Potiphar

36The Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt. They sold him to Potiphar, a leader who worked for Pharaoh. Potiphar was the captain of the king's guards.

And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.

NotePharaoh was the name for the king of Egypt. Potiphar was in charge of the soldiers who guarded him.

1Joseph was taken down to Egypt. A man named Potiphar bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had brought him there. Potiphar was an Egyptian. He was an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

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.

NoteEgypt was a big country far away from Joseph's home. Joseph's brothers had already sold him to traders. The Ishmaelites were traders who traveled from place to place selling things. Potiphar bought Joseph as a slave. A slave belonged to another person and had to work without pay. Pharaoh was the king of Egypt. The captain of the guard was the leader of the king's soldiers.

2The LORD was with Joseph, and things went well for him. He lived in the house of his master, the Egyptian.

And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

NoteThe LORD, written in big letters, is God's own special name. A master was the man who owned a slave and told him what to do.

3His master saw that the LORD was with Joseph. He saw that the LORD made everything Joseph did go well.

And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

4Joseph pleased his master, and he served him. His master put him in charge of the house. He put everything he owned into Joseph's care.

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.

NoteBeing in charge of the house meant Joseph ran everything in it. He told the other servants what to do and looked after the money.

5From the time he put Joseph in charge of his house and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything he had, in the house and in the field.

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.

NoteTo bless someone means to give that person good things.

6So he left everything he owned in Joseph's care. He did not think about anything except the food he ate. Joseph had a fine build and a handsome face.

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.

NotePotiphar trusted Joseph so much that he checked nothing at all. He only picked out what he wanted to eat.

7After this, his master's wife looked at Joseph. She said, "Sleep with me."

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

NoteShe wanted Joseph to be close to her the way a husband and wife are close. She was already married to Potiphar, so this was wrong.

8But he said no. He said to his master's wife, "Look. With me here, my master does not worry about anything in his house. He has put everything he owns into my care.

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;

9No one in this house is greater than I am. He has kept nothing back from me but you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?"

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?

NoteTo sin means to do something God says is wrong.

10She talked to Joseph day after day. He would not listen to her. He would not lie beside her or be with her.

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.

11About this time Joseph went into the house to do his work. None of the men of the house were inside.

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.

12She grabbed him by his coat and said, "Sleep with me." He left his coat in her hand. He ran away and got outside.

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.

NotePeople then wore a long loose coat on top of their clothes. Joseph slipped out of his coat and left it behind as he ran.

13She saw that he had left his coat in her hand and had run outside.

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

14So she called the men of her house. She said to them, "Look, he has brought a Hebrew man to us to make fun of us. He came in to me to sleep with me, and I screamed out loud.

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:

NoteHebrew was the name for Joseph's people, who came from another land. To make fun of someone here means to treat that person badly. The men of her house were the servants who worked there.

15When he heard me lift my voice and scream, he left his coat with me. He ran away and got outside."

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.

16She kept his coat beside her until Joseph's master came home.

And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

17She told him the same words. She said, "The Hebrew servant you brought to us came in to me to make fun of me.

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:

18But when I lifted my voice and screamed, he left his coat with me and ran outside."

And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

19His master heard the words his wife said to him: "This is what your servant did to me." Then he became very angry.

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.

20Joseph's master took him and put him in the prison. That was the place where the king's prisoners were kept. So Joseph was there in the prison.

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.

NoteA prison is a locked place where people are kept who are in trouble. In those days a master could punish a slave right away. No judge listened to both sides of the story first.