20
Joseph’sיוֹסֵףlordאֲדֹנֵיtookוַיִּקַּחhimאֹתוֹand put himוַיִּתְּנֵהוּinto the prison,אֶל בֵּית הַסֹּהַרthe placeמְקוֹםwhereאֲשֶׁרthe king’sהַמֶּלֶךְprisonersאֲסִירֵיwere confined;אֲסוּרִיםand he wasוַיְהִיthereשָׁםin the prison.בְּבֵית הַסֹּהַר
Genesis 39:20
Study it in the app“Joseph’s lord took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the prison.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 39:20, word by word
- Joseph’sיוֹסֵףyosef
Joseph
Joseph, a name borne by several Israelites, above all the son of Jacob and Rachel, sold into Egypt, who became ruler there and saved his family; his sons Ephraim and Manasseh became tribes. The name means "may he add".
Where else “yosef” appears- lordאֲדֹנֵיadone
lord
The one with authority over another; or a respectful title.
Where else “adone” appears- tookיִּקַּחyikach
fetch
To take someone along, or go and fetch something.
Where else “yikach” appears- and put himיִּתְּנֵyitne
put
To place something somewhere.
Where else “yitne” appears- into the prisonבֵּיתbet
house
A building to live in, or an enclosed place to keep something or someone.
Where else “bet” appears- into the prisonסֹּהַרsohar
prison
Prison. The word appears only in the story of Joseph.
Where else “sohar” appears- the placeמְקוֹםmekom
place
A place, a spot.
Where else “mekom” appears- the king’sמֶּלֶךְmelech
king
A king who rules a people.
Where else “melech” appears- prisonersאֲסִירֵיasire
prisoner
Prisoner, captive.
Where else “asire” appears- were confinedאֲסוּרִיםasurim
confine
To keep someone shut up, like a prisoner.
Where else “asurim” appears- and he wasיְהִיyehi
become
To turn into something new, or fall upon someone.
Where else “yehi” appears
The context
19When his lord heard the words of his wife that she spoke to him, saying, “According to these words your slave treated me,” his anger burned.
20 · This verse (above)
21But YHWH was with Joseph and extended to him loyal love, and gave him favor in the eyes of the chief of the prison.
To study Genesis 39 in a group
1. What it says
What happened to Joseph in Potiphar’s house, and why did he end up in prison (vv. 2-20)?
2. What it means
What does it mean that YHWH was with Joseph even in prison (vv. 21-23)?
3. How I live it
How can you keep your integrity when doing the right thing costs you?