Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 39:5

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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 39:1-6

The clause "the Lord was with Joseph" occurs four times in this chapter (Genesis 39:2-3; Genesis 39:21; Genesis 39:23) and explains the reason for his success. The divine name "LORD," Yahweh, appears seven times in this chapter (Genesis 39:2-3 [twice], 5 [twice], 21, and 23) but only one other time in the Jacob toledot (Genesis 37:2 to Genesis 50:26): in Genesis 49:18. God had previously promised to be with Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 26:3; Genesis 26:24; Genesis 26:28; Genesis 28:15; Genesis... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 39:1-23

Joseph in the House of Potiphar5. Overseer] rather, ’house-steward.’6. Potiphar left everything under Joseph’s control except his own food. There may be here an allusion to the strict caste laws of Egypt: cp. Genesis 43:32; Genesis 46:34.7. Joseph was yet but a youth, when temptations are strongest, and he was far removed from all the restraining influences of home. But He who was ’the fear of Isaac’ (Genesis 31:42) was ’the fear of Joseph ’also, and his resolute resistance to temptation... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 39:1-23

Genesis 39:9 'How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?' So said Joseph, alone with Potiphar's wife? The unhappy woman had been enticing Joseph, then about twenty-seven years old, to gross and grievous sin. Sin had mastered her; she was the insane slave of its power. Now, she in turn craved, by a sort of dreadful 'law of sin,' to drag down another soul with her in the pit. Joseph was not a glorified spirit. He was a young mortal man, subject to 'like passions' with ours. The... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 39:1-23

JOSEPH IN PRISONGenesis 39:1-23"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life."- James 1:12DRAMATISTS and novelists, who make it their business to give accurate representations of human life, proceed upon the understanding that there is a plot in it, and that if you take the beginning or middle without the end, you must fail to comprehend these-prior parts. And a plot is pronounced good in proportion as, without violating truth to nature,... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 39:1-23

CHAPTER 39 Joseph In Egypt 1. In Potiphar’s house (Genesis 39:1-6 ) 2. Tempted by Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:7-18 ) 3. Joseph in prison (Genesis 39:19-23 ) Potiphar, the master of Joseph, was an officer of Pharaoh. His name means “devoted to Ra,” a god of Egypt. Why is it stated a number of times that Potiphar was an Egyptian? Discoveries have shown that Egypt had come at that time under a new dynasty; therefore it is repeatedly stated that Potiphar, the Egyptian, was retained in his... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Genesis 39:5

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 {d} 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.(d) The wicked are blessed by the company of the godly. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 39:1-23

JOSEPH--A SUFFERER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS How good it is to turn from Judah's sordid history to consider Joseph's history of faithful devotedness to the Lord! The deepest blessing for us in this is of course in the fact of the refreshing way in which Joseph is a type of the Lord Jesus. Just as Joseph learns through suffering, so the Lord Jesus "learned obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Joseph was sold in Egypt to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's bodyguard. But the Lord... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 39:1-23

JOSEPH ’S HISTORY DISPENSATIONAL ASPECT OF JACOB’S HISTORY Following F.W. Grant in the Numerical Bible, the life of Jacob gives as its lesson the story of that discipline by which the Spirit of God brings us from weakness to power, from nature’s strength to that wholesome weakness in which alone is strength. But for this, natural strength must be crippled, which is provided for in two ways: in allowing us to realize the power of another nature (Esau) and in the direct dealing of God with our... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Genesis 39:1-23

Joseph In Prison Gen 39:20 We now know enough of the history of Joseph, to see that he had not done anything worthy of imprisonment and pain. Let us keep steadily in mind the fact that there are false accusations in human life. There is a tendency to believe charges against men, without patiently and carefully going into particulars, without making such moral inquest into them as ought alone to justify our belief in any charge that may be made against a human creature. We are prone to say,... read more

Group of Brands