Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 39:21
But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
21. But the Lord, &c.] See note on Gen 39:2. The favour of Jehovah towards Joseph is the cause of Joseph’s acceptability with the keeper of the prison. He receives the same degree of confidence in prison, as he had received from the master whom he had served as steward.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 21. 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 honours 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. Joseph’s master saw that Jehovah was with him; and from this we may learn that the knowledge of the true God was in Egypt, even before the time of Joseph, though his worship was neither established nor even tolerated there. Both Abraham and Isaac had been in Egypt, and they had left a savour of true godliness behind them.
2. Joseph’s virtue in resisting the solicitations of his mistress was truly exemplary. Had he reasoned after the manner of men, he might have soon found that the proposed intrigue might be carried on with the utmost secrecy and greatly to his secular advantage. But he chose to risk all rather than injure a kind benefactor, defile his conscience, and sin against God. Such conduct is so exceedingly rare that his example has stood on the records of time as almost without a parallel, admired by all, applauded by most, and in similar circumstances, I am afraid, imitated by few. The fable of the brave and virtuous Bellerophon and Sthenobaea, wife of Proetus, king of the Argives, was probably founded on this history.
3. Joseph fled and got him out. To know when to fight and when to fly are of great importance in the Christian life. Some temptations must be manfully met, resisted, and thus overcome; from others we must fly. He who stands to contend or reason, especially in such a case as that mentioned here, is infallibly ruined. Principiis obsta, “resist the first overtures of sin,” is a good maxim. After-remedies come too late.
4. A woman of the spirit of Potiphar’s wife is capable of any species of evil. When she could not get her wicked ends answered, she began to accuse. This is precisely Satan’s custom: he first tempts men to sin, and then accuses them as having committed it, even where the temptation has been faithfully and perseveringly resisted! By this means he can trouble a tender conscience, and weaken faith by bringing confusion into the mind. Thus the inexperienced especially are often distracted and cast down; hence Satan is properly called the accuser of the brethren, Re 12:10.
Very useful lessons may be drawn from every part of the relation in this chapter, but detailing the facts and reasoning upon them would be more likely to produce than prevent the evil. An account of this kind cannot be touched with too gentle a hand. Others have been profuse here; I chose to be parsimonious, for reasons which the intelligent reader will feel as well as myself. Let this remark be applied to what has been said on the sin of Onan, See Clarke on Ge 38:29.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The gaoler, who under Potiphar was the keeper of that particular person.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
21-23. The Lord . . . gave himfavour in the sight of the keeper of the prison, c.It ishighly probable, from the situation of this prison (Ge40:3), that the keeper might have been previously acquainted withJoseph and have had access to know his innocence of the crime laid tohis charge, as well as with all the high integrity of his character.That may partly account for his showing so much kindness andconfidence to his prisoner. But there was a higher influence at workfor “the Lord was with Joseph, and that which he did, the Lordmade it to prosper.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Lord was with Joseph,…. Comforting him with his presence under his afflictions; supporting him with his right hand; sanctifying all his troubles to him, and so causing him to bear them patiently and cheerfully:
and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison; who was the underkeeper to Potiphar; God so wrought upon the heart of this man, that he was merciful to him, and took off the iron fetters, which hurt his feet, and gave him liberty to walk about; and many other favours and kindnesses he showed unto him, as follow.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In the prison itself Jehovah was with Joseph, procuring him favour in the eyes of the governor of the prison, so that he entrusted all the prisoners to his care, leaving everything that they had to do, to be done through him, and not troubling himself about anything that was in his hand, i.e., was committed to him, because Jehovah made all that he did to prosper. “ The keeper ” was the governor of the prison, or superintendent of the gaolers, and was under Potiphar, the captain of the trabantes and chief of the executioners (Gen 37:36).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 21-23:
Joseph’s experiences provide many examples of Divine Providence. This text shows that God was with him even in his unjust imprisonment. Jehovah blessed and prospered Joseph because of his integrity and faithfulness to Scripture-principles. Conditions in Pharaoh’s prison were far from ideal. But even there Jehovah was with His faithful servant.
Joseph soon rose to the position of chief administrative officer of the prison, under the warden himself. As in Potiphar’s house, Joseph soon became the official responsible for prison affairs, accountable to the prison keeper.
Joseph’s experiences were far from pleasant to the flesh. But he was learning valuable lessons that shaped his character. In prison he had the opportunity to see the stern justice meted to the guilty. He also saw the horrors of injustice, of those falsely imprisoned. This served to make him a compassionate officer when later elevated to the position of prime minister. All the circumstances of his life, from the hatred, by his brothers and their betrayal of him, the role of a slave, the false accusations of an immoral woman, to his unjust imprisonment, served as a furnace to burn out the dross of pride, self-will, anger, bitterness, and immorality and to form in him the character of Christ.
This reveals God’s purpose in life for His child, (see Ro 8:29; 1Pe 1:7). This is a powerful reminder to us today that we are not to give up when called upon to endure trials in life. We remember that Jesus endured hatred and injustice and persecution, even to being condemned to death unjustly. We become partakers of Christ’s sufferings, so that we may also become partakers of His glory, 1Pe 4:13. In partaking of His sufferings, we are entitled also to partake of His consolation, 2Co 1:6, 7.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
21. But the Lord was with Joseph. It appears, from the testimony of the Psalmist just cited, that Joseph’s extreme sufferings were not immediately alleviated. The Lord purposely suffered him to be reduced to extremity, that he might bring him back as from the grave. We know that as the light of the sun is most clearly seen when we are looking from a dark place; so, in the darkness of our miseries, the grace of God shines more brightly when, beyond expectation, he succors us. Moreover, Moses says, the Lord was with Joseph, because he extended this grace or mercy towards him; whence we may learn, that God, even when he delivers us from unjust violence, or when he assists us in a good cause, is yet induced to do so by his own goodness. For since we are unworthy that he should grant us his help, the cause of its communication must be in himself; seeing that he is merciful. Certainly if merits, which should lay God under obligation, are to be sought for in men, they would have been found in Joseph; yet Moses declares that he was assisted by the gratuitous favor of God. This, however, is no obstacle to his leaving received the reward of his piety, which is perfectly consistent with the gratuitous kindness of God. The manner of exercising this kindness is also added; namely, that the Lord gave him favor with the keeper of the prison. There is, indeed, no doubt that Joseph was acceptable to the keeper for many reasons: for even virtue conciliates favor to itself; and Moses has before shown that the holy man was amiable in many ways; but because it often happens that the children of God are treated with as great inhumanity as if they were the worst of all men, Moses expressly states that the keeper of the prison, at length, became humane; because his mind, which was not spontaneously disposed to equity, had been divinely inclined to it. Therefore, that the keeper of the prison, having laid aside his cruelty, acted with kindness and gentleness, was a change which proceeded from God, who governs the hearts of men according to his own will. But it is a wonder that the keeper of the prison did not fear lest he should incur the displeasure of Potiphar: and even that Potiphar himself, who without difficulty could have interfered, should yet have suffered a man whom he mortally hated to be thus kindly and liberally treated. It may be answered with truth, that his cruelty had been divinely restrained: but it is also probable that he had suspected, and at length, been made acquainted with the subtle scheme of his wife. Although, however, he might be appeased towards holy Joseph, he was unwilling to acquit him to his own dishonor. Meanwhile the remarkable integrity of Joseph manifests itself in this, that when he is made the guard of the prison, and has the free administration of it, he nevertheless does not attempt to escape, but waits for the proper season of his liberation.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
21. The Lord was with Joseph “Jehovah is with him in the prison as well as in the house of Potiphar, and he wins the confidence of his new master, the jailer, as completely as he did that of Potiphar . Amid allurements and enticements, and amid degradation and suffering, in honour and dishonour, Joseph’s faith and integrity shine on the same . Unlike his father Jacob, or even his great-grandfather Abraham, Joseph is never seen to slip into temptation . He reveals the most steady and uniform faith, and on the whole the best-balanced character that we find in the patriarchal age . Especially is Joseph a remarkable example of youthful piety . In fact, while Abraham lives as a hoary sage in our imagination, Joseph rises before us ever in the beauty and freshness of youth . At the age of seventeen he exchanged the simple pastoral life of Palestine, with its tents and pastures and sheepfolds, for the massive cities and luxurious splendours of Egyptian civilization; the rude altars of Beth-el and Beer-sheba for the bewildering grandeur of temples which fill the soul with awe today; yet he never forgot the God of his fathers, and to the law of that God he clung, not only in obedience, but in love, when to disobey would seem to have been the dictate of every worldly interest. He came to that land a slave, and friendless, yet by the simple force of character he rose to be next to Pharaoh. This is moral greatness and grandeur.” Newhall.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Dan 6:22 .-It is a delightful thought, that no bars can shut out the presence of GOD from his people.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Ver. 21. But the Lord was with Joseph. ] A prison keeps not God from his; witness the apostles and martyrs, whose prisons, by God’s presence, became palaces; the fiery furnace, a gallery of pleasure; the stocks, a music school. Act 16:25 Bradford, after he was put in prison, had better health than before; and found great favour with his keeper, who suffered him to go whither he would, upon his promise to return by such an hour to his prison again. a
a Act. and Mon., fol. 1489, 1457.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
mercy = kindness.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Lord: Gen 39:2, Gen 21:22, Gen 49:23, Gen 49:24, Isa 41:10, Isa 43:2, Dan 6:22, Rom 8:31, Rom 8:32, Rom 8:37, 1Pe 3:13, 1Pe 3:14, 1Pe 3:17, 1Pe 4:14-16
showed him mercy: Heb. extended kindness unto him
gave him: Gen 40:3, Exo 3:21, Exo 11:3, Exo 12:36, Psa 105:19, Psa 105:22, Psa 106:46, Pro 16:7, Dan 1:9, Act 7:9, Act 7:10
Reciprocal: Gen 21:20 – God Gen 26:3 – I will be Gen 28:15 – I am Gen 30:27 – favour Gen 39:4 – Joseph Gen 40:4 – the captain Gen 43:14 – And God Jos 6:27 – the Lord Jdg 1:19 – the Lord 1Sa 3:19 – the Lord 1Ki 11:19 – found 2Ch 1:1 – the Lord 2Ch 17:3 – the Lord Est 2:9 – she obtained Pro 3:4 – shalt Mat 28:20 – I am Act 28:16 – but