lord. They may shut us from outward blessings, rob us…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-23Joseph was honest and faithful in his work for Potiphar. This is very different from Judah, who failed morally (chapter 38). God was with Joseph (39:2–3, 21, 23). He helped Joseph succeed and become a blessing to others (see study notes on 12:1–9; 28:16–22), even while Joseph was a slave and later in prison.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-231. Potiphar--This name, Potiphar, signifies one "devoted to the sun," the local deity of On or Heliopolis, a circumstance which fixes the place of his residence in the Delta, the district of Egypt bordering on Canaan. officer--literally, "prince of the Pharoah"--that is, in the service of government. captain of the guard--The import of the original term has been variously interpreted, some considering it means "chief cook," others, "chief inspector of…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 39:1

• Civil Service
• Ishmaelites
• Potiphar

In the dictionaries

• Egypt
• Egyptian
• Pharaoh
• Potiphar
• Egypt, Egyptian
• Pharaoh, king of Egypt
• Captain
• Chamberlain
• Ishmael
• Ishmeelites

Commentaries on Genesis 39

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings