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the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
Genesis 39:21 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
  • KJV But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
  • NKJV But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
  • NASB But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison.
  • NLT But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Even in prison the LORD is with Joseph and grants him favor with the warden.

Overview

God's covenant faithfulness follows Joseph into the lowest place, again granting him favor. The same divine presence that blessed him in Potiphar's house sustains him now. No circumstance can separate Joseph from the LORD's steadfast love.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 21

  • Isa 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
  • Exod 3:21And I will grant this people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you leave, you will not go away empty-handed.
  • Acts 7:9–10Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
  • 1 Pet 3:17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
  • Isa 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
  • Exod 11:3And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.
  • Ps 105:19until his prediction came true and the word of the LORD proved him right.
  • 1 Pet 4:14–16If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
  • Rom 8:31–32What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
  • Gen 39:2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.
  • Gen 21:22At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.
  • Dan 1:9Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,
  • Exod 12:36And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.
  • 1 Pet 3:13–14Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
  • Gen 40:3and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined.
  • Prov 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
  • Rom 8:37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
  • Gen 49:23–24The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.
  • Ps 106:46He made them objects of compassion to all who held them captive.
  • Dan 6:22My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”
  • Ps 105:22to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Genesis videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Genesis 39:21YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on GenesisMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.

How Genesis 39:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.