Why was Joseph thrown into jail?

• A. He plotted against Potiphar
• B. He stole something from the house
• C. Potiphar's wife lied about getting raped
• D. Potiphar blamed him for a crime

Answer: (D)

This question centers on what actually led to Joseph ending up in jail. He is jailed after Potiphar believes the accusation brought by his wife. Joseph had remained faithful and refused her advances, but she claimed that he tried to lie with her. Potiphar, trusting his wife and assuming Joseph's guilt, punished him by putting him in prison. So the immediate reason is that Potiphar blamed him for a crime based on that accusation. The other possibilities don’t fit the sequence of events, since there isn’t a record of Joseph plotting against Potiphar or stealing in his house; the critical moment is Potiphar’s acceptance of the accusation and his decision to blame Joseph.