What Does Genesis 39:10 Mean in the King James?

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

Genesis 39:10 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Hebrew verb behind “hearkened not” holds hearing and response together: her words reach Joseph, but they do not become compliance.

THE MEANING

A repeated demand does not erase the difference between being addressed and agreeing. Joseph refuses both the proposed act and continued nearness.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that persistence turns refusal into consent.

THE ROOT

שָׁמַע

shamaʿ

GROWS FROM

שמע

Hear, listen, heed, or respond; the sense depends on how the word is used.

“hearkened not” in this verse is shamaʿ. Here, after her daily speech, the verb marks a refusal to heed or respond as she wants. The shared root holds hearing and response close, while the verse makes clear that hearing her words does not mean yielding to them.

ALSO GROWS

shemaʿ: Hear and respond; the imperative form of the same root.

שְׁמַע

The imperative makes the responsive sense visible: hearing can carry a call to heed, while Joseph withholds the response she seeks.

shemuʿah: A report or news; something heard.

שְׁמוּעָה

This noun keeps the auditory sense of the root in view, while the verse turns on whether heard speech is heeded.

THE PATTERN

Repeated or forceful demands do not make compliance inevitable; refusal can remain distinct from the words pressing for a response.

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Daniel 3:18 · KJVThe three men state their refusal directly even under the king’s demand.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 4:10 · KJVJesus rejects the demand to worship the Adversary and names the response he will give.

To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Galatians 2:5 · KJVThe refusal to yield holds even when others press for submission.

THE THREAD

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Genesis 22:18 · KJV

“Obeyed” in Genesis 22:18 comes from the same Hebrew root, ⁨שמע⁩, translated here as “hearkened.” That shared root shows Joseph’s refusal as a withheld response, not a failure to hear.

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