Genesis 39:2

Authorized King James Version

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And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Original Language Analysis

וַיְהִ֤י H1961
וַיְהִ֤י
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 11
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
יְהוָה֙ And the LORD H3068
יְהוָה֙ And the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 2 of 11
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת H854
אֶת
Strong's: H854
Word #: 3 of 11
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
יוֹסֵ֔ף was with Joseph H3130
יוֹסֵ֔ף was with Joseph
Strong's: H3130
Word #: 4 of 11
joseph, the name of seven israelites
וַיְהִ֖י H1961
וַיְהִ֖י
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 5 of 11
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אִ֣ישׁ H582
אִ֣ישׁ
Strong's: H582
Word #: 6 of 11
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
מַצְלִ֑יחַ and he was a prosperous H6743
מַצְלִ֑יחַ and he was a prosperous
Strong's: H6743
Word #: 7 of 11
to push forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
וַיְהִ֕י H1961
וַיְהִ֕י
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 8 of 11
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְּבֵ֥ית and he was in the house H1004
בְּבֵ֥ית and he was in the house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 9 of 11
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֲדֹנָ֖יו of his master H113
אֲדֹנָ֖יו of his master
Strong's: H113
Word #: 10 of 11
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
הַמִּצְרִֽי׃ the Egyptian H4713
הַמִּצְרִֽי׃ the Egyptian
Strong's: H4713
Word #: 11 of 11
a mitsrite, or inhabitant of mitsrajim

Cross References

1 Samuel 18:14And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.Psalms 91:15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.Jeremiah 15:20And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.Genesis 26:28And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;Genesis 26:24And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.Isaiah 43:2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.Genesis 21:22And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:Psalms 1:3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.Isaiah 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.Genesis 28:15And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Analysis & Commentary

And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the... This passage is part of the Joseph narrative, a masterfully crafted account demonstrating God's sovereign providence working through human choices and circumstances to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The Joseph cycle shows how God transforms evil intentions into instruments of salvation.

Central themes include divine providence orchestrating events toward redemptive ends, the testing and refinement of character through suffering and success, forgiveness overcoming betrayal and injustice, and the preservation of God's covenant people through famine. Joseph's rise from slavery to second-in-command of Egypt illustrates how God exalts the humble and uses seeming disasters for ultimate good.

Theologically, these chapters reveal:

  1. God's meticulous sovereignty over all events, even evil human actions
  2. suffering as preparation for future service rather than punishment
  3. forgiveness as reflecting divine character and enabling reconciliation
  4. God's covenant faithfulness across generations ensuring the survival and blessing of His people
  5. how present suffering gains meaning when viewed from the perspective of God's larger purposes.

Joseph's words "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (50:20) epitomize biblical theodicy and providence.

Historical Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Questions for Reflection

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