But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand.
Parallel translations
- KJV But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
- BSB But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care.
- NKJV But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.
- NASB But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put me in charge of all that he owns.
- NLT But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household.
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
Joseph refuses, pointing to the complete trust his master has placed in him.
Overview
Joseph rejects the proposition on the grounds of his master's confidence and his own stewardship. His refusal flows from a settled sense of accountability and honor. Such integrity in private temptation reveals the depth of his godly character.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 23:26–28My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
- Prov 22:14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.
- Prov 9:13–18The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing.
- Prov 1:10My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
- Prov 7:5that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.
- Prov 6:20–25My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
- Prov 7:25–27Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,
- Prov 5:3–8For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
- Prov 6:29So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
- Prov 18:24A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- Prov 6:32–33He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
- Prov 2:10For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
- Prov 2:16–19To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 39:8 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.