Genesis 39:15

KJV

And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

KJV (with Strong's)

And it came to pass, when he heard {H8085} that I lifted up {H7311} my voice {H6963} and cried {H7121}, that he left {H5800} his garment {H899} with me {H681}, and fled {H5127}, and got him {H3318} out {H2351}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When he heard me yelling like that, he left his robe with me and ran out."

Berean Standard Bible

When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

American Standard Version

and it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 39:15 captures the critical moment of Potiphar's wife's deceitful accusation against Joseph. After Joseph fled her persistent sexual advances, leaving his garment behind, she seized the opportunity to fabricate a story to her household servants, claiming he had assaulted her and fled. This verse initiates a turning point in Joseph's life, leading to his unjust imprisonment, yet it ultimately serves as a crucial step in God's sovereign plan for his life and for the future of Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 39:15 is situated within the broader narrative of Joseph's life, specifically his time as a slave in Egypt, following his betrayal by his brothers and sale to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. The preceding verses [Genesis 39:7-14](/genesis/39-7-14 "Potiphar's Wife's Persistent Temptation of Joseph") detail Potiphar's wife's relentless attempts to seduce Joseph and his steadfast refusal, rooted in his integrity and fear of God. This verse marks the climax of her advances, where, upon Joseph's decisive flight, she transforms his righteous act into a malicious accusation by using his discarded garment as "evidence." It immediately precedes her presentation of this false narrative to her husband [Genesis 39:16-18](/genesis/39-16-18 "Potiphar's Wife Accuses Joseph to Her Husband") and Joseph's subsequent unjust imprisonment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern households, the master's wife held considerable authority, and her word, especially concerning a slave, would often be taken without question, making Joseph's position precarious. Garments, particularly outer cloaks, were significant items, often symbolizing status, identity, or even serving as collateral. Joseph's "garment" (Hebrew: `beged`) would have been a valuable possession, and its abandonment would have been a desperate act. The accusation of sexual assault carried severe penalties, including death, for slaves. Furthermore, the concept of hospitality and the protection of household members were paramount, making Potiphar's wife's actions a profound breach of trust and an abuse of power within the domestic sphere.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It powerfully illustrates the theme of **righteousness amidst temptation**, as Joseph's flight demonstrates his unwavering commitment to God and his master, refusing to sin despite immense pressure [Genesis 39:9](/genesis/39-9 "Joseph's Refusal to Sin"). It also highlights the theme of **unjust suffering**, where an innocent individual endures hardship due to the malice of others, a pattern seen throughout the lives of God's chosen servants. Furthermore, it underscores **divine sovereignty**, as this act of injustice, though seemingly a setback, becomes an integral part of God's larger plan to elevate Joseph and ultimately preserve his family and the nascent nation of Israel, a theme that resonates throughout [the book of Genesis](/genesis/1 "The Book of Genesis - Beginnings of God's Plan").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 39:15 vividly recounts the climax of Potiphar's wife's attempted seduction and her subsequent calculated deceit. Joseph's swift departure, leaving his garment, provided her with a tangible, albeit misinterpreted, piece of "evidence" to craft a false narrative. Her statement to the household servants is a deliberate manipulation, designed to incriminate Joseph and protect her own reputation.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **heard (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ_):** From H8085, meaning "to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)." Potiphar's wife's use of "when he heard" is a crucial part of her fabrication, implying Joseph reacted to her "cry" by fleeing in guilt, rather than fleeing from her advances. She twists the natural act of hearing into an admission of culpability.
* **left (Hebrew, _ʻâzab_):** From H5800, meaning "to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc." This word accurately describes Joseph's action with his garment. He "relinquished" or "abandoned" it in his haste, prioritizing escape from sin over holding onto a valuable possession. This act, though innocent, was weaponized against him.
* **fled (Hebrew, _nûwç_):** From H5127, meaning "to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)." This term perfectly captures Joseph's immediate, decisive, and rapid departure. His "flight" was not an act of guilt but an urgent and proactive escape from a morally compromising situation, demonstrating his commitment to purity.
* **out (Hebrew, _chûwts_):** From H2351, meaning "properly, separate by a wall, i.e. outside, outdoors." The phrase "got him out" emphasizes Joseph's complete removal from the house and the immediate vicinity of temptation. It signifies a full and decisive separation from the source of sin, leaving the domestic space entirely.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried":** This phrase sets the stage for Potiphar's wife's fabricated account. She claims Joseph's flight was a reaction to her "cry," implying she was in distress or under attack. This is a deliberate misrepresentation of the events, designed to portray herself as a victim and Joseph as an aggressor, twisting her own failed seduction into a narrative of assault.
* **"that he left his garment with me":** This clause describes the physical evidence she uses to support her false claim. Joseph's outer garment, left in her hand as he struggled to escape her grasp, becomes the tangible "proof" of his alleged crime. It highlights the vulnerability of physical evidence to misinterpretation and manipulation, especially when presented by a malicious accuser.
* **"and fled, and got him out":** This final clause accurately describes Joseph's actions but frames them within the context of her false accusation. While Joseph indeed "fled" and "got him out" of the house, his motivation was to escape sin, not to escape after committing a crime. This part of her testimony, though factually true in terms of action, is entirely false in its imputed motive and context, demonstrating the cunning nature of her lie.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Irony**, as Joseph's act of fleeing from sin, a demonstration of his profound integrity, is twisted by Potiphar's wife into evidence of his guilt. His righteous escape becomes the very means of his condemnation. There is also **Foreshadowing**, as this false accusation and unjust suffering anticipate the later trials of God's people and, ultimately, the unjust suffering of Christ. The **Symbolism** of the garment is also prominent; what should have been a simple piece of clothing becomes a powerful, yet misleading, symbol of Joseph's supposed transgression, highlighting how material objects can be manipulated to pervert justice.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joseph's experience in Genesis 39:15 profoundly illustrates God's sovereign hand at work even amidst human sin and injustice. Though Joseph suffers unjustly due to a false accusation, this suffering is not meaningless but is woven into God's larger redemptive plan. It demonstrates that faithfulness to God, even when it incurs immediate hardship or persecution, is ultimately honored and vindicated by Him. Joseph's integrity, even in the face of severe consequences, serves as a powerful testament to the value of moral purity and trust in divine justice.

* [Psalm 105:17-19](/psalms/105-17-19 "Psalm 105:17-19 - God's Sovereignty in Joseph's Life")
* [1 Peter 2:19-20](/1_peter/2-19-20 "1 Peter 2:19-20 - Suffering for Righteousness' Sake")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works All Things for Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of Joseph's temptation and the subsequent false accusation in Genesis 39:15 provides timeless and crucial lessons for believers navigating a fallen world. Joseph's decisive action to "flee" from Potiphar's wife, rather than engaging with temptation or rationalizing compromise, stands as a powerful biblical paradigm for resisting sin. It underscores the wisdom of immediate and radical separation from situations that threaten our spiritual and moral integrity. We are reminded that upholding righteousness may, at times, lead to immediate personal cost, misunderstanding, or even unjust suffering. However, Joseph's unwavering commitment to God's standards, despite the severe consequences of imprisonment, encourages us to prioritize faithfulness over comfort or reputation. His story assures us that God is intimately present with us in our trials, and though justice may be delayed, His ultimate vindication and redemptive purposes will prevail for those who remain steadfast in Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Joseph's immediate flight from temptation challenge my own approach to sin?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be tempted to compromise integrity for personal gain or to avoid hardship?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's sovereign plan, even when facing unjust circumstances or false accusations?**
* **What practical steps can I take to "flee" from specific temptations I encounter in my daily life?**

### FAQ
**Why did Joseph leave his garment behind?**

Answer: Joseph left his outer garment, or `beged` (Hebrew: בֶּגֶד), in the hand of Potiphar's wife as he "fled" (Hebrew: `nûwç`) from her. This was not a deliberate act to provide evidence or a sign of guilt, but rather a consequence of his desperate and immediate escape from a situation of intense sexual temptation. His absolute priority was to remove himself from sin, even if it meant abandoning a valuable possession and risking severe consequences. This act underscores the urgency and decisiveness of his commitment to moral purity, as also reflected in [1 Corinthians 6:18](/1_corinthians/6-18 "1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee from Sexual Immorality").

**What does this verse teach us about false accusations?**

Answer: Genesis 39:15 vividly illustrates the destructive power of false accusations. Potiphar's wife deliberately twisted Joseph's righteous flight into an act of aggression and attempted rape, using his discarded garment as fabricated "evidence." This highlights how deceit can pervert justice and inflict immense suffering on the innocent. It serves as a stark reminder that appearances can be misleading and that truth can be manipulated, a theme that resonates throughout biblical narratives concerning the innocent suffering at the hands of the wicked, as seen in [Psalm 35:11](/psalms/35-11 "Psalm 35:11 - False Witnesses Rise Up").

**How does Joseph's response relate to resisting temptation?**

Answer: Joseph's response in Genesis 39:15 provides a powerful example of "fleeing" temptation, a principle echoed in the New Testament (e.g., [1 Corinthians 6:18](/1_corinthians/6-18 "1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee Sexual Immorality") and [2 Timothy 2:22](/2_timothy/2-22 "2 Timothy 2:22 - Flee Youthful Lusts")). Rather than debating, rationalizing, or lingering in the presence of temptation, Joseph took immediate, decisive action to remove himself from the sinful situation. This emphasizes the need for radical separation from anything that could lead to moral compromise, prioritizing purity over personal comfort or potential repercussions.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joseph's unjust suffering, false accusation, and subsequent imprisonment, as vividly portrayed in Genesis 39:15, serve as a profound and multifaceted foreshadowing of Christ. Like Joseph, Jesus was entirely innocent yet was falsely accused by those who sought His downfall, enduring immense suffering for righteousness' sake [Matthew 26:59-60](/matthew/26-59-60 "Matthew 26:59-60 - False Accusations Against Jesus"). Joseph's abandonment of his garment and his descent into the darkness of prison mirrors Christ's stripping of His garments and His ultimate humiliation and suffering on the cross [John 19:23-24](/john/19-23-24 "John 19:23-24 - Soldiers Divide Jesus' Garments"). Yet, just as God ultimately exalted Joseph from the prison to a position of immense power, enabling him to save his family and many others from famine, so too did God exalt Christ, raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand [Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Jesus' Exaltation"), making Him the ultimate Savior who delivers humanity from the spiritual famine of sin and eternal death [Acts 4:12](/acts/4-12 "Acts 4:12 - Salvation Through Jesus Alone"). Joseph's story, therefore, points to the greater narrative of a righteous Servant who suffers unjustly but is ultimately vindicated and exalted for the salvation of many.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.