Vayeishev 39:20 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 39:20 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּקַּח֩ אֲדֹנֵ֨י יוֹסֵ֜ף אֹת֗וֹ וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַסֹּ֔הַר מְק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־[אֲסִירֵ֥י] (אסורי) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲסוּרִ֑ים וַֽיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית הַסֹּֽהַר׃

So Joseph’s master had him put in prison, where the king’s prisoners were confined. But even while he was there in prison,

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Bereshis Rabbah 87:10.

Sefaria — Bereshis Rabbah 87:10

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ אֶל בֵּית הַסֹּהַר — אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ: אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בְּרֶוָחָה; מִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ בְּצַעַר? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וַיְהִי ה׳ אֶת יוֹסֵף.

English: “And he put him into the prison” — R’ Abbahu said: I only have [Hashem’s presence] in prosperity; from where even in distress? The verse says: And Hashem was with Yosef.

In context: Divine accompaniment continues into the prison, not only in the house of success.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bereshis Rabbah) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Prison becomes the proof-text for presence in suffering.

What Is Learned

Hashem’s being “with Yosef” is demonstrated as much in the dungeon as in Potiphar’s house.