And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

GENESIS 39:17KJV
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Genesis 39:17 (KJV)

What does Genesis 39:17 mean?

Genesis 39:17 describes Potiphar’s wife telling her husband that Joseph, the Hebrew servant he brought into their home, tried to approach her in a way that mocked or insulted her. She is accusing Joseph of wrongdoing, presenting herself as the victim and Joseph as the aggressor.

In this verse, Potiphar’s wife is speaking directly to her husband after Joseph fled from her. She refers to Joseph as “the Hebrew servant” and blames Potiphar for bringing him into their household. This accusation is part of her attempt to cover up her own actions and shift the blame onto Joseph, setting the stage for the conflict that follows in the story.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 39:17

  • “spake” (דָּבַר, dabar): This word is often used for formal or significant speech. Here, it highlights that Potiphar’s wife is making a serious accusation, not just casual conversation.
  • “mock” (צָחַק, tsachaq): This word can mean “to laugh at,” “to mock,” or “to make sport of.” In this context, it suggests that she is accusing Joseph of treating her—and by extension, the household—with disrespect or humiliation, not just a physical advance.

Why Genesis 39:17 matters

  • This verse shows how Potiphar’s wife manipulates the situation by twisting the truth, which is crucial for understanding Joseph’s later imprisonment.
  • The emphasis on Joseph as “the Hebrew servant” underlines his outsider status and sets up the tension between him and the Egyptian household.
  • The language of accusation and blame in this verse connects to broader themes in Genesis about false accusations, injustice, and God’s presence with those who are wronged.

Where else these words appear

“mock” Hebrew H6711 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
  • Genesis 18:15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
  • Genesis 26:8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

“Hebrew” Hebrew H5680 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 14:13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
  • Exodus 2:11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
  • 1 Samuel 4:6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.