Genesis 39:1
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
Genesis 39:1 in other translations
| BSB | Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. |
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| WEB | Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there. |
| ASV | And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, that had brought him down thither. |
| YLT | And Joseph hath been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, head of the executioners, an Egyptian man, buyeth him out of the hands of the Ishmaelites who have brought him thither. |
| DARBY | And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, a chamberlain of Pharaoh, the captain of the life-guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites who had brought him down thither. |
| BBE | Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar the Egyptian, a captain of high position in Pharaoh's house, got him for a price from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. |
| Webster | And Joseph was brought down to Egypt: and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down thither. |
What does Genesis 39:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Ge 39:1-23. Joseph in Potiphar's House.
1. Potiphar--This name, Potiphar, signifies one "devoted to the sun," the local deity of On or Heliopolis, a circumstance which fixes the place of his residence in the Delta, the district of Egypt bordering on Canaan. officer--literally, "prince of the Pharoah"--that is, in the service of government. captain of the guard--The import of the original term has been variously interpreted, some considering it means "chief cook," others, "chief inspector of plantations"; but that which seems best founded is "chief of the executioners," the same as the captain of the watch, the zabut of modern Egypt [Wilkinson]. bought him ... of the Ishmaelites--The age, appearance, and intelligence of the Hebrew slave would soon cause him to be picked up in the market. But the unseen, unfelt influence of the great Disposer drew the attention of Potiphar towards him, in order that in the house of one so closely connected with the court, he might receive that previous training which was necessary for the high office he was destined to fill, and in the school of adversity learn the lessons of practical wisdom that were to be of greatest utility and importance in his future career. Thus it is that when God has any important work to be done, He always prepares fitting agents to accomplish it.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Joseph, being brought to Potiphar's house, prospers in all his undertakings, Gen 39:1-3. Potiphar makes him his overseer, Gen 39:4. Is prospered in all his concerns for Joseph's sake, in whom he puts unlimited confidence, Gen 39:5, Gen 39:6. The wife of Potiphar solicits him to criminal correspondence, Gen 39:7. He refuses, and makes a fine apology for his conduct, Gen 39:8, Gen 39:9. She continues her solicitations, and he his refusals, Gen 39:10. She uses violence, and he escapes from her hand, Gen 39:11-13. She accuses him to the domestics, Gen 39:14, Gen 39:15, and afterward to Potiphar, Gen 39:16-18. Potiphar is enraged, and Joseph is cast into prison, Gen 39:19, Gen 39:20. The Lord prospers him, and gives him great favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison, Gen 39:21, who entrusts him with the care of the house and all the prisoners, Gen 39:22, Gen 39:23. Verse 1 An officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard - Mr. Ainsworth, supposing that his office merely consisted in having charge of the king's prisoners, calls Potiphar provost marshal! See Clarke on Gen 37:36 (note), See Clarke on Gen 40:3 (note).Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 39:1-6
Our enemies may strip us of outward distinctions and ornaments; but wisdom and grace cannot be taken from us. They may separate us from friends, relatives, and country; but they cannot take from us the presence of the Lord. They may shut us from outward blessings, rob us of liberty, and confine us in dungeons; but they cannot shut us out from communion with God, from the throne of grace, or take from us the blessings of salvation. Joseph was blessed, wonderfully blessed, even in the house where he was a slave. God's presence with us, makes all we do prosperous. Good men are the blessings of the place where they live; good servants may be so, though mean and lightly esteemed. The prosperity of the wicked is, one way or other, for the sake of the godly. Here was a wicked family blessed for the sake of one good servant in it.
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Genesis 39:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Genesis 39:1
- Genesis 37:28
Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
- Psalms 105:17
He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
- Genesis 37:36
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.
- Genesis 37:25
And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
- Acts 7:9
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
- Genesis 45:4
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Joseph is bought by Potiphar, and preferred in the family.
7 He resists his mistress's temptation.
13 He is falsely accused by her.
20 He is cast into prison.
21 God is with him there, and he is advanced by the keeper of prison.
A.M. 2276. B.C. 1728. Joseph.
37:36; 45:4; Ps 105:17; Ac 7:9
the Ishmeelites.
37:25,28
7 He resists his mistress's temptation.
13 He is falsely accused by her.
20 He is cast into prison.
21 God is with him there, and he is advanced by the keeper of prison.
A.M. 2276. B.C. 1728. Joseph.
37:36; 45:4; Ps 105:17; Ac 7:9
the Ishmeelites.
37:25,28
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Genesis 39:1
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
- Genesis 39:2
And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y LLEVADO José á Egipto, comprólo Potiphar, eunuco de Faraón, capitán de los de la guardia, varón Egipcio, de mano de los Ismaelitas que lo habían llevado allá. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | *Et Joseph fut amené en Égypte; et Potiphar, officier du Pharaon, chef des gardes, homme égyptien, l’acheta de la main des Ismaélites qui l’y avaient amené. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und Joseph wurde nach Ägypten hinabgeführt; und Potiphar, ein Kämmerer des Pharao, der Oberste der Trabanten, ein ägyptischer Mann, kaufte ihn aus der Hand der Ismaeliter, die ihn dorthin hinabgeführt hatten. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Igitur Joseph ductus est in Ægyptum, emitque eum Putiphar eunuchus Pharaonis, princeps exercitus, vir ægyptius, de manu Ismaëlitarum, a quibus perductus erat. |