TORAH

FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES

NEVI'IM

PROPHETS

KETUVIM

WRITINGS

Chapter 39

Translation and Transliteration of

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1When Yosef was taken down to Egypt, a certain Egyptian, Potiphar, a courtier of Pharaoh and his chief steward, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there.

v'-yo-SAYF hu-RAD mitz-RA-y'-mah va-yik-NAY-hu po-tee-FAR s'-REES par-OH SAR ha-ta-ba-KHEEM EESH mitz-REE mi-YAD ha-yish-m'-ay-LEEM a-SHER ho-ri-DU-hu SHA-mah

אוְיוֹסֵ֖ף הוּרַ֣ד מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיִּקְנֵ֡הוּ פּוֹטִיפַר֩ סְרִ֨יס פַּרְעֹ֜ה שַׂ֤ר הַטַּבָּחִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִצְרִ֔י מִיַּד֙ הַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ שָֽׁמָּה׃

39:1 A certain Egyptian

The verse here labels Potiphar ish mitzree (איש מצרי), ‘an Egyptian,’ in contrast to Yosef, who is called Ha’Ivri (העברי), ‘the Hebrew’ (verse 14). Since we already know the nationalities of these individuals, why are the labels necessary? The Egyptians were known for their arrogance and condescension towards the nomadic tribes. Despite their prejudice, Yosef will rise in rank among them. He will succeed at every task presented to him, and subsequently find favor in the eyes of Potiphar, the Egyptian royal official. Only Divine Providence could bring about the success of a mere “Hebrew,” as the next verse says “Hashem was with Yosef, and he was a successful man.” Yosef demonstrates that when a person puts himself in the hands of God, he can succeed beyond expectation.

2Hashem was with Yosef, and he was a successful man; and he stayed in the house of his Egyptian master.

vai-YA a-do-NAI et yo-SEF, vai-YA eesh matz-LEE-akh, vai-YA b'-BEYT a-do-NAV ha-mitz-REE

בוַיְהִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיְהִ֖י אִ֣ישׁ מַצְלִ֑יחַ וַיְהִ֕י בְּבֵ֖ית אֲדֹנָ֥יו הַמִּצְרִֽי׃

3And when his master saw that Hashem was with him and that Hashem lent success to everything he undertook,

vai-YAR a-do-NAV KEE a-do-NAI i-TO, v'-KOL a-SHER hu o-SEH a-do-NAI matz-LEE-akh b'-ya-DO

גוַיַּ֣רְא אֲדֹנָ֔יו כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אִתּ֑וֹ וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא עֹשֶׂ֔ה יְהֹוָ֖ה מַצְלִ֥יחַ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

4he took a liking to Yosef. He made him his personal attendant and put him in charge of his household, placing in his hands all that he owned.

vai-YIM-tza yo-SEF KHEYN b'-ay-NAV va-y'-sha-RET o-TO va-ya-f'-KI-de-HU al b'-TO v'-KOL yesh-LO na-TAN b'-ya-DO

דוַיִּמְצָ֨א יוֹסֵ֥ף חֵ֛ן בְּעֵינָ֖יו וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת אֹת֑וֹ וַיַּפְקִדֵ֙הוּ֙ עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ וְכׇל־יֶשׁ־ל֖וֹ נָתַ֥ן בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

5And from the time that the Egyptian put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, Hashem blessed his house for Yosef's sake, so that the blessing of Hashem was upon everything that he owned, in the house and outside.

vai-HI, may-AZ, hi-F'-KID o-TO b'-VEE-to, v'-AL kol a-SHER YESH-lo, vai-va-REKH a-do-NAI et-BAYT ha-mitz-REE bi-G'-LAL yo-SEF, vai-HI b'-R'-KAT a-do-NAI b'-kol a-SHER YESH-lo ba-BA-yit u-va-SA-deh

הוַיְהִ֡י מֵאָז֩ הִפְקִ֨יד אֹת֜וֹ בְּבֵית֗וֹ וְעַל֙ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־ל֔וֹ וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית הַמִּצְרִ֖י בִּגְלַ֣ל יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיְהִ֞י בִּרְכַּ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ בְּכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־ל֔וֹ בַּבַּ֖יִת וּבַשָּׂדֶֽה׃

6He left all that he had in Yosef's hands and, with him there, he paid attention to nothing save the food that he ate. Now Yosef was well built and handsome.

vai-ya-a-ZOV kol a-SHER-lo b'-yad yo-SEF, v'-lo ya-DA a-TO me-u-MAH, KEE im ha-LE-khem a-SHER HU o-KHEL, vai-YA-hee yo-SEF ye-FAY-to-AR vi-FAY mar-EH

ווַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֮ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵף֒ וְלֹא־יָדַ֤ע אִתּוֹ֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא אוֹכֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף יְפֵה־תֹ֖אַר וִיפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה׃

7After a time, his master's wife cast her eyes upon Yosef and said, “Lie with me.”

vai-HI a-KHAR ha-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh, va-TI-sa e-SHET a-do-NAI et-EY-ney-HA el yo-SEF, va-TO-mer shikh-VAH i-MEE

זוַיְהִ֗י אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַתִּשָּׂ֧א אֵֽשֶׁת־אֲדֹנָ֛יו אֶת־עֵינֶ֖יהָ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֑ף וַתֹּ֖אמֶר שִׁכְבָ֥ה עִמִּֽי׃

8But he refused. He said to his master's wife, “Look, with me here, my master gives no thought to anything in this house, and all that he owns he has placed in my hands.

vai-ma-AYN, va-YO-mer el e-SHET a-do-NAV: HAYN a-do-NEE lo ya-DA it-TEE mah ba-BA-yit, v'-KOL a-SHER yesh-lo na-TAN b'-ya-DEE

חוַיְמָאֵ֓ן ׀ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֵ֣שֶׁת אֲדֹנָ֔יו הֵ֣ן אֲדֹנִ֔י לֹא־יָדַ֥ע אִתִּ֖י מַה־בַּבָּ֑יִת וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יֶשׁ־ל֖וֹ נָתַ֥ן בְּיָדִֽי׃

9He wields no more authority in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except yourself, since you are his wife. How then could I do this most wicked thing, and sin before Hashem?”

EY-nei-NU ga-DOL ba-BA-yit ha-ZEH mi-ME-ni, v'-LO cha-SHAK mi-ME-ni m'-U-MAH, KEE im-o-TAKH ba-a-SHER a-TI-i-SHO-TO, v'-AYKH e-E-seh ha-RA-a ha-ge-DO-LAH ha-ZOT, v'-cha-ta-TI l'-E-lo-HEEM.

טאֵינֶ֨נּוּ גָד֜וֹל בַּבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּה֮ מִמֶּ֒נִּי֒ וְלֹֽא־חָשַׂ֤ךְ מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־אוֹתָ֖ךְ בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתְּ־אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֨יךְ אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֜ה הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את וְחָטָ֖אתִי לֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃

10And much as she coaxed Yosef day after day, he did not yield to her request to lie beside her, to be with her.

vai-HI k'-da-be-RAH el yo-SEF YOM yoM, v'-LO sha-MA a-LE-ha lish-KAV etz-LA l'-hi-YOT i-MAH

יוַיְהִ֕י כְּדַבְּרָ֥הּ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף י֣וֹם ׀ י֑וֹם וְלֹא־שָׁמַ֥ע אֵלֶ֛יהָ לִשְׁכַּ֥ב אֶצְלָ֖הּ לִהְי֥וֹת עִמָּֽהּ׃

11One such day, he came into the house to do his work. None of the household being there inside,

vai-HI, k'-ha-YOM ha-ZEH, vai-ya-VO ha-BA-y'-TAH la-a-SOT m'-la-KH'-TO, v'-AYN EESH may-an-SHAY ha-BA-yit SHAM ba-BA-yit

יאוַיְהִי֙ כְּהַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א הַבַּ֖יְתָה לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת מְלַאכְתּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֨ין אִ֜ישׁ מֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י הַבַּ֛יִת שָׁ֖ם בַּבָּֽיִת׃

12she caught hold of him by his garment and said, “Lie with me!” But he left his garment in her hand and got away and fled outside.

va-tit-po-SE-hu b'-vig-DO lay-MOR, shikh-VA i-MEE, va-ya-a-ZOV b'-gi-DO b'-ya-DAH, va-ya-NOS va-ya-YAY-tze ha-KHU-tzah

יבוַתִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧הוּ בְּבִגְד֛וֹ לֵאמֹ֖ר שִׁכְבָ֣ה עִמִּ֑י וַיַּעֲזֹ֤ב בִּגְדוֹ֙ בְּיָדָ֔הּ וַיָּ֖נׇס וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַחֽוּצָה׃

13When she saw that he had left it in her hand and had fled outside,

vai-HI, kir-o-TAH, ki-a-ZAV bi-G'-do b'-ya-DAH, va-YANAS ha-KHU-tzah

יגוַיְהִי֙ כִּרְאוֹתָ֔הּ כִּֽי־עָזַ֥ב בִּגְד֖וֹ בְּיָדָ֑הּ וַיָּ֖נׇס הַחֽוּצָה׃

14she called out to her servants and said to them, “Look, he had to bring us a Hebrew to dally with us! This one came to lie with me; but I screamed loud.

va-tik-RA l'-an-SHAY bay-TAH va-t'-O-mer la-HEM lay-MOR: RE-u he-VEE LA-nu EESH iv-REE l'-tza-KHEK ba-NU, BA e-LAI lish-KAV i-MEE va-e-k'-RA b'-KOL ga-DOL.

ידוַתִּקְרָ֞א לְאַנְשֵׁ֣י בֵיתָ֗הּ וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר רְא֗וּ הֵ֥בִיא לָ֛נוּ אִ֥ישׁ עִבְרִ֖י לְצַ֣חֶק בָּ֑נוּ בָּ֤א אֵלַי֙ לִשְׁכַּ֣ב עִמִּ֔י וָאֶקְרָ֖א בְּק֥וֹל גָּדֽוֹל׃

15And when he heard me screaming at the top of my voice, he left his garment with me and got away and fled outside.”

vai-HI k'-sh'-mo-o ki-ha-ree-MO-tee ko-LEE va-e-k'-RA vai-ya-a-ZOV big-DO etz-LEE vai-YA-nos vai-YAY-tzay ha-KHU-tza

טווַיְהִ֣י כְשׇׁמְע֔וֹ כִּֽי־הֲרִימֹ֥תִי קוֹלִ֖י וָאֶקְרָ֑א וַיַּעֲזֹ֤ב בִּגְדוֹ֙ אֶצְלִ֔י וַיָּ֖נׇס וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַחֽוּצָה׃

16She kept his garment beside her, until his master came home.

va-ta-NACH bi-g'-DO etz-LAH ad-BO a-do-NAV el b'-TO

טזוַתַּנַּ֥ח בִּגְד֖וֹ אֶצְלָ֑הּ עַד־בּ֥וֹא אֲדֹנָ֖יו אֶל־בֵּיתֽוֹ׃

17Then she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew slave whom you brought into our house came to me to dally with me;

va-t'-da-BAYR ay-LAV ka-d'-va-REEM ha-EL-leh lay-MOR: ba-a E-la-Y ha-E-ved ha-EV-ree a-SHER he-VE-ta LA-nu l'-tza-KHEK bee

יזוַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו כַּדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לֵאמֹ֑ר בָּֽא־אֵלַ֞י הָעֶ֧בֶד הָֽעִבְרִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־הֵבֵ֥אתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְצַ֥חֶק בִּֽי׃

18but when I screamed at the top of my voice, he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

vai-HI ka-ha-ree-MEE ko-LEE va-e-k'-RA vai-ya-a-ZOV bi-G'-do etz-LEE vai-YANOS ha-KHU-tza

יחוַיְהִ֕י כַּהֲרִימִ֥י קוֹלִ֖י וָאֶקְרָ֑א וַיַּעֲזֹ֥ב בִּגְד֛וֹ אֶצְלִ֖י וַיָּ֥נׇס הַחֽוּצָה׃

19When his master heard the story that his wife told him, namely, “Thus and so your slave did to me,” he was furious.

vai-HI khi-SHO-a a-do-NAI et di-v'-RAY ish-TO a-SHER di-b'-RAH ay-LAV lay-MOR: ka-d'-va-REEM ha-EL-leh a-SA lee av-DE-kha va-YI-khar a-PO

יטוַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ אֲדֹנָ֜יו אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבְּרָ֤ה אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וַיִּ֖חַר אַפּֽוֹ׃

20So Yosef's master had him put in prison, where the king's prisoners were confined. But even while he was there in prison,

vai-YI-kakh a-do-NAY yo-SEF o-TO va-yi-t'-NE-hu el bayt ha-so-HAR me-KOM a-SHER [a-see-RAY] (a-SUR-eem) ha-ME-lekh a-su-REEM, va-Y'-hee-SHAM b'-bayt ha-so-HAR

כוַיִּקַּח֩ אֲדֹנֵ֨י יוֹסֵ֜ף אֹת֗וֹ וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַסֹּ֔הַר מְק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־[אֲסִירֵ֥י] (אסורי) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲסוּרִ֑ים וַֽיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית הַסֹּֽהַר׃

21Hashem was with Yosef: He extended kindness to him and disposed the chief jailer favorably toward him.

vai-YA a-do-NAI et yo-SAYF va-YAYT ay-LAV kha-SED va-YI-ten khin-NO b'-ay-NAY sar bayt ha-so-HAR

כאוַיְהִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיֵּ֥ט אֵלָ֖יו חָ֑סֶד וַיִּתֵּ֣ן חִנּ֔וֹ בְּעֵינֵ֖י שַׂ֥ר בֵּית־הַסֹּֽהַר׃

22The chief jailer put in Yosef's charge all the prisoners who were in that prison, and he was the one to carry out everything that was done there.

vai-YI-ten sar bayt ha-so-HAR b'-yad yo-SEF, AYT kol ha-a-see-REEM a-SHER b'-bayt ha-so-HAR, v'-AYT kol a-SHER o-SEEM SHAM, HU ha-YA o-SEH

כבוַיִּתֵּ֞ן שַׂ֤ר בֵּית־הַסֹּ֙הַר֙ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֵ֚ת כׇּל־הָ֣אֲסִירִ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית הַסֹּ֑הַר וְאֵ֨ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר עֹשִׂים֙ שָׁ֔ם ה֖וּא הָיָ֥ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃

23The chief jailer did not supervise anything that was in Yosef's charge, because Hashem was with him, and whatever he did Hashem made successful.

AYN SAR beit-ha-SOHAR RO-EH et-KOL me-U-MAH b'-YA-do ba-a-SHER a-do-NAI i-TO va-a-SHER hu o-SEH a-do-NAI matz-LEE-akh.

כגאֵ֣ין ׀ שַׂ֣ר בֵּית־הַסֹּ֗הַר רֹאֶ֤ה אֶֽת־כׇּל־מְא֙וּמָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אִתּ֑וֹ וַֽאֲשֶׁר־ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֖ה יְהֹוָ֥ה מַצְלִֽיחַ׃