Genesis 39:18 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 39:18 kjv
And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
Genesis 39:18 nkjv
so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside."
Genesis 39:18 niv
But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house."
Genesis 39:18 esv
But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house."
Genesis 39:18 nlt
"But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!"
Genesis 39 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 39:7-9 | ...after a time that his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph... “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” | Joseph's strong refusal of sin based on fear of God. |
| Gen 39:12 | He left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. | The factual event that precedes her lie. |
| Gen 39:19-20 | As soon as his master heard the words... he was enraged... Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison... | Immediate consequence of the false accusation. |
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. | God's sovereign hand working through human evil for redemptive purposes. |
| Psa 105:17-19 | ...he had sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave... they bruised his feet with fetters; he was laid in irons; until what he said came to pass... | Divine preparation through Joseph's suffering. |
| Deut 19:18-19 | The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has given false testimony... you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. | Law against false witness, showing the seriousness of such an act. |
| Psa 27:12 | For false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. | Lamentation over false accusations, similar to Joseph's plight. |
| Prov 6:16-19 | There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: ...a false witness who breathes out lies... | God's hatred for deceit and false testimony. |
| Mt 26:59-60 | Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death... | Jesus faced false witnesses and unjust accusation, like Joseph. |
| Mk 14:55-56 | The chief priests and the whole Council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him... | Confirmation of Jesus being subjected to false witness. |
| 1 Pet 2:19-21 | For this is a gracious thing, when one suffers sorrows while suffering unjustly for conscience toward God. ...For to this you have been called... | Suffering unjustly for righteousness' sake, exemplified by Joseph. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. | God's ability to orchestrate all circumstances for ultimate good. |
| Psa 37:12-13 | The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. | God's awareness of wicked plots against the righteous. |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | But understand this, that in the last days there will be difficult times. For people will be lovers of self... slanderers... | Description of depraved character, exemplified by Potiphar's wife. |
| Titus 2:3 | Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good... | Counter-example to Potiphar's wife's conduct, especially for women. |
| Jas 1:13-14 | Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when... | The origin of temptation and desire, distinct from God's will. |
| Prov 7:21 | With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. | Portrays the danger of a seductive woman, similar to Joseph's temptress. |
| Gen 40:15 | ...for I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit. | Joseph's protestation of innocence while imprisoned. |
| Psa 17:3-4 | ...you have tested me and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips I have kept... | Committing to a path of integrity despite trials. |
| Prov 10:9 | Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. | The eventual vindication of the righteous and exposure of the wicked. |
| 1 Jn 2:16 | For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. | The underlying sinful desires that led to Potiphar's wife's actions. |
| Zec 3:3-5 | Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments..." | The symbolism of garments and their removal relating to sin or righteousness. |
Genesis 39 verses
Genesis 39 18 meaning
Genesis 39:18 details Potiphar's wife's false accusation against Joseph, claiming that when she cried out, Joseph, who had been attempting to assault her, abandoned his garment and fled from her presence and the house. This fabricated story, centered on the physical "evidence" of Joseph's cloak, was her calculated attempt to discredit Joseph and conceal her own aggressive pursuit and his resolute rejection.
Genesis 39 18 Context
Genesis 39 finds Joseph, after being sold into slavery by his brothers, thriving in the household of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. The LORD was with Joseph, causing everything he did to prosper, leading Potiphar to entrust him with all his possessions. Joseph was handsome and well-built. Potiphar's wife repeatedly tried to seduce Joseph. Joseph consistently refused her advances, emphasizing his loyalty to his master, the trust placed in him, and most importantly, his fear of sinning against God (Gen 39:9). This verse describes the culmination of her failed attempts, where she resorts to a desperate and deceitful act of self-preservation and revenge after Joseph flees from her grip, leaving his garment behind. Her intention was to frame him to ensure his punishment. The historical and cultural context highlights the immense power and authority a high-ranking woman in ancient Egyptian society could wield within her household. For a slave to be accused of such an act by the master's wife would typically result in immediate and severe punishment, potentially death. The garment served as "proof," leveraging the cultural understanding of the situation to solidify her false narrative against Joseph.
Genesis 39 18 Word analysis
And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - vay'hi): A common Hebrew narrative marker indicating the initiation or continuation of an event. It points to a direct unfolding of consequences from prior actions, often hinting at divine oversight even in challenging circumstances.
as I lifted up my voice (כְּהָרִימִי קוֹלִי - keharimi qoli):
- keharimi (from רוּם - rum): "As I raised, lifted up." Implies a deliberate, forceful act.
- qoli (from קוֹל - qol): "My voice." Suggests a loud, perhaps shrill, cry designed to attract attention and portray herself as a victim. It was a performative act of alarm.
and cried (וָאֶקְרָא - va'eqra):
- From קָרָא - qara': "to call out, summon, cry aloud." Reinforces the active and loud nature of her pretended distress. This wasn't a sob; it was a shriek, intended for others to hear and respond to her staged narrative.
that he left his garment with me (וַיַּעֲזֹב בִּגְדוֹ אֶצְלִי - vayya'azov bigdo etzli):
- vayya'azov (from עָזַב - 'azav): "And he left, abandoned, forsook." Joseph had to actively relinquish his cloak to escape her physical grasp and the sin.
- bigdo (from בֶּגֶד - beged): "His garment, clothing, outer cloak." This outer cloak was significant. It was not just any piece of clothing but often the most noticeable one, easy to be grabbed or shed in a struggle. Its presence in her hand served as tangible, albeit false, evidence. In this culture, leaving a garment could imply dishonor, or in this context, guilt. The act of shedding it, however, reveals Joseph's priority: escape from temptation over reputation.
- etzli: "With me, beside me, near me." Emphasizes her possession of the "evidence."
and fled out (וַיָּנָס הַחוּצָה - vayyanas hachutzah):
- vayyanas (from נוּס - nus): "And he fled, escaped, hastened away." Indicates rapid, desperate movement. Joseph's focus was not to engage or explain, but to remove himself from the sin.
- hachutzah: "Out, to the outside." Specifically denotes fleeing the inner confines of the house to the exterior, thereby emphasizing his complete withdrawal from the situation.
"as I lifted up my voice and cried": This phrase highlights the intentionality and performative nature of her accusation. It wasn't an organic reaction but a pre-meditated theatrical performance designed to ensnare Joseph. It showcases manipulation through fabricated distress.
"he left his garment with me, and fled out": This concisely states the "evidence" and the alleged action. For her, the garment symbolized his guilt; for Joseph, it was the symbol of his escape from temptation and integrity, a detail confirmed by the true account in Gen 39:12. This specific framing allows her to shift blame entirely onto Joseph, turning him from the one tempted into the aggressor, and herself from the temptress into the victim.
Genesis 39 18 Bonus section
The repeated emphasis on the "garment" throughout the narrative (Gen 39:12, 13, 15, 16, 18) elevates it beyond a mere piece of clothing to a symbol. Initially, it represented Joseph's forced encounter; later, it became false evidence used by his accuser. Ironically, this very garment, left behind as Joseph fled from sin, objectively testified to his immediate and decisive escape, implicitly signaling his moral blamelessness in the true account. Yet, in the eyes of his accusers, it sealed his "guilt." This reversal underscores the common biblical theme of the righteous suffering unjustly (similar to later narratives of the Prophets and even Christ Himself), but also highlights God's ability to use human malice for His overarching purposes. The episode, though plunging Joseph into deeper adversity, served as a crucial step in preparing him for his future role in Egypt, forging his character through adversity and reinforcing his dependence on God.
Genesis 39 18 Commentary
Genesis 39:18 marks a pivotal moment in Joseph's life, characterized by profound injustice rooted in malicious deceit. Potiphar's wife's carefully crafted lie, supported by the tangible "evidence" of Joseph's discarded garment, illustrates the dangerous power of false accusation. Her dramatic cry was not a genuine plea for help, but a calculated performance, manipulating the situation to protect her reputation and exact revenge after Joseph's steadfast refusal. Joseph's integrity shines brightly here: he chose to flee from sin against God, even at the cost of his reputation and freedom. The discarded garment, meant to condemn him, became a silent testament to his purity and flight from wickedness. This act of deception ultimately led Joseph to prison, yet it unknowingly aligned with God's greater redemptive plan, setting the stage for his elevation and the salvation of many. This narrative is a powerful example of suffering for righteousness and divine sovereignty at work amidst human evil.