Genesis 39:12 kjv
And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Genesis 39:12 nkjv
that she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
Genesis 39:12 niv
She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
Genesis 39:12 esv
she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.
Genesis 39:12 nlt
She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, "Come on, sleep with me!" Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.
Genesis 39 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 6:18 | Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. | Fleeing sexual immorality. |
| 2 Tim 2:22 | Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. | Fleeing lusts; pursuing purity. |
| Jas 4:7 | Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Resisting temptation through submission to God. |
| Prov 5:8 | Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: | Avoiding the path of temptation. |
| Prov 6:32 | But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. | Consequences of adultery. |
| Gen 39:9 | ...how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? | Joseph's motivation: sin against God. |
| Matt 5:28 | But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. | Heart purity, preventing lust. |
| Gen 39:2-3 | The Lord was with Joseph... the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. | God's presence and favor with Joseph. |
| 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. | God's continued presence even in hardship. |
| Prov 7:26-27 | For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her... | Danger of succumbing to seduction. |
| 1 Cor 10:14 | Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. | Fleeing grievous sin. |
| Rom 13:14 | But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. | Avoiding provision for fleshly lusts. |
| 1 Pet 4:16 | Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. | Suffering for righteousness; glorifying God. |
| Acts 7:9-10 | And the patriarchs... sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, And delivered him out of all his afflictions... | God's deliverance despite treachery. |
| Eph 5:3 | But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; | Admonition against sexual sin. |
| 1 Pet 5:8-9 | Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith... | Resisting the adversary's temptations. |
| Job 31:1-12 | I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? ... For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. | Job's commitment to sexual purity. |
| Ps 26:1 | Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide. | Trusting in integrity. |
| Dan 1:8 | But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat... | Decisive moral resolve. |
| Ps 1:1 | Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. | Avoiding paths of unrighteousness. |
Genesis 39 verses
Genesis 39 12 Meaning
Genesis 39:12 portrays Joseph's resolute rejection of sexual temptation from Potiphar's wife. Despite her forceful attempt to ensnare him physically, Joseph prioritizes his moral integrity and his commitment to God over personal comfort or worldly safety. His decisive act of fleeing, abandoning his garment, exemplifies an unwavering stance against sin and a profound understanding of its offense against the Lord. This verse is a powerful illustration of a righteous response to grave temptation.
Genesis 39 12 Context
Genesis chapter 39 details Joseph's remarkable ascent to a position of trust and authority in the household of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. God's favor was evident, causing everything Joseph touched to prosper (Gen 39:2-3). This elevated position made Joseph an object of desire for Potiphar's wife, who persistently urged him to "lie with" her (Gen 39:7). Joseph consistently refused her advances, explaining that to succumb would be a betrayal of his master's trust and, more profoundly, "great wickedness" and "sin against God" (Gen 39:8-9). The daily temptation reached a climax when Joseph entered the house to perform his duties and found no other men present, creating the opportune moment for the woman to forcefully attempt to carry out her desires, leading directly to the dramatic events of verse 12.
Genesis 39 12 Word analysis
- And she caught him (וַתִּתְפְּשׂ בְּבִגְדוֹ - va-titpos be-vigdo): The verb "caught" (tāfas) implies a forceful, immediate, and physical grasping or seizing. It signifies a determined, aggressive act on her part to physically restrain Joseph.
- by his garment (בְּבִגְדוֹ - be-vigdo): His "garment" or outer cloak was his personal possession, a piece of clothing he wore, symbolic of his presence and identity. This direct physical hold reveals her desperate and intense desire, crossing a boundary of respect and consent.
- saying, Lie with me (לֵאמֹר שִׁכְבָה עִמִּי - le'mor shikhbah immi): Her words are a direct, unambiguous, and imperative command or invitation for sexual intercourse. It leaves no room for misunderstanding her intent.
- and he left his garment (וַיַּעֲזֹב בִּגְדוֹ - vayya'azov bigdo): The verb "left" ('azav) implies an intentional act of abandoning or forsaking. Joseph consciously chose to release his hold on the garment, knowing it meant discarding a valuable possession and potentially creating incriminating evidence, to prioritize escape.
- in her hand (בְּיָדָהּ - be-yadah): This phrase highlights that the garment remained with her, solidifying it as potential evidence of an altercation or Joseph's presence. It immediately becomes an object she can use to frame him.
- and fled (וַיָּנָס - vayyanas): The verb "fled" (nās) indicates a swift, decisive, and urgent escape. Joseph's action was immediate and showed no hesitation or desire to remain or negotiate. This is the ultimate act of self-preservation from temptation.
- and got him out (וַיֵּצֵא הַחוּצָה - vayeitzei hakhutzah): "Got him out" (vayeitzei) signifies he exited the room, and "the outside" (hakhutzah) emphasizes his complete removal from the place of temptation and the physical proximity of the tempter. He removed himself completely from the dangerous environment.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And she caught him by his garment" vs. "and he left his garment in her hand": This contrast highlights a shift in agency and outcome. Her initial action was to seize and control him, using his garment as a tool. His response, however, was to relinquish the garment as a calculated move to gain freedom. The object intended to restrain him becomes the means of his escape, even as it serves her nefarious purpose later.
- "saying, Lie with me" vs. "and fled, and got him out": These two phrases represent the absolute antithesis of intention and action. Her spoken invitation to sin is met with his decisive, immediate, and silent physical flight. It vividly portrays Joseph's resolute "No" to sin, executed through action rather than verbal confrontation in that moment of crisis.
Genesis 39 12 Bonus section
The narrative carefully places Joseph's moral strength in stark contrast to the ethical laxity prevalent in the surrounding culture. While an act of adultery by a slave might have gone unpunished or even unnoticed in some contexts, Joseph's refusal, rooted in his faith, ultimately brings him false accusation. The garment left in Potiphar's wife's hand, intended by her as irrefutable proof of Joseph's alleged aggression, ironically testifies to his pure heart for the discerning reader. This event directly leads to his imprisonment, a trial God ultimately used to position Joseph to preserve His people and demonstrate His divine providence. Joseph's "fleeing" becomes a blueprint for addressing powerful sexual temptation: immediate and absolute separation from the source of the temptation without negotiation or compromise.
Genesis 39 12 Commentary
Genesis 39:12 showcases Joseph's profound moral integrity and his absolute resolve to uphold divine standards of purity. His immediate and vigorous flight from temptation reveals a disciplined heart that understands the true nature of sin—a grievous offense against God—and the critical importance of creating distance from its alluring grip. It was not a casual departure but a frantic escape, symbolizing his detestation of the sin itself. This decisive action, though leading to false accusation and unjust imprisonment, preserved his spiritual purity and God's unwavering favor, which continued with him even in the prison (Gen 39:21). Joseph chose righteousness and the potential wrath of man over unrighteousness and the wrath of God. His response serves as a timeless example for believers to not just resist temptation verbally but to physically "flee" from it, abandoning anything, even personal comfort or possessions, to preserve one's spiritual integrity.