God’s Word Translation
Genesis 39:20
20So Joseph’s master arrested him and put him in the same prison where the king’s prisoners were kept. While Joseph was in prison,
Genesis 39:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison,
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
Context of Genesis 39:20
18But when I screamed, he ran outside and left his clothes with me.” 19When Potiphar heard his wife’s story, especially when she said, “This is what your slave did to me,” he became very angry. So Joseph’s master arrested him and put him in the same prison where the king’s prisoners were kept. While Joseph was in prison, 21the Lord was with him. The Lord reached out to him with his unchanging love and gave him protection. The Lord also put Joseph on good terms with the warden. 22So the warden placed Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in that prison. Joseph became responsible for everything that they were doing.
Read all of Genesis 39Genesis 39:20 word by word
וַיִּקַּח֩ אֲדֹנֵ֨י יוֹסֵ֜ף אֹת֗וֹ וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַסֹּ֔הַר מְק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־אֲסִירֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲסוּרִ֑ים וַֽיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית הַסֹּֽהַר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Joseph’sיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
- masterאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- him, and put himנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
- into the prisonסֹ֫הַרsôhar · prisonH5470
- into the prisonבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- a placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
- where the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- prisonersאָסִיר'âsîyr · prisonerH615
- boundאָסַר'âsar · to bindH631
Cross-references for Genesis 39:20
- Genesis 40:15I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I’ve done nothing to deserve being put in this prison.”
- Genesis 41:14Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and immediately he was brought from the prison. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came in front of Pharaoh.
- Psalms 105:18They hurt his feet with shackles, and cut into his neck with an iron collar.
- Isaiah 53:8He was arrested, taken away, and judged. Who would have thought that he would be removed from the world? He was killed because of my people’s rebellion.
- Daniel 3:21Then the three men were thrown into the blazing furnace. They were wearing their clothes, hats, and other clothing.
- 2 Timothy 2:9I’m suffering disgrace for spreading this Good News. I have even been put into prison like a criminal. However, God’s word is not imprisoned.
- 1 Peter 2:19God is pleased if a person is aware of him while enduring the pains of unjust suffering.
- Genesis 40:1Later the king’s cupbearer and his baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.
- Genesis 41:9Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, “I remember a promise I failed to keep.
- Psalms 76:10Even angry mortals will praise you. You will wear the remainder of ⌞their⌟ anger.
Commentaries on Genesis 39:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Put him into the prison - סהר בית beith sohar, literally the round house; in such a form the prison was probably built.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. 19-20This was the second time Joseph became imprisoned while faithfully doing the right thing. They deceptively used his clothing as false evidence (compare 37:23–24, 31–33).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison--the roundhouse, from the form of its construction, usually attached to the dwelling of such an officer as Potiphar. It was partly a subterranean dungeon (Ge 41:14), though the brick-built walls rose considerably above the surface of the ground, and were surmounted by a vaulted roof somewhat in the form of an inverted bowl. Into such a dungeon Potiphar, in the first ebullition of rage, threw Joseph…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 39:20
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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