The Meaning of Genesis 39:21 Explained

Genesis 39:21

KJV: But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

YLT: And Jehovah is with Joseph, and stretcheth out kindness unto him, and putteth his grace in the eyes of the chief of the round-house;

Darby: And Jehovah was with Joseph, and extended mercy to him, and gave him favour in the eyes of the chief of the tower-house.

ASV: But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the LORD  was with Joseph,  and shewed  him mercy,  and gave  him favour  in the sight  of the keeper  of the prison. 

What does Genesis 39:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 39:19-23 - Joseph Fares Well In Prison
These two men remind us of the two thieves crucified beside our Lord; to the one He was a savor of life, to the other of death. Jeremy Taylor says that he must be in love with peevishness who chooses to sit down on his little handful of thorns, when there are so many causes that call for him. Wherever in the world we are, there is a fellowship of sad and lonely hearts for us to cultivate. Like Joseph, let us set about helping others, and so find solace and help for ourselves. We must move in and out among our fellows with "a glorious morning face." Keep your sorrows for your Lord and yourself, but learn from your own experiences how to comfort those who are in any sorrow by the comfort with which you yourself have been comforted of God. How quick Joseph was to detect the added anxiety on the two faces! It was because he had known similar alternations of experience. See 2 Corinthians 1:4. [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 39:21 mean?

But was Yahweh with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison
וַיְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶת־ יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיֵּ֥ט אֵלָ֖יו חָ֑סֶד וַיִּתֵּ֣ן חִנּ֔וֹ בְּעֵינֵ֖י שַׂ֥ר בֵּית־ הַסֹּֽהַר

וַיְהִ֤י  But  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יוֹסֵ֔ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
וַיֵּ֥ט  and  showed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
חָ֑סֶד  mercy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן  and  gave  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
חִנּ֔וֹ  favor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֵן  
Sense: favour, grace, charm.
בְּעֵינֵ֖י  in  the  sight 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
שַׂ֥ר  of  the  keeper 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
הַסֹּֽהַר  the  prison 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סׄהַר  
Sense: house of roundness, roundhouse, prison.