Genesis 39 · Verse 12

Genesis 39:12

And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Genesis 39:12, King James Version

Genesis 39:12 in other translations

BSBShe grabbed Joseph by his cloak and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his cloak in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.
WEBShe caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside.
ASVAnd she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
YLTand she catcheth him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me;' and he leaveth his garment in her hand, and fleeth, and goeth without.
DARBYThen she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me! But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran out.
BBEAnd pulling at his coat, she said, Come to my bed; but slipping out of his coat, he went running away.
WebsterAnd she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and went out.

What does Genesis 39:12 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 39:7-12

Beauty either in men or women, often proves a snare both to themselves and others. This forbids pride in it, and requires constant watchfulness against the temptation that attends it. We have great need to make a covenant with our eyes, lest the eyes infect the heart. When lust has got power, decency, and reputation, and conscience, are all sacrificed. Potiphar's wife showed that her heart was fully set to do evil…

Read the full comment on Genesis 39:7-12 →

Genesis 39:12 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.

וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧הוּva.tit.pe.Se.huand she seized himH8610
בְּבִגְד֛וֹbe.vig.Doby clothing hisH899
לֵאמֹ֖רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
שִׁכְבָ֣הshikh.Vahlie !H7901
עִמִּ֑י'i.Miwith meH5973
וַיַּעֲזֹ֤בvai.ya.'a.Zoand he leftH5800
בִּגְדוֹ֙big.Doclothing hisH899
בְּיָדָ֔הּbe.ya.Dahin hand herH3027
וַיָּ֖נָסvai.Ya.nosand he fledH5127
וַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'and he went outH3318
הַחֽוּצָה\׃ha.Chu.tzahthe outside towardsH2351

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 39:12

  • 2 Timothy 2:22

    Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

  • Proverbs 7:13-27

    So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. …

  • Ecclesiastes 7:26

    And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

  • 1 Peter 2:11

    Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

  • Proverbs 5:8

    Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

  • Proverbs 6:5

    Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

  • Genesis 39:10

    And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

  • Genesis 39:8

    But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

  • Mark 14:51-52

    And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33

    Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

  • Ezekiel 16:30-31

    How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman; In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;

  • Proverbs 1:15

    My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
caught.
8,10; Pr 7:13-27; Ec 7:26; Eze 16:30,31
and he left.
1Sa 15:27; Pr 1:15; 5:8; 6:5; Ec 7:26; Mr 14:51,52; 1Co 15:33
2Ti 2:22; 1Pe 2:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 39:11

    And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

  • Genesis 39:12

    And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

  • Genesis 39:13

    And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

Read all of Genesis 39

Genesis 39:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y asiólo ella por su ropa, diciendo: Duerme conmigo. Entonces dejóla él su ropa en las manos, y huyó, y salióse fuera.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et elle le prit par son vêtement, disant: Couche avec moi. Et il laissa son vêtement dans sa main, et s’enfuit, et sortit dehors.
German
Elberfelder 1871
und sie ergriff ihn bei seinem Kleide und sprach: Liege bei mir! Er aber ließ sein Kleid in ihrer Hand und floh und lief hinaus.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et illa, apprehensa lacinia vestimenti ejus, diceret: Dormi mecum. Qui relicto in manu ejus pallio fugit, et egressus est foras.