Genesis 39:1
New International Version
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

New Living Translation
When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

English Standard Version
Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.

Berean Standard Bible
Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.

New American Standard Bible
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there.

NASB 1995
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there.

NASB 1977
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian official of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there.

Amplified Bible
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the [royal] guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there.

Christian Standard Bible
Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guards, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there.

American Standard Version
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, that had brought him down thither.

Contemporary English Version
The Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the king's official in charge of the palace guard.

English Revised Version
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Joseph had been taken to Egypt. Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's Egyptian officials and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

Good News Translation
Now the Ishmaelites had taken Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, one of the king's officers, who was the captain of the palace guard.

International Standard Version
Meanwhile, Joseph had been delivered to Egypt and turned over to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's court officials and the Commander-in-Chief of the imperial guards. An Egyptian, he bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there.

Majority Standard Bible
Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

NET Bible
Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, purchased him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there.

New Heart English Bible
Now Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh?s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 Ishmaelites, who had brought him down thither.

World English Bible
Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joseph has been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, head of the executioners, an Egyptian man, buys him out of the hands of the Ishmaelites who have brought him there.

Young's Literal Translation
And Joseph hath been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, head of the executioners, an Egyptian man, buyeth him out of the hands of the Ishmaelites who have brought him thither.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt: and Potiphar will buy him, Pharaoh's eunuch, chief of the cooks, an Egyptian man, from the hand of the Ishmaelites who brought him down there.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Putiphar an eunuch of Pharao, chief captain of the army, an Egyptian, bought him of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Meanwhile, Joseph was led into Egypt. And Putiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, a leader of the army, an Egyptian man, purchased him from the hand of the Ishmaelites, by whom he was brought.

New American Bible
When Joseph was taken down to Egypt, an Egyptian, Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh and his chief steward, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there.

New Revised Standard Version
Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
AND Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, commander of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Arabians who had brought him down there.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Midianites took Yoseph down to Egypt, and Putiphar the Eunuch, High Guard of Pharaoh, an Egyptian man, bought him from the hand of the Arabs who brought him down there.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, that had brought him down thither.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Petephres the eunuch of Pharao, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ismaelites, who brought him down thither.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph and Potiphar's Wife
1Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.…

Cross References
Genesis 37:28
So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Genesis 37:36
Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

Genesis 45:4-5
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.

Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.

Acts 7:9-10
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

Psalm 105:17-19
He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. / They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons, / until his prediction came true and the word of the LORD proved him right.

Exodus 1:8-11
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” ...

1 Samuel 2:7-8
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. / He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.

1 Samuel 16:1
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

2 Kings 5:1-3
Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. / At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. / She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”

Nehemiah 9:27
So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.

Isaiah 45:1-4
This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut: / “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. / I will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. ...

Daniel 1:9
Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,

Daniel 6:3
Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

A.

Genesis 37:36
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

Genesis 45:4
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

Psalm 105:17
He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:

the Ishmeelites.

Genesis 37:25,28
And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt…

Jump to Previous
Bodyguard Bought Captain Egypt Egyptian Eunuch Executioners Guard Hand Hands Head High House Ishmaelites Ish'maelites Joseph Officer Officials Pharaoh Pharaoh's Position Potiphar Pot'i-Phar Price Thither
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Bodyguard Bought Captain Egypt Egyptian Eunuch Executioners Guard Hand Hands Head High House Ishmaelites Ish'maelites Joseph Officer Officials Pharaoh Pharaoh's Position Potiphar Pot'i-Phar Price Thither
Genesis 39
1. Joseph is bought by Potiphar, and preferred in the family.
7. He resists temptation by Potiphar's Wife.
13. He is falsely accused by her.
20. He is cast into prison.
21. God is with him there, and he is advanced by the keeper of prison.














Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt
The phrase "Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt" marks a significant transition in Joseph's life and the narrative of Genesis. The Hebrew root for "taken down" is "yarad," which often implies a descent or a lowering, both physically and metaphorically. This descent into Egypt is not just geographical but also represents a humbling of Joseph's status, from favored son to a slave. Egypt, in the biblical context, is often seen as a place of both refuge and testing for the people of Israel. Historically, Egypt was a powerful and advanced civilization, and Joseph's journey there sets the stage for God's providential plan to unfold.

where an Egyptian named Potiphar
The introduction of "an Egyptian named Potiphar" is crucial as it establishes the setting and the key figures in Joseph's story. Potiphar's name in Hebrew, "Potiphera," means "he whom Ra has given," indicating his connection to the Egyptian culture and religion, where Ra was a major deity. Potiphar's Egyptian identity highlights the cultural and religious differences Joseph would face, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining his faith in a foreign land.

an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard
The description "an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard" indicates Potiphar's high status and authority in Egyptian society. The Hebrew term for "officer" is "saris," which can mean a court official or eunuch, though in this context, it likely refers to his role as a high-ranking official. "Captain of the guard" suggests a position of significant military responsibility, overseeing the protection of Pharaoh and his interests. This detail foreshadows the influence and power dynamics Joseph will navigate in Potiphar's household.

bought him from the Ishmaelites
The act of being "bought" by Potiphar underscores Joseph's status as a slave, a stark contrast to his previous life as Jacob's favored son. The Ishmaelites, descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son with Hagar, are traders in this narrative. Their involvement in Joseph's sale highlights the complex family dynamics and historical tensions between the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael. This transaction also reflects the broader theme of God's sovereignty, as what seems like a tragic event is part of a divine plan.

who had taken him there
The phrase "who had taken him there" reiterates the forced nature of Joseph's journey to Egypt. The Hebrew verb "laqach," meaning "to take" or "to seize," emphasizes the lack of control Joseph had over his circumstances. This element of the account invites reflection on the themes of suffering and divine providence, as Joseph's journey, though initiated by human betrayal, is ultimately used by God for a greater purpose. This sets the stage for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through Joseph's life in Egypt.

Verse 1. - And Joseph was brought down to Egypt. The narrative now preparing to recite the fortunes of Joseph in Egypt, which eventually led, through his elevation to be Pharaoh's prime minister, first to the salvation of the patriarchal family, 'and finally to their settlement in Goshen, the historian reverts, in accordance with his usual practice, to a point of time antecedent to the incidents contained in the preceding chapter, and makes a new departure in his story from the moment of Joseph's crossing into Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard (vide Genesis 37:36), an Egyptian, - literally, a man of Mitzraim. This implies that foreigners were sometimes employed to fill responsible offices about the Court of Pharaoh. The phrase "is not a superfluous addition, as the population of Heliopolis, from remote times, included a considerable admixture of Arabians" (Kalisch) - bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites (vide Genesis 37:36), which had brought him down thither.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Meanwhile, Joseph
וְיוֹסֵ֖ף (wə·yō·w·sêp̄)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

had been taken down
הוּרַ֣ד (hū·raḏ)
Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to Egypt,
מִצְרָ֑יְמָה (miṣ·rā·yə·māh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

where an Egyptian
מִצְרִ֔י (miṣ·rî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt

named Potiphar,
פּוֹטִיפַר֩ (pō·w·ṭî·p̄ar)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6318: Potiphar

an officer
סְרִ֨יס (sə·rîs)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5631: A eunuch, valet, a minister of state

of Pharaoh
פַּרְעֹ֜ה (par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

and captain
שַׂ֤ר (śar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of the guard,
הַטַּבָּחִים֙ (haṭ·ṭab·bā·ḥîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2876: A butcher, a lifeguardsman, a cook

bought
וַיִּקְנֵ֡הוּ (way·yiq·nê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7069: To erect, create, to procure, by purchase, to own

him from
מִיַּד֙ (mî·yaḏ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

the Ishmaelites
הַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔ים (hay·yiš·mə·‘ê·lîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3459: Ishmaelites -- descendant of Ishmael

who
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

had taken
הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ (hō·w·ri·ḏu·hū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

him there.
שָֽׁמָּה׃ (šām·māh)
Adverb | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither


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OT Law: Genesis 39:1 Joseph was brought down to Egypt (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 38:30
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