Revised Literal Translation

Genesis 39

1And Josephוְיוֹסֵ֖ףve.yo.SefH3130was brought downהוּרַ֣דhu.RadH3381to Egyptמִצְרָ֑יְמָהmitz.Ra.ye.mahH4714;and Potipharפּוֹטִיפַר֩po.ti.FarH6318,an officerסְרִ֨יסse.RisH5631of Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֜הpar.'OhH6547,captainשַׂ֤רsarH8269of the guardהַטַּבָּחִים֙ha.ta.ba.ChimH2876,an Egyptianאִ֣ישׁ מִצְרִ֔י'ish mitz.RiH4713 H376,boughtוַיִּקְנֵ֡הוּvai.yik.Ne.huH7069him of the handsמִיַּד֙mi.YadH3027of the Ishmeelitesהַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔יםhai.yish.me.'e.LimH3459,which had brought him downהוֹרִדֻ֖הוּho.ri.Du.huH3381thither.

2And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068was with Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130,and he was a prosperousמַצְלִ֑יחַmatz.Li.achH6743manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376;and he was in the houseבְּבֵ֥יתbe.VeitH1004of his masterאֲדֹנָ֖יו'a.do.NavH113the Egyptianהַמִּצְרִֽי׃ha.mitz.RiH4713.

3And his masterאֲדֹנָ֔יו'a.do.NavH113sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200that Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068waswith him, and that Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068made all that he didעֹשֶׂ֔ה'o.SehH6213to prosperמַצְלִ֥יחַmatz.Li.achH6743in his handבְּיָדֽוֹ׃be.ya.DoH3027.

4And Josephיוֹסֵ֥ףyo.SefH3130foundוַיִּמְצָ֨אvai.yim.Tza'H4672graceחֵ֛ןchenH2580in his sightבְּעֵינָ֖יוbe.'ei.NavH5869,and he servedוַיְשָׁ֣רֶתvay.Sha.retH8334him: and he made him overseerוַיַּפְקִדֵ֙הוּ֙vai.yaf.ki.De.huH6485over his houseבֵּית֔וֹbei.ToH1004, and all thathe hadיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426he putנָתַ֥ןna.TanH5414into his handבְּיָדֽוֹ׃be.ya.DoH3027.

5And it came to pass from the timeמֵאָז֩me.'AzH227thathe had made him overseerהִפְקִ֨ידhif.KidH6485in his houseבְּבֵית֗וֹbe.vei.ToH1004,and over all that he hadיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426,that Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068blessedוַיְבָ֧רֶךְvay.Va.rekhH1288the Egyptian’sהַמִּצְרִ֖יha.mitz.RiH4713houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004for Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefH3130sakeבִּגְלַ֣לbig.LalH1558;and the blessingבִּרְכַּ֤תbir.KatH1293of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068was upon all that he hadיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426in the houseבַּבַּ֖יִתba.Ba.yitH1004,and in the fieldוּבַשָּׂדֶֽה׃u.va.sa.DehH7704.

6And he leftוַיַּעֲזֹ֣בvai.ya.'a.ZoH5800all that he had in Joseph’sיוֹסֵף֒yo.SefH3130handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027;and he knewיָדַ֤עya.Da'H3045not oughtמְא֔וּמָהme.'U.mahH3972he had, saveאִם־'im-H518the breadהַלֶּ֖חֶםha.Le.chemH3899which he did eatאוֹכֵ֑ל'o.KhelH398.And Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130was agoodlyתֹ֖אַרTo.'arH8389person,and wellH3303favouredמַרְאֶֽה׃mar.'EhH4758.

7And it came to pass afterאַחַר֙'a.CharH310these thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697,that his master’sאֲדֹנָ֛יו'a.do.NavH113wifeאֵֽשֶׁת־'e.shet-H802castוַתִּשָּׂ֧אva.ti.Sa'H5375her eyesעֵינֶ֖יהָ'ei.Nei.haH5869upon Josephיוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefH3130;and she saidוַתֹּ֖אמֶרva.To.merH559,Lieשִׁכְבָ֥הshikh.VahH7901with me.

8But he refusedוַיְמָאֵ֓ן׀vay.ma.'EnH3985,and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559unto his master’sאֲדֹנָ֔יו'a.do.NavH113wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802,Behold, my masterאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113wottethיָדַ֥עya.Da'H3045not what iswith me in the houseבַּבָּ֑יִתba.Ba.yitH1004,and he hath committedנָתַ֥ןna.TanH5414all that he hathיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426to my handבְּיָדִֽי׃be.ya.DiH3027;

9There isnone greaterגָד֜וֹלga.DolH1419in this houseבַּבַּ֣יִתba.Ba.yitH1004than I; neitherוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808hath he kept backחָשַׂ֤ךְcha.SakhH2820any thingמְא֔וּמָהme.'U.mahH3972from me but thee, becauseבַּאֲשֶׁ֣רba.'a.SherH834thouאַתְּ־'at-H859arthis wifeאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ'ish.ToH802:how then can I doאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֜ה'e.'e.SehH6213this greatהַגְּדֹלָה֙ha.ge.do.LahH1419wickednessהָרָעָ֤הha.ra.'AhH7451,and sinוְחָטָ֖אתִיve.cha.Ta.tiH2398against Godלֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃Le.lo.HimH430?

10And it came to pass, as she spakeכְּדַבְּרָ֥הּke.da.be.RahH1696to Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130dayי֣וֹם׀YomH3117by dayי֑וֹםYomH3117,that he hearkenedשָׁמַ֥עsha.Ma'H8085not unto her, to lieלִשְׁכַּ֥בlish.KavH7901by herאֶצְלָ֖הּ'etz.LahH681, or to be with her.

11And it came to pass about this timeכְּהַיּ֣וֹםke.hai.YomH3117, that Josephwentוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935into the houseH1004to doלַעֲשׂ֣וֹתla.'a.SotH6213his businessמְלַאכְתּ֑וֹme.lakh.ToH4399; and there wasnone of the menאִ֜ישׁ מֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י'ish me.'an.SheiH582 H376of the houseH1004there within.

12And she caughtוַתִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧הוּva.tit.pe.Se.huH8610him by his garmentבְּבִגְד֛וֹbe.vig.DoH899,sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559,Lieשִׁכְבָ֣הshikh.VahH7901with me: and he leftוַיַּעֲזֹ֤בvai.ya.'a.ZoH5800his garmentבִּגְדוֹ֙big.DoH899in her handבְּיָדָ֔הּbe.ya.DahH3027,and fledוַיָּ֖נָסvai.Ya.nosH5127,and gotוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318him outהַחֽוּצָה׃ha.Chu.tzahH2351.

13And it came to pass, when she sawכִּרְאוֹתָ֔הּkir.'o.TahH7200that he had leftעָזַ֥ב'a.ZavH5800his garmentבִּגְד֖וֹbig.DoH899in her handבְּיָדָ֑הּbe.ya.DahH3027,and was fledוַיָּ֖נָסvai.Ya.nosH5127forthהַחֽוּצָה׃ha.Chu.tzahH2351,

14That she calledוַתִּקְרָ֞אva.tik.Ra'H7121unto the menלְאַנְשֵׁ֣יle.'an.SheiH582of her houseבֵיתָ֗הּvei.TahH1004,and spakeוַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merH559unto them, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Seeרְא֗וּre.'UH7200,he hath brought inהֵ֥בִיאHe.vi'H935an Hebrewאִ֥ישׁ עִבְרִ֖י'ish 'iv.RiH5680 H376unto us to mockלְצַ֣חֶקle.Tza.chekH6711us; he came inבָּ֤אba'H935unto me to lieלִשְׁכַּ֣בlish.KavH7901with me, and I criedוָאֶקְרָ֖אva.'ek.Ra'H7121with a loudגָּדֽוֹל׃ga.DolH1419voiceבְּק֥וֹלbe.KolH6963:

15And it came to pass, when he heardכְשָׁמְע֔וֹkhe.sha.me.'OH8085that I lifted upהֲרִימֹ֥תִיha.ri.Mo.tiH7311my voiceקוֹלִ֖יko.LiH6963and criedוָאֶקְרָ֑אva.'ek.Ra'H7121,that he leftוַיַּעֲזֹ֤בvai.ya.'a.ZoH5800his garmentבִּגְדוֹ֙big.DoH899with meאֶצְלִ֔י'etz.LiH681,and fledוַיָּ֖נָסvai.Ya.nosH5127,and got himוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318outהַחֽוּצָה׃ha.Chu.tzahH2351.

16And she laid upH3240his garmentבִּגְד֖וֹbig.DoH899by herאֶצְלָ֑הּ'etz.LahH681,until his lordאֲדֹנָ֖יו'a.do.NavH113cameבּ֥וֹאBo'H935homeבֵּיתֽוֹ׃bei.ToH1004.

17And she spakeוַתְּדַבֵּ֣רva.te.da.BerH1696unto him according to these wordsכַּדְּבָרִ֥יםka.de.va.RimH1697,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,The Hebrewהָֽעִבְרִ֛יha.'iv.RiH5680servantהָעֶ֧בֶדha.'E.vedH5650,which thou hast broughtבָּֽא־ba'-H935unto us, came inהֵבֵ֥אתָhe.Ve.taH935unto me to mockלְצַ֥חֶקle.Tza.chekH6711me:

18And it came to pass, as I lifted upכַּהֲרִימִ֥יka.ha.ri.MiH7311my voiceקוֹלִ֖יko.LiH6963and criedוָאֶקְרָ֑אva.'ek.Ra'H7121,that he leftוַיַּעֲזֹ֥בvai.ya.'a.ZoH5800his garmentבִּגְד֛וֹbig.DoH899with meאֶצְלִ֖י'etz.LiH681,and fledוַיָּ֥נָסvai.Ya.nosH5127outהַחֽוּצָה׃ha.Chu.tzahH2351.

19And it came to pass, when his masterאֲדֹנָ֜יו'a.do.NavH113heardכִשְׁמֹ֨עַkhish.Mo.a'H8085the wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.ReiH1697of his wifeאִשְׁתּ֗וֹ'ish.ToH802,which she spakeדִּבְּרָ֤הdi.be.RahH1696unto him, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,After this mannerכַּדְּבָרִ֣יםka.de.va.RimH1697didעָ֥שָׂהּ'A.sahH6213thy servantעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ'av.De.khaH5650to me; that his wrathאַפּֽוֹ׃'a.PoH639was kindledוַיִּ֖חַרvai.Yi.charH2734.

20And Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֜ףyo.SefH3130masterאֲדֹנֵ֨י'a.do.NeiH113tookוַיִּקַּח֩vai.yi.KachH3947him, and put himוַֽיִּתְּנֵ֙הוּ֙vai.yi.te.Ne.huH5414into the prisonבֵּ֣ית הַסֹּ֔הַרbeit ha.So.harH5470 H1004,a placeמְק֕וֹםme.KomH4725where the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428prisonersאֲסִירֵ֥י'a.su.reiH615wereboundאֲסוּרִ֑ים'a.su.RimH631:and he was there in the prisonבְּבֵ֥ית הַסֹּֽהַר׃be.Veit ha.So.harH5470 H1004.

21But Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068was with Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130,and shewedוַיֵּ֥טvai.YetH5186him mercyחָ֑סֶדCha.sedH2617,and gaveוַיִּתֵּ֣ןvai.yi.TenH5414him favourחִנּ֔וֹchi.NoH2580in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֖יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the keeperשַׂ֥רsarH8269of the prisonבֵּית־ הַסֹּֽהַר׃beit- ha.So.harH5470 H1004.

22And the keeperשַׂ֤רsarH8269of the prisonבֵּית־ הַסֹּ֙הַר֙beit- ha.So.harH5470 H1004committedוַיִּתֵּ֞ןvai.yi.TenH5414to Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027all the prisonersהָ֣אֲסִירִ֔םha.'a.si.RimH615that werein the prisonבְּבֵ֣ית הַסֹּ֑הַרbe.Veit ha.So.harH5470 H1004;and whatsoever they didעֹשִׂים֙'o.SimH6213there, he was the doerעֹשֶֽׂה׃'o.SehH6213of it.

23The keeperשַׂ֣רsarH8269of the prisonבֵּית־ הַסֹּ֗הַרbeit- ha.So.harH5470 H1004lookedרֹאֶ֤הro.'EhH7200not to any thingמְא֙וּמָה֙me.'U.mahH3972that wasunder his handבְּיָד֔וֹbe.ya.DoH3027;because Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068was with him, and thatwhich he didעֹשֶׂ֖ה'o.SehH6213,Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068made itto prosperמַצְלִֽיחַ׃ סmatz.Li.achH6743.

Commentaries on Genesis 39