Genesis 39 13

Genesis 39:13 kjv

And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

Genesis 39:13 nkjv

And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside,

Genesis 39:13 niv

When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,

Genesis 39:13 esv

And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house,

Genesis 39:13 nlt

When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled,

Genesis 39 verses

Genesis 39 13 meaning

This verse describes the immediate consequence of Joseph's flight from Potiphar's wife: upon witnessing that he had left his outer garment in her hand, she seized this physical evidence to concoct a false accusation against him. She immediately raised her voice, summoning her household staff, to publicly declare her distorted version of the event, thereby setting the stage for Joseph's unjust suffering.

Genesis 39 13 Context

Genesis chapter 39 narrates Joseph's rise in Potiphar's house as a steward, where he finds favor due to God's presence with him. He enjoys a position of great trust and responsibility. However, his physical attractiveness catches the attention of Potiphar's wife, who persistently solicits him. Joseph, committed to God and to his master, repeatedly refuses her advances, framing his resistance as both loyalty to Potiphar and, more importantly, a refusal to "sin against God." On the day of the incident described in this verse, the house was empty, providing the "opportunity" for her final, desperate attempt. Joseph's principled stand and his physical escape, leaving his outer garment behind, immediately triggers her vengeful and deceptive reaction. The incident represents a crucial turning point, leading to Joseph's false imprisonment and further testing of his character, yet ultimately serving God's sovereign plan for his life. In the broader ancient Near Eastern context, a master's wife held significant authority within the household, and a slave's word would typically hold no weight against hers, especially in an accusation of sexual assault, making Joseph's predicament perilous.

Genesis 39 13 Word analysis

• And it came to pass, when she saw: This common biblical phrase, וַיְהִי (vayhi), emphasizes that an event unfolded or transpired. It indicates the immediate sequential cause-and-effect relationship following Joseph's departure. Her seeing is the trigger for her next action.
• that he had left: יִוּיֹ֙ף (yi'yof - Hiphil imperfect of יָצָא yatsa, meaning to go out, bring out, take out; implies letting something go, abandoning). He deliberately left the garment in his haste to escape, prioritizing purity over possessions or his reputation at that moment.
• his garment: בִּגְדוֹ (bigdo - from בֶּגֶד, beged, meaning a garment, cloak, wrapper; specifically his outer covering). In ancient times, this garment was essential, a symbol of personal property and identity, often used as security for pledges. Here, it transforms from Joseph's possession to potent evidence, seized and manipulated by Potiphar's wife. Its presence in her hand made it a 'silent witness' against him, but twisted by her malice, it would falsely testify. This contrasts with the use of a garment in Gen 37 to signify Joseph's 'death'.
• in her hand: בְּיָדָהּ (b'yada - from יָד, yad, meaning hand, power, possession). This signifies her immediate physical possession and control of the evidence. She grasped it, marking it as belonging to the perpetrator in her fabricated narrative.
• and fled: נָס (nas - from נוּס, nus, meaning to flee, escape). This denotes Joseph's swift and decisive action to remove himself from the sin. It was a conscious and urgent escape from a place of temptation and sin, demonstrating his commitment to righteous purity, not guilt.
• and got him out: וַיֵּצֵא הַחוּצָה (vayeitze hachutzah - from יָצָא, yatsa, meaning to go out; הַחוּצָה, hachutzah, meaning outside). This highlights Joseph's complete departure from the house, indicating he physically exited the space of sin. His removal was absolute.
• that she cried: וַתִּקְרָא (vatikra - from קָרָא, qara, meaning to call out, proclaim, summon). This word emphasizes an immediate vocalization and public declaration, a desperate move to seize the narrative and justify herself before others.
• unto her household: אֶל־אַנְשֵׁי בֵיתָהּ ('el-anshey veytah - 'men of her house'; from אִישׁ, 'ish, meaning man, husband, staff, and בַּיִת, bayit, meaning house, household). She addresses the male servants or staff within her authority, presenting them with the 'evidence' and her story, knowing they would likely believe her due to her position and status.
• with a loud voice: בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל (b'qol gadol - 'with a great voice'; from קוֹל, qol, meaning voice, sound; and גָּדוֹל, gadol, meaning great, loud). This signifies not just a call, but an exclamation intended to attract immediate attention and imply distress or urgency. It aims to evoke sympathy and strengthen the perception of a legitimate cry for help or outrage. The loudness is for public effect, drawing in witnesses to her fabricated account.

• when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand: This phrase highlights the swift pivot of Potiphar's wife's actions from attempted seduction to malicious deception. The discarded garment, a result of Joseph's virtuous flight, immediately becomes the central prop in her false narrative. It underscores her opportunistic nature, quickly turning her rejection into a vengeful weapon.
• and fled, and got him out: This emphasizes Joseph's resolute and absolute refusal of sin. His action was not just an internal decision but an immediate and decisive physical escape. His departure was complete, reflecting his unyielding commitment to flee sexual immorality, prioritizing holiness over his reputation or worldly possessions, demonstrating a deep conviction to not "sin against God" (Gen 39:9).
• that she cried unto her household with a loud voice: This describes her rapid fabrication of the story. Her "loud voice" served to instantly establish an emotional, urgent atmosphere, intended to bypass critical thinking from her subordinates. It was a public performance, designed to enlist immediate witnesses and reinforce her authority and credibility in the accusation. Her targeting the "household" meant those directly under her command and influence, who were unlikely to question her word.

Genesis 39 13 Bonus section

The narrative strategy employed by Potiphar's wife, where she cries out immediately with the "evidence" in hand, reflects a common tactic of accusers: control the narrative by being the first to speak and presenting physical "proof." This scene is an archetype of false accusation based on circumstantial evidence. The emphasis on her "loud voice" suggests a deliberate performance aimed at swaying perceptions before any rational inquiry could occur. Her psychological response escalates from sexual pursuit to intense rage and vengeful manipulation, characteristic of one scorned and denied. Joseph's innocent suffering, triggered by his commitment to God's standard of purity, foreshadows a larger biblical theme of the righteous suffering unjustly, ultimately leading to greater divine purposes, much like the path of Christ Himself.

Genesis 39 13 Commentary

Genesis 39:13 is a pivotal moment in Joseph's narrative, marking the transition from prosperity to deep adversity. Potiphar's wife's act of seizing Joseph's garment and then immediately raising her voice in a fabricated accusation reveals the volatile nature of rejected lust. Her public outcry, rather than a private accusation to her husband, was a calculated move to establish her version of events with immediate "witnesses"—her household staff. This swift action transforms Joseph's flight from temptation, an act of supreme integrity, into fabricated proof of his guilt.

The garment serves as a tragic irony: Joseph discarded it to maintain his purity, yet it becomes the very tool used to slander and imprison him. This mirrors how seemingly inconsequential choices or discarded elements can be weaponized by deception. Joseph's blameless conduct is met with malicious lies, echoing a timeless struggle between righteousness and deceit. Even in this unjust suffering, Joseph's faithfulness remains steadfast, setting the stage for God's ultimate vindication and the unfolding of His redemptive plan through unforeseen circumstances. This event highlights the severe personal cost of integrity in a fallen world and illustrates the power of a lie to wreak immediate havoc.