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Joseph in Egypt

Genesis 39:1-23

In Egypt, Joseph served in Potiphar’s house, and the Lord was with him. Falsely accused, he was put in prison, and there he explained dreams. Pharaoh sent for him, and Joseph told him there would be seven years of plenty and seven of famine. Pharaoh made him governor of Egypt. Genesis 39:1-23

Joseph in Egypt: an artistic recreation

The story, in plain words

In Egypt, Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, bought Joseph. Genesis 39:1

The Lord was with Joseph, and everything went well for him. So Potiphar put him in charge of his whole house. Genesis 39:2-4

Potiphar’s wife asked Joseph to sleep with her. Joseph refused, because he did not want to betray his master or sin against God. Genesis 39:7-9

She accused him with lies, and Potiphar, in his anger, had Joseph locked up in prison. Genesis 39:17-20 But the Lord was with Joseph in prison too. The chief jailer…

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What the Bible says

Genesis 39:1-23

1And Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Putiphar an eunuch of Pharao, chief captain of the army, an Egyptian, bought him of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought. 2And the Lord was with him, and he was a prosperous man in all things: and he dwelt in his master’s house, 3Who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4And Joseph found favour in the sight of his master, and ministered to him: and being set over all by him, he governed the house committed to him, and all things that were delivered to him: 5And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph’s sake, and multiplied all his substance, both at home, and in the fields. 6Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he ate. And Joseph was of a beautiful countenance, and comely to behold. 7And after many days his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and said: Lie with me. 8But he, in no wise consenting to that wicked act, said to her: Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me, and knoweth not what he hath in his own house: 9Neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he hath not delivered to me, but thee, who art his wife: how then can I do this wicked thing, and sin against my God? 10With such words as these day by day, both the woman was importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery. 11Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house, and was doing some business without any, man with him: 12And she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me. But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went out. 13And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself disregarded, 14She called to her the men of her house, and said to them: See, he hath brought in a Hebrew, to abuse us: he came in to me, to lie with me: and when I cried out, 15And he heard my voice, he left the garment that I held, and got him out. 16For a proof therefore of her fidelity, she kept the garment, and shewed it to her husband when he returned home: 17And said: The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought, came to me to abuse me. 18And when he heard me cry, he left the garment which I held, and fled out. 19His master hearing these things, and giving too much credit to his wife’s words, was very angry. 20And cast Joseph into the prison, where the king’s prisoners were kept, and he was there shut up. 21But the Lord was with Joseph and having mercy upon him gave him favour in the sight of the chief keeper of the prison: 22Who delivered into his hand all the prisoners that were kept in custody: and whatsoever was done was under him. 23Neither did he himself know any thing, having committed all things to him: for the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

To talk about together

  1. Joseph was treated unfairly more than once. What do you think helped him keep going?
  2. Joseph said that the answer came from God, not from him. Why do you think he said that?
  3. For the child: what do you do when someone blames you for something you did not do?

Who is in it?

Joseph, son of Jacob.

And what happened next?

Joseph forgives his brothers

Read the whole story in God's Map