Bible Strands
Genesis 39:19
When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is what your slave did to me,” he burned with anger.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Potiphar, Joseph’s Egyptian master, reacts to his wife’s fabricated accusation while Joseph is imprisoned. The narrative moment follows her immediate report of Joseph fleeing with his cloak left behind.
The words — כִּשְׁמֹעַ (kishmo'a) translates to "when he heard," marking the precise trigger for the master’s reaction. אֲדֹנָיו ('adonav) identifies the responding figure as "his master," establishing his authority to judge the dispute.
The thread — Unchecked anger appears in Genesis 4:5 when Cain reacts to divine rejection, and Proverbs 6:34 warns that jealousy provokes a husband’s fury. The master’s response mirrors these patterns of human emotion overriding impartial judgment.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition of how quickly authority figures can abandon investigation when swayed by partial testimony. It requires readers to examine their own reliance on evidence before rendering verdicts.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
Cross-references
- Genesis 4:5 but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
- Job 29:16 I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.
- Proverbs 6:34 For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.
- Proverbs 18:17 The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
- Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.
- Song of Solomon 8:7 Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.
- Acts 25:16 I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11 For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,