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

19And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. 20And 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. But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatever they did there, was done by him. 23The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Genesis 39:21 word by word

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

• LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
• showedנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
• mercyחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
• gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• favourחֵןchên · favorH2580
• sightעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: seeingH5869
• keeperשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• prisonבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• prisonסֹ֫הַרsôhar · prisonH5470

Cross-references for Genesis 39:21

• Genesis 39:2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
• Genesis 21:22And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spoke to Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
• Genesis 49:23The archers have bitterly attacked him, and shot at him, and hated him:
• Isaiah 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
• Isaiah 43:2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
• Daniel 6:22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
• Romans 8:31What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
• 1 Peter 3:13And who is he that will harm you, if ye are followers of that which is good?
• 1 Peter 4:14If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
• Genesis 40:3And he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
• Exodus 3:21And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
• Exodus 11:3And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
• Exodus 12:36And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they gave to them such things as they requested . And they plundered the Egyptians.
• Psalms 105:19Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
• Psalms 106:46He made them also to be pitied by all those that carried them captives.
• Proverbs 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

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