Genesis 39 · Verse 7

Genesis 39:7

And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
Genesis 39:7, King James Version

Genesis 39:7 in other translations

BSBand after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.”
WEBAfter these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
ASVAnd it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass after these things, that his lord's wife lifteth up her eyes unto Joseph, and saith, ‘Lie with me;'
DARBYAnd it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph, and said, Lie with me!
BBEAnd after a time, his master's wife, looking on Joseph with desire, said to him, Be my lover.
WebsterAnd it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph: and she said, Lie with me.

What does Genesis 39:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph--Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people--in fact, enjoyed much freedom both at home and abroad. Hence Potiphar's wife had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance were vices very prevalent among them, as the monuments too plainly attest [Wilkinson]. Potiphar's wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank, and her infamous advances made to Joseph arose from her superiority of station.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

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. Satan, when he found he could not overcome Joseph with the troubles and the frowns of the world, for in them he still held fast his principle, assaulted him with pleasures, which have ruined more than the former. But Joseph, by the grace of God, was enabled to resist and overcome this temptation; and his escape was as great an instance of the Divine power, as the deliverance of the three children out of the fiery furnace. This sin was one which might most easily beset him. The tempter was his mistress, one whose favour would help him forward; and it was at his utmost peril if he slighted her, and made her his enemy. The time and place favoured the temptation. To all this was added frequent, constant urging. The almighty grace of God enabled Joseph to overcome this assault of the enemy. He urges what he owed both to God and his master. We are bound in honour, as well as justice and gratitude, not in any thing to wrong those who place trust in us, how secretly soever it may be done. He would not offend his God. Three arguments Joseph urges upon himself. 1. He considers who he was that was tempted. One in covenant with God, who professed religion and relation to him. 2. What the sin was to which he was tempted. Others might look upon it as a small matter; but Joseph did not so think of it. Call sin by its own name, and never lessen it. Let sins of this nature always be looked upon as great wickedness, as exceedingly sinful. 3. Against whom he was tempted to sin, against God. Sin is against God, against his nature and his dominion, against his love and his design. Those that love God, for this reason hate sin. The grace of God enabled Joseph to overcome the temptation, by avoiding the temper. He would not stay to parley with the temptation, but fled from it, as escaping for his life. If we mean not to do iniquity, let us flee as a bird from the snare, and as a roe from the hunter.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 39:7 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.

וַיְהִ֗יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
אַחַר֙'a.CharafterH310
הַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.Rimthe thingsH1697
הָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.leh<the> theseH428
וַתִּשָּׂ֧אva.ti.Sa'and she lifted upH5375
אֵֽשֶׁת\־'e.shet-[the] wife ofH802
אֲדֹנָ֛יו'a.do.Navmaster<s> hisH113
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
עֵינֶ֖יהָ'ei.Nei.haeyes herH5869
אֶל\־'el-toH413
יוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefJosephH3130
וַתֹּ֖אמֶרva.To.merand she saidH559
שִׁכְבָ֥הshikh.Vahlie !H7901
עִמִּֽי\׃'i.Miwith meH5973

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

Cross references for Genesis 39:7

  • Ezekiel 16:34

    And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary.

  • 2 Samuel 13:11

    And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

  • 2 Peter 2:14

    Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

  • Ezekiel 16:32

    But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!

  • Ezekiel 23:12-16

    She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men. Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way, And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion, Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity: …

  • Ezekiel 23:5-6

    And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours, Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.

  • Job 31:1

    I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

  • 1 John 2:16

    For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  • Matthew 5:28

    But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

  • Proverbs 7:15-18

    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. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

  • Psalms 119:37

    Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

  • Proverbs 5:9

    Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A.M. 2285. B.C. 1719. cast.
6:2; Job 31:1; Ps 119:37; Eze 23:5,6,12-16; Mt 5:28; 2Pe 2:14
1Jo 2:16
Lie.
2Sa 13:11; Pr 2:16; 5:9; 7:13; Jer 3:3; Eze 16:25,32,34

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

Context

  • Genesis 39:6

    And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

  • Genesis 39:7

    And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

  • 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;

Read all of Genesis 39

Genesis 39:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y aconteció después de esto, que la mujer de su señor puso sus ojos en José, y dijo: Duerme conmigo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et il arriva, après ces choses, que la femme de son seigneur leva ses yeux sur Joseph; et elle dit: Couche avec moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und es geschah nach diesen Dingen, da warf das Weib seines Herrn ihre Augen auf Joseph und sprach: Liege bei mir!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Post multos itaque dies injecit domina sua oculos suos in Joseph, et ait: Dormi mecum.