Genesis 39:21

Genesis 39:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
• New International Version (NIV)the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Context of Genesis 39:21

19When his master heard the story his wife told him — “These are the things your slave did to me” — he was furious 20and had him thrown into prison, where the king’s prisoners were confined. So Joseph was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden. 22The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph’s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there. 23The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him, and the Lord made everything that he did successful.

Genesis 39:21 word by word

וַיְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיֵּ֥ט אֵלָ֖יו חָ֑סֶד וַיִּתֵּ֣ן חִנּ֔וֹ בְּעֵינֵ֖י שַׂ֥ר בֵּית־הַסֹּֽהַר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• was with Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
• and shewedנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
• him mercyחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
• and gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• him favourחֵןchên · favorH2580
• in the sightעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: seeingH5869
• of the keeperשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of the prisonסֹ֫הַרsôhar · prisonH5470
• of the prisonבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004

Cross-references for Genesis 39:21

• Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.
• Genesis 21:22At that time Abimelech, accompanied by Phicol the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.
• Genesis 49:23The archers attacked him, shot at him, and were hostile toward him.
• Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.
• Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you.
• Daniel 6:22My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”
• Romans 8:31What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
• 1 Peter 3:13Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good?
• 1 Peter 4:14If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
• Genesis 40:3and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guards in the prison where Joseph was confined.
• Exodus 3:21And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.
• Exodus 11:3The Lord gave the people favor with the Egyptians. In addition, Moses himself was very highly regarded in the land of Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and the people.
• Exodus 12:36And the Lord gave the people such favor with the Egyptians that they gave them what they requested. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.
• Psalms 105:19Until the time his prediction came true, the word of the Lord tested him.
• Psalms 106:46He caused them to be pitied before all their captors.
• Proverbs 16:7When a person’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Commentaries on Genesis 39:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21The Lord was with Joseph - It is but of little consequence where the lot of a servant of God may be cast; like Joseph he is ever employed for his master, and God honors him and prospers his work. He who acknowledges God in all his ways, has the promise that God shall direct all his steps. Joseph's captivity shall promote God's glory; and to this end God works in him, for him, by him. Even the irreligious can see when the Most High distinguishes his…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. 19-23Verses 19-23 Joseph's master believed the accusation. Potiphar, it is likely, chose that prison, because it was the worst; but God designed to open the way to Joseph's honour. Joseph was owned and righted by his God. He was away from all his friends and relations; he had none to help or comfort him; but the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy. Those that have a good conscience in a prison, have a good God there. God gave him favour in the sight of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-23Joseph thrived in prison because God was with him. Each time Joseph prospered, he was put in charge of something.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2321-23. The Lord ... gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison, &c.--It is highly probable, from the situation of this prison (Ge 40:3), that the keeper might have been previously acquainted with Joseph and have had access to know his innocence of the crime laid to his charge, as well as with all the high integrity of his character. That may partly account for his showing so much kindness and confidence to his prisoner. But there was a…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 39:21

• Criminals
• Joseph
• Mercy
• Prisoners

In the dictionaries

• Prison
• Prosper
• Temptation
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Favor
• Genesis
• Joseph (2)
• Keeper; Keepers
• Kindness

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