King James Version

What Does Genesis 39:14 Mean?

Genesis 39:14 in the King James Version says “That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to moc...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 39 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: loud: Heb. great”

Genesis 39:14 · KJV

Context

12

And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

13

And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

14

That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: loud: Heb. great

15

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.

16

And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

Read Genesis 39 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an H... This passage is part of the Joseph narrative, a masterfully crafted account demonstrating God's sovereign providence working through human choices and circumstances to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The Joseph cycle shows how God transforms evil intentions into instruments of salvation.

Central themes include divine providence orchestrating events toward redemptive ends, the testing and refinement of character through suffering and success, forgiveness overcoming betrayal and injustice, and the preservation of God's covenant people through famine. Joseph's rise from slavery to second-in-command of Egypt illustrates how God exalts the humble and uses seeming disasters for ultimate good.

Theologically, these chapters reveal: (1) God's meticulous sovereignty over all events, even evil human actions; (2) suffering as preparation for future service rather than punishment; (3) forgiveness as reflecting divine character and enabling reconciliation; (4) God's covenant faithfulness across generations ensuring the survival and blessing of His people; (5) how present suffering gains meaning when viewed from the perspective of God's larger purposes. Joseph's words "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (50:20) epitomize biblical theodicy and providence.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding this verse shape our doctrine of humanity, sin, or salvation?
  2. How does this passage challenge modern cultural assumptions about identity, purpose, or morality?
  3. How does this passage point forward to Christ and the gospel of redemption?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וָֽאֶקְרָ֖א1 of 20

“That she called”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

אִ֥ישׁ2 of 20

“an Hebrew”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

בֵיתָ֗הּ3 of 20

“of her house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

לֵאמֹ֔ר4 of 20

“and spake”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לָהֶם֙5 of 20
H0
לֵאמֹ֔ר6 of 20

“and spake”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

רְא֗וּ7 of 20

“See”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

בָּ֤א8 of 20

“he hath brought in”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

לָ֛נוּ9 of 20
H0
אִ֥ישׁ10 of 20

“an Hebrew”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

עִבְרִ֖י11 of 20
H5680

an eberite (i.e., hebrew) or descendant of eber

לְצַ֣חֶק12 of 20

“unto us to mock”

H6711

to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication, to sport

בָּ֑נוּ13 of 20
H0
בָּ֤א14 of 20

“he hath brought in”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֵלַי֙15 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

לִשְׁכַּ֣ב16 of 20

“unto me to lie”

H7901

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

עִמִּ֔י17 of 20
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

וָֽאֶקְרָ֖א18 of 20

“That she called”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

בְּק֥וֹל19 of 20

“voice”

H6963

a voice or sound

גָּדֽוֹל׃20 of 20

“with a loud”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 39:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 39:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Peter 4:14-191 Peter 2:20Isaiah 54:17Luke 23:2Psalms 120:3Proverbs 10:18

Test Your Knowledge

Genesis 39 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterGenesis Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Genesis 39 with CommentaryAll Genesis ChaptersComplete Genesis QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes