Joseph's Knowledge of God's View on Adultery in the Bible
Joseph's refusal of Potiphar's wife's advances demonstrates a clear understanding of God's condemnation of adultery, even before the formal giving of the Mosaic Law. His response, recorded in Genesis 39:9, articulates that such an act would be a "great wickedness" and a "sin against God." This indicates an awareness of divine moral standards that predated the Ten Commandments [7].
Joseph, the elder of Jacob's two sons by Rachel, was born in Padan-aram and later sold into Egypt by his brothers [1, 4, 6]. In Egypt, he rose to a position of authority in Potiphar's household, with Potiphar entrusting him with all his possessions [7]. It was in this context that Potiphar's wife repeatedly attempted to seduce Joseph [11].
Joseph's resistance was rooted in several principles. First, he recognized the betrayal of trust involved. He stated, "My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife" [7]. John Gill notes that Joseph reasoned with her about the "evil nature of the crime," highlighting the ingratitude and injury it would inflict upon his master [14]. Calvin emphasizes Joseph's fidelity and integrity, noting that the more trust placed in him, the less he could bear to violate it [10].
Second, and most significantly, Joseph understood that adultery was a sin against God. His declaration, "How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" reveals a profound theological conviction [7]. This understanding aligns with the broader biblical teaching that God "knows the deceit of men" and "takes note" of iniquity [9]. The psalmist also affirms that "Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity" [8]. This suggests that Joseph perceived God as an all-knowing moral authority who would judge such actions.
The Jewish historian Josephus, writing centuries later, confirms the ancient understanding of adultery as a grave offense. one tradition states that Moses "forbade it entirely, as esteeming it a happy thing that men should be wise in the affairs of wedlock; and that it was profitable both to cities and families that children should be known to be genuine" [5]. Josephus also notes that God does not receive offerings from the "prostitution of her body" [3]. While Josephus's writings reflect a later period, they underscore the long-standing abhorrence of adultery within the Israelite tradition.
Joseph's actions serve as an "admirable example of fidelity and continence," particularly given the intense temptation he faced [10]. Matthew Henry describes Potiphar's wife's actions as "a most shameful instance of impudence and immodesty," noting that her sin began with her eyes [11]. John Gill, in his commentary on Job, describes the adulterer as one who "waiteth for the twilight" to conceal his actions [12]. Joseph, however, did not succumb to such hidden desires.
Even after being falsely accused and imprisoned, Joseph maintained his faith, "commending all his affairs to God" and believing that God, who knew the truth, would be more powerful than his accusers [2]. This continued trust in God's justice further illustrates his deep-seated conviction regarding divine oversight and moral judgment. Adam Clarke notes that "the Lord was with Joseph" even in prison, indicating divine favor and guidance [13].
Joseph's knowledge of God's view on adultery, therefore, was not merely an adherence to a legal code, but an internal moral compass guided by a personal relationship with God and an understanding of divine righteousness.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Joseph — Remover or increaser. (1.) The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 30:23, 24), who, on the occasion of his birth, said, "God hath taken away [Heb. asaph] my reproach." "The Lord shall add [Heb. yoseph] to me another son" (Gen. 30:24). He was a child of probably six years of age when his father returned from Haran to Canaan and took up his residence in the old patriarchal town of Hebron. "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age," and he "made him a long garment with sleeves" (Gen. 37:3, R.V. marg.),”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 5, section 1: . What Things Befell Joseph In Prison. 1. Now Joseph, commending all his affairs to God, did not betake himself to make his defense, nor to give an account of the exact circumstances of the fact, but silently underwent the bonds and the distress he was in, firmly believing that God, who knew the cause of his affliction, and the truth of the fact, would be more powerful than those that inflicted the punishments upon him:—a proof of whose providence he quickly received; for the keeper of the prison taking notice of his care and fid”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 8, section 13: from the prostitution of her body, God will not receive; for by these means the dispositions of the children will be liberal and virtuous; I mean, when they are not born of base parents, and of the lustful conjunction of such as marry women that are not free. If any one has been espoused to a woman as to a virgin, and does not afterward find her so to be, let him bring his action, and accuse her, and let him make use of such indications 24 to prove his accusation as he is furnished withal; and let the father or the brother of th”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Joseph — (increase). + The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel. He was born in Padan-aram (Mesopotamia), probably about B.C. 1746. He is first mentioned when a youth, seventeen years old. Joseph brought the evil report of his brethren to his father, and they hated him because his father loved him more than he did them, and had shown his preference by making a dress which appears to have been a long tunic with sleeves, worn by youths and maidens of the richer class. (Genesis 37:2) He dreamed a dream foreshadowing his future power, which increased the hatred of his”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 12, section 1: . Several Laws. 1. As for adultery, Moses forbade it entirely, as esteeming it a happy thing that men should be wise in the affairs of wedlock; and that it was profitable both to cities and families that children should be known to be genuine. He also abhorred men's lying with their mothers, as one of the greatest crimes; and the like for lying with the father's wife, and with aunts, and sisters, and sons' wives, as all instances of abominable wickedness. He also forbade a man to lie with his wife when she was defiled by her nat”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 3, section 1: . How Joseph Was Thus Sold By His Brethren Into Egypt, By Reason Of Their Hatred To Him; And How He There Grew Famous And Illustrious And Had His Brethren Under His Power. 1. Now these brethren rejoiced as soon as they saw their brother coming to them, not indeed as at the presence of a near relation, or as at the presence of one sent by their father, but as at the presence of an enemy, and one that by Divine Providence was delivered into their hands; and they already resolved to kill him, and not let slip the opportunity that la”
- Genesis “Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. -- Genesis 39:4”
- Psalms “Psalms 94:11 (ASV) — Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity.”
- Job “Job 11:11 (BSB) — Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 16.9: by base lust, as not to shrink from openly soliciting a connection with Joseph. Now as this filthiness is a signal proof that carnal lust acts from blind and furious impulses; so, in the person of Joseph, an admirable example of fidelity and continence is set before us. His fidelity and integrity appear in this, that he acknowledges himself to be the more strictly bound, the greater the power with which he is entrusted. Ingenuous and courageous men have this property, that the more is confided to them, the less they can bear to d”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 39:7: Here is, I. A most shameful instance of impudence and immodesty in Joseph's mistress, the shame and scandal of her sex, perfectly lost to all virtue and honour, and not to be mentioned, nor thought of, without the utmost indignation. It was well that she was an Egyptian; for we must have shared in the confusion if such folly had been found in Israel. Observe, I. Her sin began in the eye: She cast her eyes upon Joseph (Gen 39:7), who was a goodly person, and well-favoured, Gen 39:6. Note, (1.) Remarkable beauty, either of men or women, often proves a dangerous sna”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 24:15: The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight,.... Not of the morning, which would not give him time enough to satiate his lust, but of the evening, that he may have the whole night before him to gratify his impure desires, and that these may be indulged in the most private and secret manner; and having fixed the time in the evening with his adulteress, he waits with impatience, and earnestly wishes and longs for its coming, and diligently looks out for the close of day, and takes the first opportunity of the darkness of the evening to set out on his adventure,”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 39:21: The Lord was with Joseph - It is but of little consequence where the lot of a servant of God may be cast; like Joseph he is ever employed for his master, and God honors him and prospers his work. 1. He who acknowledges God in all his ways, has the promise that God shall direct all his steps. Joseph's captivity shall promote God's glory; and to this end God works in him, for him, by him. Even the irreligious can see when the Most High distinguishes his followers. Joseph's master saw that Jehovah was with him; and from this we may learn that the knowledge of the tru”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 39:8: But he refused, and said unto his master's wife,.... Reasoning with her about the evil nature of the crime she tempted him to, which to commit would be ingratitude, as well as injury to his master, and a sin against God; by which it appears that Joseph was a partaker of the grace of God, and that this was in strong exercise at this time, by which he was preserved from the temptation he was beset with: behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house; what goods or money are in it: and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand: such confidence did he”