Genesis 39:9
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No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
In Potiphar's House. - Potiphar had bought him of the Ishmaelites, as is repeated in Gen 39:1 for the purpose of resuming the thread of the narrative; and Jehovah was with him, so that the prospered in the house of his Egyptian master. מצליח אישׁ: a man who has prosperity, to whom God causes all that he undertakes and does to prosper. When Potiphar perceived this, Joseph found favour in his eyes, and became his servant, whom he placed over his house (made manager of his household affairs), and to whom he entrusted all his property (כּל־ישׁ־לו Gen 39:4 = ישׁ־לו כּל־אשׁר Gen 39:5, Gen 39:6). This confidence in Joseph increased, when he perceived how the blessing of Jehovah (Joseph's God) rested upon his property in the house and in the field; so that now "he left to Joseph everything that he had, and did not trouble himself אתּו (with or near him) about anything but his own eating."
Open source ↗At this chapter we return to the story of Joseph. We have him here, I. A servant, a slave in Potiphar's house (Gen 39:1), and yet there greatly honoured and favoured, I. By the providence of God, which made him, in effect, a master (Gen 39:2-6). 2. By the grace of God, which made him more than a conqueror over a strong temptation to uncleanness (Gen 39:7-12). II. We have him here a sufferer, falsely accused (Gen 39:13-18), imprisoned (Gen 39:19, Gen 39:20), and yet his imprisonment made both honourable and comfortable by the tokens of God's special presence with him (Gen 39:21-23). And herein Joseph was a type of Christ, "who took upon him the form of a servant," and yet then did that which made it evident that "God was with him," who was tempted by Satan, but overcame the temptation, who was falsely accused and bound, and yet had all things committed to his hand.
Open source ↗From the web
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desiringgod.org
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Open source ↗learn.ligonier.org
Open source ↗legacy.sermonaudio.com
Open source ↗desiringgod.org
Open source ↗thegospelcoalition.org
Open source ↗thegospelcoalition.org
Open source ↗sermonaudio.com
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.
and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:
Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.
But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
And when the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.
Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’”
For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.