Discovery BoxGenesis 24:39 
Context24:39 But I said to my master, ‘What if the woman does not want to go 1 with me?’ 2
Genesis 39:2-3
Context39:2 The Lord was with Joseph. He was successful 3 and lived 4 in the household of his Egyptian master. 39:3 His master observed that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he was doing successful. 5
Genesis 39:7
Context39:7 Soon after these things, his master’s wife took notice of 6 Joseph and said, “Have sex with me.” 7
Genesis 39:19
Context39:19 When his master heard his wife say, 8 “This is the way 9 your slave treated me,” 10 he became furious. 11
Genesis 44:5
Context44:5 Doesn’t my master drink from this cup 12 and use it for divination? 13 You have done wrong!’” 14
1 tn The imperfect is used here in a modal sense to indicate desire.
2 tn Heb “after me.”
3 tn Heb “and he was a prosperous man.” This does not mean that Joseph became wealthy, but that he was successful in what he was doing, or making progress in his situation (see 24:21).
4 tn Heb “and he was.”
5 tn The Hebrew text adds “in his hand,” a phrase not included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
6 tn Heb “she lifted up her eyes toward,” an expression that emphasizes her deliberate and careful scrutiny of him.
7 tn Heb “lie with me.” Here the expression “lie with” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
sn The story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife has long been connected with the wisdom warnings about the strange woman who tries to seduce the young man with her boldness and directness (see Prov 5-7, especially 7:6-27). This is part of the literary background of the story of Joseph that gives it a wisdom flavor. See G. von Rad, God at Work in Israel, 19-35; and G. W. Coats, “The Joseph Story and Ancient Wisdom: A Reappraisal,” CBQ 35 (1973): 285-97.
8 tn Heb “and when his master heard the words of his wife which she spoke to him, saying.”
9 tn Heb “according to these words.”
10 tn Heb “did to me.”
11 tn Heb “his anger burned.”
12 tn Heb “Is this not what my master drinks from.” The word “cup” is not in the Hebrew text, but is obviously the referent of “this,” and so has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
13 tn Heb “and he, divining, divines with it.” The infinitive absolute is emphatic, stressing the importance of the cup to Joseph.
14 tn Heb “you have caused to be evil what you have done.”
