Genesis Chapter 39 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Genesis 39:1
Yosef was brought down to Egypt, and Potifar, an officer of Pharaoh's and captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Yishma'elim who had brought him there.
The events from the end of chapter 37 are recounted.
Genesis 39:2 & 3
ADONAI was with Yosef, and he became wealthy while he was in the household of his master the Egyptian. His master saw how ADONAI was with him, that ADONAI prospered everything he did.
Yosef was blessed and he did not let the evil actions of others affect his relationship with God. The word translated here as "wealthy" simply means successful and, even though he was a slave, he was viewed as a success. His slavemaster noticed that everything Yosef did was a success and he took notice of that fact. Yosef must have shared about God as Potifar recognized that Yosef's success was supernatural.
Genesis 39:4–6
Yosef pleased him as he served him, and his master appointed him manager of his household; he entrusted all his possessions to Yosef. From the time he appointed him manager of his household and all his possessions, ADONAI blessed the Egyptian's household for Yosef's sake; ADONAI's blessing was on all he owned, whether in the house or in the field. So he left all his possessions in Yosef's care; and because he had him, he paid no attention to his affairs, except for the food he ate. Now Yosef was well-built and handsome as well.
We see that, because of this success, Yosef was put in charge of everything that Potifar had and God blessed his household for the sake of Yosef. We also see that Potifar trusted Yosef completely. We are also told that he was a good looking man.
Genesis 39:7–10
In time, the day came when his master's wife took a look at Yosef and said, "Sleep with me!" But he refused, saying to his master's wife, "Look, because my master has me, he doesn't know what's going on in this house. He has put all his possessions in my charge. In this house I am his equal; he hasn't withheld anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" But she kept pressing him, day after day. Nevertheless, he didn't listen to her; he refused to sleep with her or even be with her.
Potifar's wife tried to get him to sleep with her but Yosef had integrity and said no as he recognized that it would be a sin against God. We also see that he did not even go around her and this was to be a safeguard against temptation.
Genesis 39:11 & 12
However, one day, when he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men living in the house was there indoors, she grabbed him by his robe and said, "Sleep with me!" But he fled, leaving his robe in her hand, and got himself outside.
Yosef was being faithful in his work and one day he went to do his work but he was alone with Potifar's wife. At this time she grabbed onto his garment and demanded that he sleep with her but he fled the house. This is a good example for us as we too should have safeguards against temptation but, when they fail, we should immediately remove ourselves from the situation.
Genesis 39:13–16
When she saw that he had left his robe in her hand and had escaped, she called the men of her house and said to them, "Look at this! My husband brought in a Hebrew to make fools of us. He came in and wanted to sleep with me, but I yelled out loudly. When he heard me yelling like that, he left his robe with me and ran out." She put the robe aside until his master came home.
So, she made a false accusation against him and appeared to have proof as she had his garment.
Genesis 39:17–20
Then she said to him, "This Hebrew slave you brought us came in to make a fool of me. But when I yelled out, he left his robe with me and fled outside." When his master heard what his wife said as she showed him, "Here's what your slave did to me," he became furious. Yosef's master took him and put him in prison, in the place where the king's prisoners were kept; and there he was in the prison.
Yosef was innocent and yet he was thrown into prison because Potifar believed the lie that his wife told him. This is a shadow of what was to happen to Yeshua when He was nailed to the cross.
Genesis 39:21–23
But ADONAI was with Yosef, showing him grace and giving him favor in the sight of the prison warden. The prison warden made Yosef supervisor of all the prisoners in the prison; so that whatever they did there, he was in charge of it. The prison warden paid no attention to anything Yosef did, because ADONAI was with him; and whatever he did, ADONAI prospered.
Once again, we are told that the Lord was with Yosef even though he was in an Egyptian prison. He was given favor by the warden and was put in charge of the prison. Once again, anything that he did was successful and that, no matter his circumstances, Yosef's relationship with God was not changed.