Elberfelder Bible (1905) - with Strong’s numbers (GER)

1Und JosephH3130 wurde nach ÄgyptenH4714 hinabgeführt; und PotipharH6318, ein KämmererH5631 des PharaoH6547, der ObersteH8269 der LeibwacheH2876, ein ägyptischerH4713 Mann, kaufteH7069 ihn aus der HandH3027 der IsmaeliterH3459, dieH3381 ihn dorthin hinabgeführt hatten. 2Und JehovaH3068 war mit JosephH3130, und er war ein MannH376, dem alles gelang; und er war im HauseH1004 seines HerrnH113, des ÄgyptersH4713. 3Und sein HerrH113 sahH7200, daß JehovaH3068 mit ihm war und daß JehovaH3068 alles, was er tatH6213, in seiner HandH3027 gelingenH6743 ließ. 4Und JosephH3130 fandH4672 GnadeH2580 in seinen AugenH5869 und dienteH8334 ihm; und er bestellte ihn überH6485 sein HausH1004, und alles, was er hatteH3426, gabH5414 er in seine HandH3027. 5UndH3068 es geschah, seitdem er ihnH3068 überH6485 sein HausH1004 bestellt und über alles, was er hatteH3426, daß Jehova das HausH1004 des ÄgyptersH4713 segneteH1288 umH1558 JosephsH3130 willen; und der SegenH1293 Jehovas war auf allem, was er hatteH3426, im HauseH1004 und auf dem FeldeH7704. 6Und er überließ alles, was er hatte, der HandH3027 JosephsH3130 und kümmerte sichH3045 um gar nichtsH3972 bei ihm, außer um das BrotH3899, das er aßH398. Und JosephH3130 war schönH8389 von Gestalt und schönH3303 von AngesichtH4758. 7Und es geschah nachH310 diesen Dingen, da warfH5375 dasH1697 WeibH802 seines HerrnH113 ihre AugenH5869 auf JosephH3130 und sprachH559 : Liege beiH7901 mir! 8Er aber weigerte sichH3985 und sprachH559 zu dem WeibeH802 seines HerrnH113 : Siehe, mein HerrH113 kümmert sichH3045 um nichts bei mir im HauseH1004; und alles, was er hatH3426, hat er in meine HandH3027 gegebenH5414. 9Niemand ist größerH1419 in diesem HauseH1004 als ich, undH3972 er hat mir gar nichtsH3808 vorenthalten als nur dich, indem duH859 sein WeibH802 bist; und wieH834 sollte ich dieses großeH1419 ÜbelH7451 tunH6213 und wider GottH430 sündigenH2398? 10Und es geschah, als sie JosephH3130 TagH3117 für TagH3117 ansprach und er nicht auf sie hörteH8085, beiH7901 ihrH681 zu liegen, bei ihr zu sein, 11da geschah es an einem solchen TageH3117, daß erH935 ins HausH1004 ging, um sein GeschäftH4399 zuH6213 besorgen, und kein MenschH582 von den Leuten des Hauses war daselbst im HauseH1004; 12und sieH8610 ergriff ihn beiH7901 seinem Kleide und sprachH559 : Liege bei mir! Er aber ließH5800 sein KleidH899 in ihrer HandH3027 und flohH5127 und liefH3318 hinausH2351. 13Und es geschah, als sieH5800 sahH7200, daß er sein KleidH899 in ihrer HandH3027 gelassen hatte und hinausgeflohen war, 14da riefH7121 sieH7121 den Leuten ihres HausesH1004 und sprachH559 zu ihnen und sagte: SehetH7200, erH559 hat uns einen hebräischenH5680 Mann hergebracht, um Spott mit uns zu treibenH6711. ErH935 ist zu mir gekommenH935, um beiH7901 mir zu liegen, und ich habe mit lauterH1419 StimmeH6963 gerufen. 15Und es geschah, als er hörteH8085, daß ich meine StimmeH6963 erhobH7311 und riefH7121, da ließH5800 er sein KleidH899 neben mirH681 und flohH5127 und gingH3318 hinausH2351. 16Und sie legteH3240 sein KleidH899 neben sichH681, bis sein HerrH113 nach HauseH1004 kamH935. 17Und sie redeteH1696 zu ihm nach diesen Worten und sprachH559 : Der hebräischeH5680 KnechtH5650, den du uns hergebracht hastH935, ist zu mir gekommenH935, umH1697 Spott mit mir zu treibenH6711; 18und es geschah, als ich meine StimmeH6963 erhobH7311 und riefH7121, da ließH5800 er sein KleidH899 neben mirH681 und flohH5127 hinausH2351. 19Und es geschah, als sein HerrH113 die WorteH1697 seines WeibesH802 hörteH8085, die sieH2734 zu ihm redeteH1696, indem sie sprachH559 : Nach diesen WortenH1697 hat mir dein KnechtH5650 getanH6213, da entbrannte sein ZornH639. 20Und JosephsH3130 HerrH113 nahmH3947 ihn und legteH5414 ihn in die Feste, an den OrtH4725, wo die GefangenenH615 des KönigsH4428 gefangen lagenH631; und er war daselbst in der Feste. 21Und JehovaH3068 warH5414 mit JosephH3130 und wandte ihm GüteH2617 zu und gabH5186 ihm GnadeH2580 in den AugenH5869 des OberstenH8269 der Feste. 22Und der ObersteH8269 der Feste übergab alle GefangenenH615, die in der Feste waren, der HandH3027 JosephsH3130; und alles, was daselbst zuH6213 tunH5414 war, das tatH6213 er. 23Der ObersteH8269 der Feste sahH7200 nicht nach dem Geringsten, das unter seiner HandH3027 war, weil JehovaH3068 mit ihm war; undH3972 was er tatH6213, ließ JehovaH3068 gelingenH6743.


Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary
 1   JOSEPH IN POTIPHAR'S HOUSE. (Gen. 39:1-23)
Potiphar--This name, Potiphar, signifies one "devoted to the sun," the local deity of On or Heliopolis, a circumstance which fixes the place of his residence in the Delta, the district of Egypt bordering on Canaan.
officer--literally, "prince of the Pharoah"--that is, in the service of government.
captain of the guard--The import of the original term has been variously interpreted, some considering it means "chief cook," others, "chief inspector of plantations"; but that which seems best founded is "chief of the executioners," the same as the captain of the watch, the zabut of modern Egypt [WILKINSON].
bought him . . . of the Ishmaelites--The age, appearance, and intelligence of the Hebrew slave would soon cause him to be picked up in the market. But the unseen, unfelt influence of the great Disposer drew the attention of Potiphar towards him, in order that in the house of one so closely connected with the court, he might receive that previous training which was necessary for the high office he was destined to fill, and in the school of adversity learn the lessons of practical wisdom that were to be of greatest utility and importance in his future career. Thus it is that when God has any important work to be done, He always prepares fitting agents to accomplish it.

 2   he was in the house of his master--Those slaves who had been war captives were generally sent to labor in the field and subjected to hard treatment under the "stick" of taskmasters. But those who were bought with money were employed in domestic purposes, were kindly treated, and enjoyed as much liberty as the same class does in modern Egypt.

 3   his master saw that the Lord was with him--Though changed in condition, Joseph was not changed in spirit; though stripped of the gaudy coat that had adorned his person, he had not lost the moral graces that distinguished his character; though separated from his father on earth, he still lived in communion with his Father in heaven; though in the house of an idolater, he continued a worshipper of the true God.

 5   the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake, &c.--It might be--it probably was--that a special, a miraculous blessing was poured out on a youth who so faithfully and zealously served God amid all the disadvantages of his place. But it may be useful to remark that such a blessing usually follows in the ordinary course of things; and the most worldly, unprincipled masters always admire and respect religion in a servant when they see that profession supported by conscientious principle and a consistent life.
made him overseer in his house--We do not know in what capacity Joseph entered into the service of Potiphar; but the observant eye of his master soon discovered his superior qualities and made him his chief, his confidential servant (compare Eph 6:7; Col 3:23). The advancement of domestic slaves is not uncommon, and it is considered a great disgrace not to raise one who has been a year or two in the family. But this extraordinary advancement of Joseph was the doing of the Lord, though on the part of Potiphar it was the consequence of observing the astonishing prosperity that attended him in all that he did.

 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.

 9   How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?--This remonstrance, when all inferior arguments had failed, embodied the true principle of moral purity--a principle always sufficient where it exists, and alone sufficient.

 14   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.

 20   Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison--the roundhouse, from the form of its construction, usually attached to the dwelling of such an officer as Potiphar. It was partly a subterranean dungeon (Gen 41:14), though the brick-built walls rose considerably above the surface of the ground, and were surmounted by a vaulted roof somewhat in the form of an inverted bowl. Into such a dungeon Potiphar, in the first ebullition of rage, threw Joseph and ordered him to be subjected further to as great harshness of treatment (Ps 105:18) as he dared; for the power of masters over their slaves was very properly restrained by law, and the murder of a slave was a capital crime.
a place where the king's prisoners were bound--Though prisons seem to have been an inseparable appendage of the palaces, this was not a common jail--it was the receptacle of state criminals; and, therefore, it may be presumed that more than ordinary strictness and vigilance were exercised over the prisoners. In general, however, the Egyptian, like other Oriental prisons, were used solely for the purposes of detention. Accused persons were cast into them until the charges against them could be investigated; and though the jailer was responsible for the appearance of those placed under his custody, yet, provided they were produced when called, he was never interrogated as to the way in which he had kept them.

 21   The Lord . . . gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison, &c.--It is highly probable, from the situation of this prison (Gen 40:3), that the keeper might have been previously acquainted with Joseph and have had access to know his innocence of the crime laid to his charge, as well as with all the high integrity of his character. That may partly account for his showing so much kindness and confidence to his prisoner. But there was a higher influence at work; for "the Lord was with Joseph, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper."