Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife
Joseph is bought into Potiphar's house, where the LORD's presence makes his work prosper and lifts him into complete responsibility over the household. Potiphar comes to trust him so fully that he leaves everything in Joseph's hands.
M1eanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master. 3When his master saw that the LORD was with him and made him prosper in all he did, 4Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. 5Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned. From the time that he put Joseph in charge of his household and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s household on account of him. The LORD’s blessing was on everything he owned, both in his house and in his field. 6So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Potiphar's wife desires Joseph, but he refuses her repeated advances. He names the act as both a betrayal of his master's trust and a sin against God.
7Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” 8But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care. 9No 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?” 10Although Potiphar’s wife spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be near her.
When she finds him alone in the house, she seizes his cloak and demands him again. Joseph leaves the cloak behind and runs outside.
11One day, however, Joseph went into the house to attend to his work, and not a single household servant was inside. 12She grabbed Joseph by his cloak and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his cloak in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.