The Meaning of Genesis 39:12 Explained

Genesis 39:12

KJV: And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

YLT: and she catcheth him by his garment, saying, 'Lie with me;' and he leaveth his garment in her hand, and fleeth, and goeth without.

Darby: Then she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me! But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran out.

ASV: And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And she caught  him by his garment,  saying,  Lie  with me: and he left  his garment  in her hand,  and fled,  and got  him out. 

What does Genesis 39:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 39:1-18 - Joseph In Potiphar's House
Ungodly families and employers owe more than they realize to the presence in their homes and businesses of those who love God; for God comes with His servants. See Genesis 39:2; Genesis 39:21; Genesis 39:23, and Acts 7:9. But those who would enjoy that accompanying Presence must resist and overcome the appeals of the flesh. Days of outward prosperity are those in which we are most keenly tempted. The most venomous serpents coil in the damp heat of tropical forests. When temptation and opportunity meet, our case is hard indeed. At such times only God's grace can hold us back. As temptation presents itself again and again, it gives us opportunities of continued growth in strength and grace. Joseph had probably wrought out his noble answer in his own secret heart, and had lived by it, weeks before he flashed it forth. In the critical hour the mouth blurts out what the heart has been meditating. They who can rule themselves will be presently trusted to rule others. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 39

1  Joseph is bought by Potiphar, and preferred in the family
7  He resists temptation by Potiphar's Wife
13  He is falsely accused by her
20  He is cast into prison
21  God is with him there, and he is advanced by the keeper of prison

What do the individual words in Genesis 39:12 mean?

That she caught him by his garment saying Lie with me but he left his garment in her hand and fled and ran outside
וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧הוּ בְּבִגְד֛וֹ לֵאמֹ֖ר שִׁכְבָ֣ה ! עִמִּ֑י וַיַּעֲזֹ֤ב בִּגְדוֹ֙ בְּיָדָ֔הּ וַיָּ֖נָס וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַחֽוּצָה

וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧הוּ  That  she  caught  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: תָּפַשׂ  
Sense: to catch, handle, lay hold, take hold of, seize, wield.
בְּבִגְד֛וֹ  by  his  garment 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
לֵאמֹ֖ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שִׁכְבָ֣ה  Lie 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
! עִמִּ֑י  with  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
וַיַּעֲזֹ֤ב  but  he  left 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
בִּגְדוֹ֙  his  garment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
בְּיָדָ֔הּ  in  her  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וַיָּ֖נָס  and  fled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נוּס  
Sense: to flee, escape.
וַיֵּצֵ֥א  and  ran 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
הַחֽוּצָה  outside 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.