Genesis 39:4

Genesis 39:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
• New International Version (NIV)Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.

Context of Genesis 39:4

2The Lord was with Joseph, and he [even though a slave] became a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. 3Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper (succeed) in his hand. So Joseph pleased Potiphar and found favor in his sight and he served him as his personal servant. He made Joseph overseer over his house, and he put all that he owned in Joseph’s charge. 5It happened that from the time that he made Joseph overseer in his house and [put him in charge] over all that he owned, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph; so the Lord’s blessing was on everything that Potiphar owned, in the house and in the field. 6So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with Joseph there he did not [need to] pay attention to anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome and attractive in form and appearance.

Genesis 39:4 word by word

וַיִּמְצָ֨א יוֹסֵ֥ף חֵ֛ן בְּעֵינָ֖יו וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת אֹת֑וֹ וַיַּפְקִדֵ֙הוּ֙ עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ וְכָל־יֶשׁ־ל֖וֹ נָתַ֥ן בְּיָדֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
• foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• graceחֵןchên · favorH2580
• in his sightעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: seeingH5869
• and he servedשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
• him: and he made him overseerפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: overseerH6485
• over his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• he hadיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• he putנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• into his handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027

Cross-references for Genesis 39:4

• Genesis 39:21But the Lord was with Joseph and extended lovingkindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the warden.
• Genesis 18:3and Abraham said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass by your servant [without stopping to visit].
• Genesis 19:19Please listen, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness (mercy) to me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, because the disaster will overtake me and I will be killed.
• Genesis 32:5I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants; and I have sent [this message] to tell my lord, so that I may find grace and kindness in your sight.” ’ ”
• Genesis 33:8Esau asked, “What do you mean by all this company which I have met?” And he answered, “[These are] to find favor in the sight of my lord.”
• 1 Samuel 16:22Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Please let David be my attendant, for he has found favor in my sight.”
• Nehemiah 2:4The king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.
• Proverbs 16:7When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
• Genesis 39:22The warden committed to Joseph’s care (management) all the prisoners who were in the prison; so that whatever was done there, he was in charge of it.
• Genesis 15:2Abram said, “Lord God, what reward will You give me, since I am [leaving this world] childless, and he who will be the owner and heir of my house is this [servant] Eliezer from Damascus?”
• Genesis 24:2Abraham said to his servant [Eliezer of Damascus], the oldest of his household, who had charge over all that Abraham owned, “Please, put your hand under my thigh [as is customary for affirming a solemn oath],
• Genesis 41:40You shall have charge over my house, and all my people shall be governed according to your word and pay respect [to you with reverence, submission, and obedience]; only in [matters of] the throne will I be greater than you [in Egypt].”
• Proverbs 14:35The king’s favor and good will are toward a servant who acts wisely and discreetly, But his anger and wrath are toward him who acts shamefully.
• Proverbs 17:2A wise servant will rule over the [unworthy] son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace [to the family] And [the worthy servant] will share in the inheritance among the brothers.
• Proverbs 22:29Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honor] before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.
• Proverbs 27:18He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who faithfully protects and cares for his master will be honored.

Commentaries on Genesis 39:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He made him overseer - הפקיד hiphkid, from פקד pakad, to visit, take care of, superintend; the same as , overseer or bishop, among the Greeks. This is the term by which the Septuagint often express the meaning of the original.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-23Verses 1-23 - Joseph in Potiphar‘s House According to our reckoning, Perez and Zerah were born when Judah was in his twenty-eighth year, and therefore, Joseph in his twenty-fourth. Here, then, we go back seven years to resume the story of Joseph. Genesis 39:1-6 Joseph fares well with his first master. “Potiphar.” This is a racapitulation of the narrative in Genesis 12:3. “Beautiful in form and look” Genesis 29:17. This prepares the way for the following…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-23Joseph was honest and faithful in his work for Potiphar. This is very different from Judah, who failed morally (chapter 38). God was with Joseph (39:2–3, 21, 23). He helped Joseph succeed and become a blessing to others (see study notes on 12:1–9; 28:16–22), even while Joseph was a slave and later in prison.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-231. Potiphar--This name, Potiphar, signifies one "devoted to the sun," the local deity of On or Heliopolis, a circumstance which fixes the place of his residence in the Delta, the district of Egypt bordering on Canaan. officer--literally, "prince of the Pharoah"--that is, in the service of government. captain of the guard--The import of the original term has been variously interpreted, some considering it means "chief cook," others, "chief inspector of…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 39:4

• Civil Service
• Joseph
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Prosper
• Temptation
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Genesis
• Joseph (2)
• Overseer
• Slave; Slavery
• Steward
• Potiphar

Commentaries on Genesis 39

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings