Genesis 39:21
in Genesis 39the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto 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.
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This verse in Genesis 39
Commentary
10 notes on this verseBut why would it be surprising if Christ visits those in prison, since he himself mentioned being imprisoned in his own words, as it is written: "I was in prison, and you did not visit me." Where does divine mercy not penetrate? Joseph found such favor that he, who had been locked in prison, would keep the doors of the prison himself, granted the duty of jailer, and entrusted all the prisoners to his authority. Therefore, Joseph not only did not feel the prison, but also alleviated the suffering of the other prisoners.
This site's exposition
extended kindness to him
on Genesis 39:21-22
The LORD is with him in the prison, extending kindness to him, in a far worse place than the one he left. Favor comes in the eyes of the warden, the same order as in Potiphar's house. The warden puts every prisoner under Joseph's care. The place changed and the LORD stayed.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
While his case was un-heard, Joseph was thrown into prison as if guilty of a crime, but the Lord did not desert him there.
You notice how even when Joseph encountered troubles he had no sense of distress; instead, the creative wisdom of God transformed all his distress. Just as a pearl reveals its peculiar beauty even if someone buries it in the mire, so too virtue, wherever you cast it, reveals its characteristic power, be it in servitude, in prison, in distress or in prosperity. So since, even when cast into prison, he won over the chief jailer and received from him control of everything there, let us see in this case as well how Joseph reveals the force of grace coming his way.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
But the Lord was with Joseph and shewed him mercy. God despiseth not his prisoners, Psalm lxix, 33. No gates nor bars can shut out his gracious presence from his people.
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.
And the Lord was with Joseph,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
(2.) Those that have a good conscience in a prison have a good God there. Integrity and uprightness qualify us for the divine favour, wherever we are. Joseph is not long a prisoner before he becomes a little ruler even in the prison, which is to be attributed, under God, [1.] To the keeper's favour.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
That may partly account for his showing so much kindness and confidence to his prisoner. But there was a higher influence at work; for "the Lord was with Joseph, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper."
The Lord was with Joseph - It is but of little consequence where the lot of a servant of God may be cast; like Joseph he is ever employed for his master, and God honors him and prospers his work. 1. He who acknowledges God in all his ways, has the promise that God shall direct all his steps. Joseph’s captivity shall promote God’s glory; and to this end God works in him, for him, by him. Even the irreligious can see when the Most High distinguishes his followers.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִ֤י | vayhi | and he was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| יְהוָה֙ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | with | H854 → | 929 times |
| יוֹסֵ֔ף | yosef | Joseph | H3130 → | 213 times |
| וַיֵּ֥ט | vaiyet | and he extended | H5186 → | 214 times |
| אֵלָ֖יו | ʾelav | to him | H413 → | 5510 times |
| חָ֑סֶד | chased | covenant loyalty | H2617 → | 247 times |
| וַיִּתֵּ֣ן | vaiyiten | and he gave | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| חִנּ֔וֹ | chino | favor his | H2580 → | 69 times |
| בְּעֵינֵ֖י | beeinei | in [the] eyes of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| שַׂ֥ר | sar | [the] commander of | H8269 → | 421 times |
| בֵּית־ | beit- | [the] house of | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| הַסֹּֽהַר׃ | hasohar | the prison | H5470 → | 8 times |
וַיְהִ֤יand he was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
יְהוָה֙Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֶת־with
ʾet-H854 →929 times
יוֹסֵ֔ףJoseph
yosefH3130 →213 times
וַיֵּ֥טand he extended
vaiyetH5186 →214 times
אֵלָ֖יוto him
ʾelavH413 →5510 times
חָ֑סֶדcovenant loyalty
chasedH2617 →247 times
וַיִּתֵּ֣ןand he gave
vaiyitenH5414 →2011 times
חִנּ֔וֹfavor his
chinoH2580 →69 times
בְּעֵינֵ֖יin [the] eyes of
beeineiH5869 →887 times
שַׂ֥ר[the] commander of
sarH8269 →421 times
בֵּית־[the] house of
beit-H1004 →2046 times
הַסֹּֽהַר׃the prison
hasoharH5470 →8 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 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…
it leads to
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 43:1–2
Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your…
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Deuteronomy 31:6–8
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Joshua 1:9
Through
Isaiah 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;…
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
Do 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…
- Psalms 66:12
You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us into abundance.
- Psalms 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
- Isaiah 41:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, ON JOSEPH 5.27; Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 92.4; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 63.2; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.