Genesis 39:1

When the Ishmaelites got to Egypt, they sold Joseph to a man named Potifar. Potifar was an important man in Egypt. He was boss over all the soldiers that guarded the government building. That was where the king worked.

Barkly (portions)

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

2God was very good to Joseph and helped him to do everything the right way. Joseph was so good at what he did, he was allowed to live in Potifar's house.

Read all of Genesis 39

Cross References

Genesis 37:28When the Ishmaelites, whose other name is Midianites, came to the brother's camp, Joseph's brothers pulled him up out of the hole in the ground. The brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver. And so, Joseph went to Egypt as a prisoner.

Genesis 45:4So Joseph said to them, “It's alright, come close to me.” And when they came close, he said to them again, “I am Joseph, your brother. You sold me as a slave to those Ishmaelite men and they led me here to Egypt.

Matthew Henry on Genesis 39:1

At this chapter we return to the story of Joseph. We have him here, I. A servant, a slave in Potiphar's house ( ver. 1 ), and yet there greatly honoured and favoured, 1. By the providence of God, which made him, in effect, a master, ver. 2-6 . 2. By the grace of God, which made him more than a conqueror over a strong temptation to uncleanness, ver. 7-12 . II. We have him here a sufferer, falsely accused ( ver. 13-18 ), imprisoned ( ver. 19, 20 ), and yet his imprisonment made both honourable and comfortable by the… Read the whole commentary →

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