Bible Strands
Genesis 39:20
So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined. While Joseph was there in the prison,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative reports Joseph’s master acting immediately after hearing his wife’s accusation and burning with anger. The master physically removes Joseph and places him in a detention facility.
The words — The phrase וַ/יִּתְּנֵ֙/הוּ֙ (va/i.yi.te.Ne./hu) literally means "and he put him," paired with אֶל־ בֵּ֣ית הַ/סֹּ֔הַר (el- beit ha./So.har) for "into the house of the prison."
The thread — This detention facility is later identified as the place where the king’s cupbearer and baker are confined (Genesis 40:3), and Joseph references his unjust imprisonment when speaking to the cupbearer (Genesis 40:15).
Why it lands — The text records a factual transfer of custody without moral commentary, requiring the reader to note the administrative reality of Joseph’s situation before the narrative shifts to divine presence.
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 Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
Cross-references
- Genesis 40:15 For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for which they should have put me in this dungeon.”
- Genesis 40:1 Some time later, the king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.
- Genesis 41:9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures.
- Psalms 105:18 They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons,
- Isaiah 53:8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people.
- Daniel 3:21 So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.
- 2 Timothy 2:9 for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
- 1 Peter 2:19 For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.
- Psalms 76:10 Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.