New Living Translation
Genesis 39:12
12She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.
Genesis 39:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
- New International Version (NIV)She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
- English Standard Version (ESV)she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.
- New King James Version (NKJV)that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
Context of Genesis 39:12
10She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house. 13When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, 14she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. “Look!” she said. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed.
Read all of Genesis 39Genesis 39:12 word by word
וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧הוּ בְּבִגְד֛וֹ לֵאמֹ֖ר שִׁכְבָ֣ה עִמִּ֑י וַיַּעֲזֹ֤ב בִּגְדוֹ֙ בְּיָדָ֔הּ וַיָּ֖נָס וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַחֽוּצָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And she caughtתָּפַשׂtâphaώ · to captureH8610
- him by his garmentבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Lieשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: have sexH7901
- with me: and he leftעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
- in her handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
- and fledנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
- and gotיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- him outחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
Cross-references for Genesis 39:12
- Genesis 39:8But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household.
- Proverbs 7:13She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said,
- Ecclesiastes 7:26I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare.
- Ezekiel 16:30“What a sick heart you have, says the Sovereign Lord, to do such things as these, acting like a shameless prostitute.
- 1 Samuel 15:27As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe.
- Proverbs 1:15My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.
- Proverbs 5:8Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!
- Proverbs 6:5Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net.
- Mark 14:51One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him,
- 1 Corinthians 15:33Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”
- 2 Timothy 2:22Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
- 1 Peter 2:11Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
Commentaries on Genesis 39:12
- 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. 1-23Joseph was honest and faithful in his work for Potiphar. This is very different from Judah, who failed morally (chapter 38). God was with Joseph (39:2–3, 21, 23). He helped Joseph succeed and become a blessing to others (see study notes on 12:1–9; 28:16–22), even while Joseph was a slave and later in prison.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-231. Potiphar--This name, Potiphar, signifies one "devoted to the sun," the local deity of On or Heliopolis, a circumstance which fixes the place of his residence in the Delta, the district of Egypt bordering on Canaan. officer--literally, "prince of the Pharoah"--that is, in the service of government. captain of the guard--The import of the original term has been variously interpreted, some considering it means "chief cook," others, "chief inspector of…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 39:12
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 Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries