Genesis 39:20-23
New English Translation
20 Joseph’s master took him and threw him into the prison,[a] the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. So he was there in the prison.[b]
21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness.[c] He granted him favor in the sight of the prison warden.[d] 22 The warden put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care. He was in charge of whatever they were doing.[e] 23 The warden did not concern himself[f] with anything that was in Joseph’s[g] care because the Lord was with him and whatever he was doing the Lord was making successful.
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- Genesis 39:20 tn Heb “the house of roundness,” suggesting that the prison might have been a fortress or citadel.
- Genesis 39:20 sn The story of Joseph is filled with cycles and repetition: He has two dreams (chap. 37), he interprets two dreams in prison (chap. 40) and the two dreams of Pharaoh (chap. 41), his brothers make two trips to see him (chaps. 42-43), and here, for the second time (see 37:24), he is imprisoned for no good reason, with only his coat being used as evidence. For further discussion see H. Jacobsen, “A Legal Note on Potiphar’s Wife,” HTR 69 (1976): 177.
- Genesis 39:21 tn Heb “and he extended to him loyal love.”
- Genesis 39:21 tn Or “the chief jailer” (also in the following verses).
- Genesis 39:22 tn Heb “all which they were doing there, he was doing.” This probably means that Joseph was in charge of everything that went on in the prison.
- Genesis 39:23 tn Heb “was not looking at anything.”
- Genesis 39:23 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
Genesis 39:20-23
International Standard Version
20 arrested Joseph, and locked him up in the same prison where the king’s prisoners were confined. So Joseph remained there in prison.
21 But the Lord was with Joseph. He extended gracious love to him, causing the prison warden to be pleased with Joseph.[a] 22 So the prison warden entrusted into Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were confined in prison. Whatever they did, Joseph was in charge of the work detail.[b] 23 The prison warden did not have to worry about anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with him. That’s why Joseph prospered in everything he did.
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- Genesis 39:21 Lit. him
- Genesis 39:22 Lit. was the one who did it
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