she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice. When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.” She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home. She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
Show the surrounding paragraph
Genesis 39:14-17 sits inside this longer paragraph.
When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside, she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice. When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.” She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home. She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me, and as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”
Parallel Translations
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she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”
She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
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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:
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.
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:
Show all 3 translations
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that she called unto the men of her house, and spoke unto them, saying: 'See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out.'
And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
And she spoke unto him according to these words, saying: 'The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me.
Cross-references (36)
- Psalms 37:32 (v16) The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.
- Exodus 23:1 (v17) “You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness.
- Psalms 37:12 (v16) The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.
- Jeremiah 4:22 (v16) “For my people are foolish. They don’t know me. They are foolish children, and they have no understanding. They are skillful in doing evil,…
- Jeremiah 9:3-5 (v16) “They bend their tongue, as their bow, for falsehood. They have grown strong in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to…
Show all 35 cross-references
- Titus 3:3 (v16) For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating…
- Psalms 55:3 (vv14, 17) because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge…
- Genesis 10:21 (v14) Children were also born to Shem (the elder brother of Japheth), the father of all the children of Eber.
- Genesis 14:13 (v14) One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and…
- Genesis 39:7 (v14) After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
- Genesis 39:14 (v17) she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to…
- Genesis 39:17 (v14) She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
- Genesis 40:15 (v14) For indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.”
- Exodus 20:16 (v17) “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
- 1 Kings 18:17 (v17) When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
- 1 Kings 21:9-13 (v17) She wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. Set two men, wicked fellows, before him, and…
- Psalms 35:11 (v14) Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.
- Psalms 37:14 (v17) The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.
- Psalms 120:3 (v14) What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you deceitful tongue?
- Proverbs 10:18 (v14) He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
- Proverbs 12:19 (v17) Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.
- Proverbs 19:5 (v17) A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
- Proverbs 19:9 (v17) A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
- Isaiah 51:7 (v14) “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law. Don’t fear the reproach of men, and don’t be dismayed at…
- Isaiah 54:17 (v14) No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the…
- Matthew 5:11 (v14) “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
- Matthew 26:59 (v14) Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
- Matthew 26:65 (v17) Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his…
- Luke 23:2 (v14) They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself…
- 1 Peter 2:20 (v14) For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is…
- 1 Peter 3:14-18 (v14) But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.” But sanctify the…
- 1 Peter 4:14-19 (v14) If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is…
- Psalms 120:2-4 (v17) Deliver my soul, Yahweh, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you…
- Ezekiel 22:5 (v14) Those who are near, and those who are far from you, will mock you, you infamous one, full of tumult.
- 2 Corinthians 6:8 (v14) by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
35 distinct cross-references across this passage (36 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (12 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv14, 17 Or, to do us villainy and shame.
Or, to do us villainy and shame.
This declareth that where incontinence is, thereunto is joined extreme impudency and craft.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv14–17 Gen 39:14 That she called unto the men of…
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:
Ver. 14. See, he hath brought in an Hebrew.] So she calls him, by way of contempt; as they called our Saviour Nazarene, and his followers Galileans. The Arians called the true Christians Ambrosians Athanasians, Homousians, &c. {a} And at this day, the most honourable name of Christian is in Italy and at Rome a name of reproach; and usually abused, to signify a fool, or a dolt. {b}
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{a} Sir Humphrey Lynde.
{b} W. Fulke, Rhem. Test. on Acts xi., sec. iv.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv14, 17 Unto the men of her house; to such as…
Unto the men of her house; to such as were in other parts of the house, whom she called in as witnesses for her husband’s satisfaction.
He, i.e. my husband, whom she would not name, as it were out of disdain and high displeasure for being the occasion of this horrid affront. Thus the pronouns he and they are oft used by way of contempt, as Luk 4:24; 19:27; Joh 7:11; 8:10.
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An Hebrew; so she calls him, to render him hateful and contemptible to the Egyptians.
To mock us; to abuse me; or to vitiate and defile me; for that word is oft used in an obscene sense. She insinuates, that this was not only an indignity to her, but an injury to all the family, which therefore they were obliged to revenge.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv14–17 That she called unto the men of her house,....…
That she called unto the men of her house,.... Of that part of the house which belonged to her; her eunuchs that waited upon her, or that were in another part of the home, at some distance:
and spake unto them; when they came to her:
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saying, see, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us: she means her husband, whom through contempt, and in her passion, she names not, having lost all affection for him, as her addresses to Joseph showed; and so the Targum of Jonathan supplies it,"your master hath brought, &c.''and Joseph she calls an Hebrew by way of reproach, and with a view to set her servants against him; who before this might not have any great regard to him through envy at him, for the favours he enjoyed, and the authority he had; and because he prevented their doing wrong things to serve themselves, and hurt their master: and holding up his garment in her hand, which they knew full well, bid them look at it, and observe, that this was the issue of his Being brought into the house by their master; that though it was not with such an intention, which can hardly be thought to be her sense, yet this was the event of it; an attempt to abuse, vitiate, and corrupt her, and so bring contempt upon the whole family, and expose them to the scorn and mockery of men, for their mistress to be abused by a base foreigner: she explains herself more fully by saying:
he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice; both of them lies; for it was she that solicited him to lie with her, and not he; nor did she cry out at all; and if she did, how came it she was not heard by them, as well as when she called unto them; thus her impure love was turned into hatred, which put her upon framing lies and calumnies; and which has been also done in cases similar to this (s), as Sthenobaea against Bellerophon.
(s) Vid. Juvenal Satyr. 10. Apollodorum de Deorum Origin. l. 2. p. 70.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v14 Verse 14. He hath brought in a Hebrew unto…
Verse 14. He hath brought in a Hebrew unto us] Potiphar's wife affects to throw great blame on her husband, whom we may reasonably suppose she did not greatly love. He hath brought in - he hath raised this person to all his dignity and eminence, to give him the greater opportunity to mock us. לפחק letsachek, here translated to mock, is the same word used in Ge 26:8, relative to Isaac and Rebekah; and is certainly used by Potiphar's wife in Ge 39:17, to signify some kind of familiar intercourse not allowable but between man and wife.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv16–17 A proof of her fidelity, or an argument to…
A proof of her fidelity, or an argument to gain credit, argumentum fidei. (Challoner) --- Love neglected, turns to fury. She wishes to take away Joseph’s life, according to the laws of Egypt against adulterers. Diodorus says Sesostris burnt some women taken in the crime; and we must attribute it to divine Providence, that the enraged husband did not inflict instant death upon his slave. Perhaps he did not altogether believe him guilty. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v14 Then she called unto the men of her house--Disappointed…
Then she called unto the men of her house--Disappointed and affronted, she vowed revenge and accused Joseph, first to the servants of the house, and on his return to her lord.
See, he hath brought in an Hebrew . . . to mock us--an affected and blind aspersion of her husband for keeping in his house an Hebrew, the very abomination of Egyptians.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v14 14. She called unto the men of her house…
14. She called unto the men of her house — To other men-servants, who were under Joseph’s oversight. Like the evil woman of all times and nations, she was quick to ruin the man who would not follow her desires. She seeks first to make the men-servants witnesses in the case, and then waits until her husband’s return to repeat the same abominable falsehood to him. Gen_39:16-18. The story of Potiphar’s wife, whose traditionary name is Zuleekha, is told with much amplification by Josephus, (Ant., book ii, chap. iv,) and in Oriental romance. The Koran relates it in that chapter (12) to which Mohammed appealed as bearing the manifest signs of inspiration.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv14, 16 14. an Hebrew] The designation used by foreigners for…
14. an Hebrew] The designation used by foreigners for “an Israelite” (cf. Gen_41:12, Gen_43:32), and probably for any one who belonged to the group of peoples, Israelite, Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, who invaded and settled down in Palestine and the adjacent territories. The word is an appeal to the racial prejudice against Asiatic strangers.
to mock] Cf. Pro_1:26. The idea is of wanton insult.
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us] As if none of the women in the house would be secure from insult, when the master’s wife had been subjected to such an affront from this young upstart foreigner. She implies that her husband’s confidence in his Hebrew slave meant disregard for the family’s honour.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v16 Vers. 16-18. And she laid up his garment by…
Vers. 16-18. And she laid up his garment by her (literally, by her side), until his lord came home (literally, until the coming of his lord to his house). And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us (here she charges her husband with being indirectly at least the cause of the alleged affront which had been put upon her), came in unto me to mock me: seemed too modest to speak in plain terms of Joseph"s crime (Lawson)and it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me and fled out (i.e. went forth into the street, ut supra).
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v16 his master
his master
"Joseph's master." This refers to Potiphar.
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She told him this explanation
"She explained it like this"
brought to us
The word "us" refers to Potiphar, his wife, and includes the rest of the household. (See: Inclusive "We")
came in to mock me
"came in to make a fool of me." Here, the word "mock" is a euphemism for "to seize and to sleep with." AT: "came into where I was and tried to force me to sleep with him" (See: Euphemism)
It came about that
"Then." Potiphar's wife uses this phrase to mark the next event in the account she is telling him about Joseph trying to sleep with her. (See: Introduction of a New Event)
fled outside
"ran quickly out of the house"
translationWords
lord
Hebrew
servant
mock
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v14 39:14 Though Potiphar’s wife was addressing slaves, she appealed…
39:14 Though Potiphar’s wife was addressing slaves, she appealed to them as fellow Egyptians (us) to enlist them as witnesses against the despised Hebrew (see 43:32) who had won Potiphar’s trust.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.