God’s Word Translation
Genesis 39:9
9No one in this house is greater than I. He’s kept nothing back from me except you, because you’re his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
Genesis 39:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
- New International Version (NIV)No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Context of Genesis 39:9
7After a while his master’s wife began to desire Joseph, so she said, “Come to bed with me.” 8But Joseph refused and said to her, “My master doesn’t concern himself with anything in the house. He trusts me with everything he owns. No one in this house is greater than I. He’s kept nothing back from me except you, because you’re his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10Although she kept asking Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or be with her. 11One day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants were there.
Read all of Genesis 39Genesis 39:9 word by word
אֵינֶ֨נּוּ גָד֜וֹל בַּבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּה֮ מִמֶּנִּי֒ וְלֹֽא־חָשַׂ֤ךְ מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־אוֹתָ֖ךְ בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתְּ־אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֨יךְ אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֜ה הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את וְחָטָ֖אתִי לֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- none greaterגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
- in this houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
- than I; neitherלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- hath he kept backחָשַׂךְchâώak · to withholdH2820
- any thingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
- from me but thee, becauseבַאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · in whichH834
- thouאַתְּ'attâh 'attâ 'ath 'attîy 'attem 'atten 'attênâh 'attênnâh · you(f.s.)H859
- his wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
- how then can I doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- wickednessרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
- and sinחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
- against Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
Cross-references for Genesis 39:9
- Genesis 24:2So Abraham said to the senior servant of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, “Take a solemn oath.
- Nehemiah 6:11But I asked, “Should a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I won’t go.”
- Luke 12:48But the servant who didn’t know ⌞what his master wanted⌟ and did things for which he deserved punishment will receive a light beating. A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. More will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2Managers are required to be trustworthy.
- Genesis 20:3God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You’re going to die because of the woman that you’ve taken! She’s a married woman!”
- Leviticus 20:10“If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife or with his neighbor’s wife, both he and the woman must be put to death for their adultery.
- 2 Samuel 11:27When her mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to his home, and she became his wife. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord considered David’s actions evil.
- Job 31:9“If I have been seduced by a woman or I have secretly waited near my neighbor’s door,
- Proverbs 6:29So it is with a man who has sex with his neighbor’s wife. None who touch her will escape punishment.
- Jeremiah 5:8They are like well-fed stallions that are wild with desire. They neigh for their neighbors’ wives.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9Don’t you know that wicked people won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Stop deceiving yourselves! People who continue to commit sexual sins, who worship false gods, those who commit adultery, homosexuals,
- Galatians 5:19Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity,
- Hebrews 13:4Marriage is honorable in every way, so husbands and wives should be faithful to each other. God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery.
- Revelation 21:8But cowardly, unfaithful, and detestable people, murderers, sexual sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
- Revelation 22:15Outside are dogs, sorcerers, sexual sinners, murderers, idolaters, and all who lie in what they say and what they do.
- Genesis 42:18On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this, and you will live. I, too, fear God.
Commentaries on Genesis 39:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9How then - ואיך veeik, and how? Joseph gives two most powerful reasons for his noncompliance with the wishes of his mistress: Gratitude to his master, to whom he owed all that he had. His fear of God, in whose sight it would be a heinous offense, and who would not fail to punish him for it. With the kindness of his master and the displeasure of God before his eyes, how could he be capable of committing an act of transgression, which would at once have…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. 7-12Verses 7-12 Beauty either in men or women, often proves a snare both to themselves and others. This forbids pride in it, and requires constant watchfulness against the temptation that attends it. We have great need to make a covenant with our eyes, lest the eyes infect the heart. When lust has got power, decency, and reputation, and conscience, are all sacrificed. Potiphar's wife showed that her heart was fully set to do evil. Satan, when he found he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-10A major theme in wisdom literature (wise teaching about how to live well; see study note on 37:2–50:26) is a warning to young people: sexual sin and other wrong behavior will lead to harm and ruin (compare Proverbs 5–7). Joseph resisted temptation because he had godly wisdom. He was guided by the fear of the Lord (a deep respect and reverence for God that leads to obedience; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?--This remonstrance, when all inferior arguments had failed, embodied the true principle of moral purity--a principle always sufficient where it exists, and alone sufficient.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 39:9
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
Commentaries