New English Translation
Genesis 39:20
20Joseph’s master took him and threw him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. So he was there in the 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 raised my voice and screamed, he left his outer garment and ran outside.” 19When his master heard his wife say, “This is the way your slave treated me,” he became furious. Joseph’s master took him and threw him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. So he was there in the prison. 21But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness. He granted him favor in the sight of the prison warden. 22The warden put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care. He was in charge of whatever 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 40:15for I really was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews and I have done nothing wrong here for which they should put me in a dungeon.”
- Genesis 41:14Then Pharaoh summoned Joseph. So they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; he shaved himself, changed his clothes, and came before Pharaoh.
- Psalms 105:18The shackles hurt his feet; his neck was placed in an iron collar,
- Isaiah 53:8He was led away after an unjust trial – but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded.
- Daniel 3:21So those men were tied up while still wearing their cloaks, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire.
- 2 Timothy 2:9for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God’s message is not imprisoned!
- 1 Peter 2:19For this finds God’s favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly.
- Genesis 40:1After these things happened, the cupbearer to the king of Egypt and the royal baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.
- Genesis 41:9Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures.
- Psalms 76:10Certainly your angry judgment upon men will bring you praise; you reveal your anger in full measure.
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
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