This verse is part of the story of Joseph in Egypt. Joseph, a young Hebrew slave, was purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. He quickly rose in Potiphar's household due to his competence and God's favor. Potiphar's wife, however, lusted after Joseph and tried to seduce him. Joseph refused her advances repeatedly.
The verse in question describes the aftermath of one of these attempted seductions:
"When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him...": Potiphar is the master here. His wife, after being rejected by Joseph, is now accusing Joseph of attempting to rape her. She's spinning the narrative to paint herself as the victim.
"...saying, 'This is what your servant did to me,'...": This is the core of the accusation. She's explicitly accusing Joseph of sexually assaulting her. The phrase "your servant" highlights Joseph's subordinate status, emphasizing the power dynamic and making the accusation seem more plausible to Potiphar.
"...his wrath was kindled.": Potiphar became extremely angry upon hearing his wife's story. He believed her accusation and was enraged at Joseph's perceived betrayal and assault of his wife.
Therefore, the verse means:
Potiphar, after hearing his wife's fabricated accusation that Joseph had tried to assault her, became filled with rage and believed his wife's version of events.
Key Interpretations & Implications:
False Accusation: The verse underscores the injustice of the situation. Joseph is innocent, but is being condemned based on a false accusation.
Potiphar's Trust: The verse reveals that Potiphar trusted his wife over Joseph, despite Joseph's proven loyalty and competence. This could be due to the societal norms of the time, where a husband would naturally side with his wife, or perhaps a pre-existing suspicion or bias.
Joseph's Downfall: This verse marks the turning point in Joseph's fortunes. As a result of this accusation, he is thrown into prison, his promising career in Potiphar's household abruptly ended.
Divine Providence: While seemingly a tragic event, in the larger narrative, Joseph's imprisonment is ultimately part of God's plan to bring him to a position of power in Egypt and save his family from famine.
This verse is part of the story of Joseph in Egypt. Joseph, a young Hebrew slave, was purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. He quickly rose in Potiphar's household due to his competence and God's favor. Potiphar's wife, however, lusted after Joseph and tried to seduce him. Joseph refused her advances repeatedly.
The verse in question describes the aftermath of one of these attempted seductions:
"When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him...": Potiphar is the master here. His wife, after being rejected by Joseph, is now accusing Joseph of attempting to rape her. She's spinning the narrative to paint herself as the victim.
"...saying, 'This is what your servant did to me,'...": This is the core of the accusation. She's explicitly accusing Joseph of sexually assaulting her. The phrase "your servant" highlights Joseph's subordinate status, emphasizing the power dynamic and making the accusation seem more plausible to Potiphar.
"...his wrath was kindled.": Potiphar became extremely angry upon hearing his wife's story. He believed her accusation and was enraged at Joseph's perceived betrayal and assault of his wife.
Therefore, the verse means:
Potiphar, after hearing his wife's fabricated accusation that Joseph had tried to assault her, became filled with rage and believed his wife's version of events.
Key Interpretations & Implications:
False Accusation: The verse underscores the injustice of the situation. Joseph is innocent, but is being condemned based on a false accusation.
Potiphar's Trust: The verse reveals that Potiphar trusted his wife over Joseph, despite Joseph's proven loyalty and competence. This could be due to the societal norms of the time, where a husband would naturally side with his wife, or perhaps a pre-existing suspicion or bias.
Joseph's Downfall: This verse marks the turning point in Joseph's fortunes. As a result of this accusation, he is thrown into prison, his promising career in Potiphar's household abruptly ended.
Divine Providence: While seemingly a tragic event, in the larger narrative, Joseph's imprisonment is ultimately part of God's plan to bring him to a position of power in Egypt and save his family from famine.