Genesis 39:16
New International Version
She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home.

New Living Translation
She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home.

English Standard Version
Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home,

Berean Standard Bible
So Potiphar’s wife kept Joseph’s cloak beside her until his master came home.

King James Bible
And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

New King James Version
So she kept his garment with her until his master came home.

New American Standard Bible
So she left his garment beside her until his master came home.

NASB 1995
So she left his garment beside her until his master came home.

NASB 1977
So she left his garment beside her until his master came home.

Legacy Standard Bible
And she placed his garment beside her until his master came home.

Amplified Bible
So she left Joseph’s [outer] robe beside her until his master came home.

Christian Standard Bible
She put Joseph’s garment beside her until his master came home.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
She put Joseph’s garment beside her until his master came home.

American Standard Version
And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.

Contemporary English Version
Potiphar's wife kept Joseph's coat until her husband came home.

English Revised Version
And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
She kept Joseph's clothes with her until his master came home.

Good News Translation
She kept his robe with her until Joseph's master came home.

International Standard Version
She kept his outer garment by her side until Joseph's master came home,

Majority Standard Bible
So Potiphar?s wife kept Joseph?s cloak beside her until his master came home.

NET Bible
So she laid his outer garment beside her until his master came home.

New Heart English Bible
So she left his garment beside her, until his master came home.

Webster's Bible Translation
And she laid up his garment by her until his lord came home.

World English Bible
She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And she places his garment near her, until the coming in of his lord to his house.

Young's Literal Translation
And she placeth his garment near her, until the coming in of his lord unto his house.

Smith's Literal Translation
And she will leave his garment by her till his lord came to his house.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For a proof therefore of her fidelity, she kept the garment, and shewed it to her husband when he returned home:

Catholic Public Domain Version
As a proof, therefore, of her fidelity, she retained the cloak, and she showed it to her husband, when he returned home.

New American Bible
She kept the cloak with her until his master came home.

New Revised Standard Version
Then she kept his garment by her until his master came home,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she laid aside his garment with her until his lord came into the house.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So she leaves the clothes by her, until the master came to his house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Falsely Imprisoned
15When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” 16So Potiphar’s wife kept Joseph’s cloak beside her until his master came home. 17Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me,…

Cross References
Genesis 37:31-33
Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a young goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. / They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe or not.” / His father recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”

Exodus 23:1
“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

Psalm 35:11
Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.

Psalm 109:2-3
For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues. / They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.

Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

Proverbs 19:9
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.

Deuteronomy 19:16-19
If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, / both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time. / The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, ...

1 Kings 21:8-13
Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. / In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. / But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” ...

Jeremiah 9:3-6
“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD. / “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. / Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity. ...

Matthew 26:59-61
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. / But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward / and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

Mark 14:56-59
For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent. / Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him: / “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’” ...

Luke 23:2
And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”

Acts 6:11-13
Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.” / So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin, / where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

Acts 24:5-9
We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, / and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. / but Lysias the commander came with great force and took him out of our hands, ...


Treasury of Scripture

And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

Psalm 37:12,32
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth…

Jeremiah 4:22
For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

Jeremiah 9:3-5
And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD…

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Cloak Coat Garment Home House Kept Laid Master Placeth
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Cloak Coat Garment Home House Kept Laid Master Placeth
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.














So she kept
The phrase "so she kept" indicates an intentional and deliberate action by Potiphar's wife. The Hebrew root for "kept" is "נָתַן" (natan), which means to give, put, or set. This suggests that she purposefully retained the cloak as evidence to support her false accusation against Joseph. In a broader scriptural context, this act of keeping the cloak symbolizes the deceit and manipulation that can arise from unchecked desires and falsehoods. It serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and truthfulness, even when faced with temptation or adversity.

his cloak
The "cloak" in this context is a significant piece of evidence. In Hebrew, the word used is "בֶּגֶד" (beged), which can mean garment or clothing. This cloak, left behind by Joseph as he fled from Potiphar's wife, becomes a pivotal piece in the narrative. Historically, garments often symbolized identity and status. Joseph's cloak, therefore, represents his integrity and the unjust circumstances he finds himself in. The cloak, once a symbol of his favored status with his father, now becomes a tool of deception. This highlights the theme of how external circumstances can be manipulated, but true character is revealed through one's actions.

beside her
The phrase "beside her" indicates proximity and possession. In the Hebrew text, the word "אֵצֶל" (etzel) is used, which means near or beside. This positioning of the cloak beside her suggests her readiness to use it as false evidence against Joseph. It underscores the premeditated nature of her accusation. From a spiritual perspective, this act of keeping the cloak close serves as a metaphor for how sin and deceit can be kept close to one's heart, ready to be used to harm others. It is a call for believers to guard their hearts and actions against such deceit.

until his master came home
This phrase sets the stage for the impending confrontation. The Hebrew word for "master" is "אָדוֹן" (adon), which denotes lord or master, reflecting Potiphar's authority over Joseph. The phrase "came home" indicates a return to a place of authority and decision-making. Historically, the return of the master signifies a moment of judgment and decision. In the broader biblical narrative, this moment foreshadows the trials and tribulations that Joseph will face, yet it also sets the stage for God's providential plan to unfold. It serves as a reminder that while human judgment can be flawed, divine justice prevails in the end. This encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate plan and justice, even when faced with false accusations or trials.

Verses 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: - "she 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).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So [Potiphar’s wife] kept
וַתַּנַּ֥ח (wat·tan·naḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3240: Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place,

Joseph’s garment
בִּגְד֖וֹ (biḡ·ḏōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage

beside her
אֶצְלָ֑הּ (’eṣ·lāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 681: A joining together, proximity

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

his master
אֲדֹנָ֖יו (’ă·ḏō·nāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

came
בּ֥וֹא (bō·w)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

home.
בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ (bê·ṯōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT Law: Genesis 39:16 She laid up his garment by her (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 39:15
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