Genesis 39:20
And the inner-master of He-Adds is taking אֶת-him and is giving him toward the house of the Crescent, a standing-place which tied-ones of the King are tied, and he is there in the house of the Crescent.1212a
Footnote:
| 1212a | The term הַסהר (ha-sahar) in Genesis 39–40 refers to a prison or dungeon, derived from the root סהר. While סהר (sahar) can mean "crescent" or "moon," its primary relevance in these passages is associated with confinement or enclosure, which may be symbolically linked to the rounded or crescent shape of an ancient prison structure. This meaning of הסהר is used in the context of Joseph’s imprisonment in בית הסהר (Beit ha-Sahar), meaning "the house of the crescent dungeon" or "the cresent prison house." The term may also be derived from an external linguistic influence, such as Akkadian or Egyptian, associated with confinement. In Song of Songs 7:3, אגן הסהר (agan ha-sahar) refers to the navel as a crescent-shaped vessel, maintaining the metaphorical connection to a rounded or enclosed form. Thus, the crescent shape's association with enclosure is central to the primary meaning of סהר in these contexts. |