New International Version
Genesis 39:7
7and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”
Genesis 39:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, "Lie with me."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.
Context of Genesis 39:7
5From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9No 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?”
Read all of Genesis 39Genesis 39:7 word by word
וַיְהִ֗י אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַתִּשָּׂ֧א אֵֽשֶׁת־אֲדֹנָ֛יו אֶת־עֵינֶ֖יהָ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֑ף וַתֹּ֖אמֶר שִׁכְבָ֥ה עִמִּֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- these thingsדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- that his master’sאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
- castנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
- her eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- upon Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
- and she saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Lieשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: have sexH7901
Cross-references for Genesis 39:7
- Genesis 6:2the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.
- Job 31:1“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.
- Psalms 119:37Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
- Ezekiel 23:5“Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still mine; and she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors
- Matthew 5:28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
- 2 Peter 2:14With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!
- 1 John 2:16For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
- 2 Samuel 13:11But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister.”
- Proverbs 2:16Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
- Proverbs 5:9lest you lose your honor to others and your dignity to one who is cruel,
- Proverbs 7:13She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
- Jeremiah 3:3Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to blush with shame.
- Ezekiel 16:25At every street corner you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty, spreading your legs with increasing promiscuity to anyone who passed by.
Commentaries on Genesis 39:7
- 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. 77. his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph--Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people--in fact, enjoyed much freedom both at home and abroad. Hence Potiphar's wife had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance were vices very prevalent…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 39:7
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries