Genesis 39:7-10

39:7 Soon after these things, his master’s wife took notice of ¹  Joseph and said, “Have sex with me.” ²  39:8 But he refused, saying ³  to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not give any thought ⁴  to his household with me here, ⁵  and everything that he owns he has put into my care. ⁶  39:9 There is no one greater in this household than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. So how could I do ⁷  such a great evil and sin against God?” 39:10 Even though she continued to speak ⁸  to Joseph day after day, he did not respond ⁹  to her invitation to have sex with her. ¹⁰ 

¹ tn Heb “she lifted up her eyes toward,” an expression that emphasizes her deliberate and careful scrutiny of him.

² tn Heb “lie with me.” Here the expression “lie with” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.

³ tn Heb “and he said.”

⁴ tn Heb “know.”

⁵ tn The word “here” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁶ tn Heb “hand.” This is a metonymy for being under the control or care of Joseph.

⁵ tn The nuance of potential imperfect fits this context.

⁷ tn The verse begins with the temporal indicator, followed by the infinitive construct with the preposition כְּ (kÿ). This clause could therefore be taken as temporal.

⁸ tn Heb “listen to.”

⁹ tn Heb “to lie beside her to be with her.” Here the expression “to lie beside” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.