39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness. 4 He granted him favor in the sight of the prison warden. 5
1 tn Heb “God has given my reward.”
2 tn The words “as a wife” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied for clarity (cf. v. 9).
sn Leah seems to regard the act of giving her servant Zilpah to her husband as a sacrifice, for which (she believes) God is now rewarding her with the birth of a son.
3 sn The name Issachar (יְשָּׁשכָר, yishakhar) appears to mean “man of reward” or possibly “there is reward.” The name plays on the word used in the statement made earlier in the verse. The Hebrew noun translated “reward” is derived from the same root as the name Issachar. The irony is that Rachel thought the mandrakes would work for her, and she was willing to trade one night for them. But in that one night Leah became pregnant.
4 tn Heb “and he extended to him loyal love.”
5 tn Or “the chief jailer” (also in the following verses).