Genesis 39:21

Genesis 39:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
• New International Version (NIV)the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Context of Genesis 39:21

19Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. 20So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. 22Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. 23The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.

Genesis 39:21 word by word

וַיְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיֵּ֥ט אֵלָ֖יו חָ֑סֶד וַיִּתֵּ֣ן חִנּ֔וֹ בְּעֵינֵ֖י שַׂ֥ר בֵּית־הַסֹּֽהַר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• was with Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
• and shewedנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
• him mercyחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
• and gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• him favourחֵןchên · favorH2580
• in the sightעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: seeingH5869
• of the keeperשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of the prisonסֹ֫הַרsôhar · prisonH5470
• of the prisonבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004

Cross-references for Genesis 39:21

• Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.
• Genesis 21:22About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit Abraham. “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,” Abimelech said.
• Genesis 49:23Archers attacked him savagely; they shot at him and harassed him.
• Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
• Isaiah 43:2When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
• Daniel 6:22My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
• Romans 8:31What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
• 1 Peter 3:13Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
• 1 Peter 4:14If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.
• Genesis 40:3and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard.
• Exodus 3:21And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed.
• Exodus 11:3(Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.)
• Exodus 12:36The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!
• Psalms 105:19Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
• Psalms 106:46He even caused their captors to treat them with kindness.
• Proverbs 16:7When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.

Commentaries on Genesis 39:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21The Lord was with Joseph - It is but of little consequence where the lot of a servant of God may be cast; like Joseph he is ever employed for his master, and God honors him and prospers his work. He who acknowledges God in all his ways, has the promise that God shall direct all his steps. Joseph's captivity shall promote God's glory; and to this end God works in him, for him, by him. Even the irreligious can see when the Most High distinguishes his…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. 21-23Joseph thrived in prison because God was with him. Each time Joseph prospered, he was put in charge of something.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2321-23. The Lord ... gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison, &c.--It is highly probable, from the situation of this prison (Ge 40:3), that the keeper might have been previously acquainted with Joseph and have had access to know his innocence of the crime laid to his charge, as well as with all the high integrity of his character. That may partly account for his showing so much kindness and confidence to his prisoner. But there was a…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 39:21

• Criminals
• Joseph
• Mercy
• Prisoners

In the dictionaries

• Prison
• Prosper
• Temptation
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Favor
• Genesis
• Joseph (2)
• Keeper; Keepers
• Kindness

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