She called to the men of her household: that is, “She called to the other servants [masculine].” These men were probably in their quarters in the rear of the courtyard.

See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to insult us: in the previous sentence she called to the men, and it is assumed that they came to her before she began speaking. However, in some languages this transition must be stated; for example, “and when the servants came to her, she said, ‘Look here….’ ” Apparently the woman is holding up Joseph’s skirt for them to see. See Good News Translation. We may also translate “See what this is,” “Come and look at this,” or “See what I have here.” The person referred to in he has brought may need to be given: “My husband has brought….”

The term Hebrew is normally used by Israelites when speaking of themselves to foreigners, or is used by foreigners when speaking about Israelites. According to 43.32 Egyptians were forbidden to eat with Hebrews. The woman therefore uses this term to refer to Joseph as a despised foreigner. To make this clear it may be necessary to say, for example, “My husband has imported this Hebrew” or “… this Hebrew foreigner.”

Insult us is literally “to laugh at us.” In this context the wife pretends to have been offended, and therefore terms like insult, “bring shame,” “offend” are appropriate. Some translations say “make fools of us.” Some commentators think that us may suggest that there are other women in the house who had also been offended by Joseph. However, she may be seeking solidarity with the servants by including them. In that case some languages require in this context an inclusive form of us. If she is speaking to the male servants but referring to other women, the form of us would be exclusive. Another possibility is that the wife really means to refer only to herself when she says us; see New Jerusalem Bible “to make a fool of me.”

He came in to me means he came in where I was. Good News Translation says “my room.” Other translations are more general: “Came here.” New Jerusalem Bible understands came as a violent entrance and says “burst in on me.”

To lie with me: the woman falsely describes Joseph’s intention as being against her will, and therefore Good News Translation “tried to rape” is appropriate. In some languages rape is expressed as “tried to force me,” “tried to put me under him,” or “tried to have sex with me.”

I cried out with a loud voice: the woman claims she protested by shouting out an alarm. We may translate, for example, “I screamed for help” or “I yelled for someone to come.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .