The Meaning of Genesis 39:22 Explained

Genesis 39:22

KJV: And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

YLT: and the chief of the round-house giveth into the hand of Joseph all the prisoners who are in the round-house, and of all that they are doing there, he hath been doer;

Darby: And the chief of the tower-house committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the tower-house; and whatever they had to do there he did.

ASV: And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the keeper  of the prison  committed  to Joseph's  hand  all the prisoners  that [were] in the prison;  and whatsoever they did  there, he was the doer  [of it]. 

What does Genesis 39:22 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 39:22 mean?

And committed the keeper of the prison into the hand of Joseph - all the prisoners who [were] in the prison and that they did there it was his doing
וַיִּתֵּ֞ן שַׂ֤ר בֵּית־ הַסֹּ֙הַר֙ בְּיַד־ יוֹסֵ֔ף אֵ֚ת כָּל־ הָ֣אֲסִירִ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית הַסֹּ֑הַר וְאֵ֨ת אֲשֶׁ֤ר עֹשִׂים֙ שָׁ֔ם ה֖וּא הָיָ֥ה עֹשֶֽׂה

וַיִּתֵּ֞ן  And  committed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
שַׂ֤ר  the  keeper 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
הַסֹּ֙הַר֙  the  prison 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סׄהַר  
Sense: house of roundness, roundhouse, prison.
בְּיַד־  into  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
יוֹסֵ֔ף  of  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
אֵ֚ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָ֣אֲסִירִ֔ם  the  prisoners 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אָסִיר  
Sense: prisoner, captive, bondman.
אֲשֶׁ֖ר  who  [were] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הַסֹּ֑הַר  the  prison 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סׄהַר  
Sense: house of roundness, roundhouse, prison.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עֹשִׂים֙  they  did 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
עֹשֶֽׂה  his  doing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.