Genesis 39 – Joseph’s Integrity & Temptation in Egypt
Genesis 39 recounts Joseph’s rise in Potiphar’s house, his steadfast integrity, and his unjust imprisonment due to false accusations. This chapter highlights God’s presence in adversity, the power of righteousness, and how trials refine those chosen for God’s purpose.
Genesis 39 – Deep Study & Prophetic Revelation
Genesis 39 continues Joseph’s journey in Egypt, showcasing his unwavering faith despite betrayal, slavery, and false accusations. While the world saw a slave, God was preparing a ruler.
✔ Joseph is entrusted with authority in Potiphar’s house.
✔ Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce him, but Joseph remains faithful.
✔ False accusations land Joseph in prison.
✔ God’s favor follows Joseph, even in his lowest moments.
📖 Key Verse: “But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” – Genesis 39:21
🔎 This chapter teaches us that integrity is tested in adversity, but God’s favor never departs from His chosen ones.
Genesis Chapter 39 Overview
Genesis 39:1-6 – Joseph’s Success in Potiphar’s House
📖 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.”
🔎 God’s presence made Joseph prosperous, even as a slave. This shows that true success is determined by God’s favor, not status.
📖 Genesis 39:4-5 – “And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house… and the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake.”
🔎 Joseph’s faithfulness brought blessings to Potiphar’s house. This is a foreshadowing of how God’s people impact the nations around them.
Genesis 39:7-12 – Joseph Resists Temptation
📖 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.”
🔎 Potiphar’s wife represents worldly temptation. She did not just approach once, but continually tried to wear down Joseph’s resistance.
📖 Genesis 39:9 – “There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
🔎 Joseph’s motivation was not just loyalty to Potiphar—but faithfulness to God. He understood that all sin is ultimately against the Most High.
📖 Genesis 39:12 – “And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled.”
🔎 Joseph fled temptation rather than reason with it. This follows the biblical principle to “flee youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22).
Genesis 39:13-20 – False Accusation & Imprisonment
📖 Genesis 39:16-17 – “And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me.”
🔎 Potiphar’s wife twists the story, using Joseph’s garment as false evidence. The enemy often uses deception to attack the righteous.
📖 Genesis 39:20 – “And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound.”
🔎 Instead of execution, Joseph is imprisoned—likely because Potiphar doubted his wife’s story. Even in suffering, God was preserving Joseph’s destiny.
Genesis 39:21-23 – God’s Favor in the Prison
📖 Genesis 39:21 – “But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”
🔎 Joseph’s favor follows him into prison. No circumstance can block God’s plan for His chosen ones.
📖 Genesis 39:23 – “The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.”
🔎 Joseph’s character and leadership shine even in captivity. His training for future rulership continues, despite hardship.
Genesis Chapter 39 - Deeper Study
Overview: Temptation, Integrity, & God’s Favor in Trials
🔹 Timeframe: Joseph is now in Egypt, serving Potiphar, a high-ranking Egyptian officer.
🔹 Setting: Potiphar’s house and later the Egyptian prison.
🔹 Theme: Faithfulness in temptation, suffering for righteousness, and divine preparation through trials.
🔹 Connection to Future Events: Joseph’s imprisonment sets the stage for his rise to power in Genesis 41.
Key Takeaways
🔑 God’s favor is greater than circumstances—Joseph thrived even as a slave.
🔑 Righteousness must be guarded—temptation is persistent and deceptive.
🔑 Integrity may cost us in the short term, but God honors those who remain faithful.
🔑 Even in trials, God is preparing us for greater purpose.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 Joseph as a Type of Christ – Both Joseph and Jesus were falsely accused, remained sinless, and suffered unjustly before their exaltation.
🔮 Fleeing Temptation as a Model for Believers – Joseph’s example sets the biblical standard for resisting sin.
🔮 God’s Favor Amidst Trials – Just as Joseph prospered in suffering, believers are called to trust God’s process (Romans 8:28).
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Egyptian Household Servants – High-ranking officials like Potiphar would have trusted servants managing their entire estate, similar to Joseph’s role.
📜 Ancient Egyptian Morality & Temptation – While Egypt was known for pagan worship and moral corruption, Joseph upheld the standards of God’s righteousness.
📜 False Accusations & Harsh Punishments – Being falsely accused of assaulting an official’s wife often resulted in execution, yet God preserved Joseph’s life.
💡 Final Reflection: Staying Faithful in the Furnace of Affliction
Joseph’s story reminds us that faithfulness in private battles prepares us for greater responsibilities.
📌 Are we resisting temptation, or making excuses to compromise?
📌 Do we recognize that suffering may be part of God’s preparation?
📌 Are we walking in integrity, trusting that God sees and will reward?
🚀 Genesis 39 teaches that trials are not the end—God is refining us for a greater calling!
Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife
Gen 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.
Gen 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.
Gen 39:3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Gen 39:4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Gen 39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
Gen 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.
Gen 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.
Gen 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;
Gen 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Gen 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.
Gen 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.
Gen 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.
Gen 39:13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
Gen 39:14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
Gen 39:15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
Gen 39:16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
Gen 39:17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
Gen 39:18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
Gen 39:19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
Gen 39:20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
Gen 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Gen 39:22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
Gen 39:23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
Date Written
1446-1406 BC
Written By
Moses (written under divine inspiration)
Language
Hebrew
Verses
23