Genesis 39:9
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Cross-references
Genesis 39:22 shows Joseph entrusted in prison — the result of his earlier refusal to sin against God, linking integrity to blessing.
Genesis 20:6 says God kept Abimelech from sinning against Him — Joseph's words show he saw adultery as sin against God.
Genesis 42:18 shows Joseph's consistent reverence for God, tying his earlier refusal to his later actions.
In Genesis 20:3, God warns Abimelech that taking another's wife is sin against Him — the same principle Joseph invokes.
Genesis 20:9 has Abimelech accuse Abraham of bringing great sin against a human king—contrasts with Joseph's concern for sin against God.
Revelation 22:15 excludes the sexually immoral from the New Jerusalem, reinforcing the gravity of Joseph's choice.
Revelation 21:8 places the sexually immoral in the lake of fire, underscoring the stakes of Joseph's refusal.
Hebrews 13:4 commands honoring marriage and warns of judgment on adulterers, echoing Joseph's reverence for God.
1 Corinthians 6:9 warns that adulterers will not inherit God's kingdom — Joseph's choice reflects that eternal consequence.
In 1 Corinthians 4:2, stewards must be faithful — Joseph exemplifies this as Potiphar's trusted steward who would not betray his master.
Proverbs 6:32 adds that adultery destroys the sinner — Joseph's refusal shows he understood the self-destructive nature of this sin.
Psalm 51:4 echoes 'sin against God'—David's confession mirrors Joseph's understanding that all sin is ultimately against God.
2 Samuel 11:27 records David's adultery displeasing the Lord — contrast with Joseph who avoided that same sin and divine displeasure.
Job 31:11 calls adultery a heinous crime — directly reinforcing Joseph's view that yielding would be great wickedness against God.
Romans 6:2 asks how we who died to sin can live in it — mirroring Joseph's rhetorical 'how can I do this wickedness?' as a refusal to sin.
Proverbs 6:29 warns that touching a neighbor's wife brings punishment — Joseph's choice avoided that certain consequence.
Jeremiah 5:8 depicts rampant adultery in Israel, contrasting with Joseph's faithful refusal to sin against God.
Luke 12:48 states that much entrusted brings greater accountability — Joseph's refusal shows he understood his stewardship before God.
In Job 31:9-12, adultery is a fire that consumes to destruction — Joseph's refusal aligns with this view of its devastating consequences.
Nehemiah 5:15 shows Nehemiah fearing God and not abusing power—similar to Joseph's fear of God motivating moral choice.
Galatians 5:19-21 lists sexual immorality as a work of the flesh, reinforcing Joseph's understanding of it as sin.
Titus 2:10 calls bondservants to show all good faith — Joseph's integrity in his master's house reflects this command.
Numbers 32:23 warns that sin will find you out—reinforcing why Joseph refuses hidden sin with Potiphar's wife.
Leviticus 20:10 prescribes death for adultery — Joseph calls it 'great wickedness', showing he knew its severity under God's law.