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 became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master. 3When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he did successful, Joseph found favor with his master and became his personal attendant. Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority. 5From the time that he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph. The Lord’s blessing was on all that he owned, in his house and in his fields. 6He left all that he owned under Joseph’s authority; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome.

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 kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden.
• Genesis 18:3and said, “My lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant.
• Genesis 19:19Your servant has indeed found favor with you, and you have shown me great kindness by saving my life. But I can’t run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die.
• Genesis 32:5I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female slaves. I have sent this message to inform my lord, in order to seek your favor.’”
• Genesis 33:8So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession I met?” “To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered.
• 1 Samuel 16:22Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor with me.”
• Nehemiah 2:4Then the king asked me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of the heavens
• Proverbs 16:7When a person’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
• Genesis 39:22The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph’s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there.
• Genesis 15:2But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
• Genesis 24:2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
• Genesis 41:40You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands. Only I, as king, will be greater than you.”
• Proverbs 14:35A king favors a prudent servant, but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.
• Proverbs 17:2A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share an inheritance among brothers.
• Proverbs 22:29Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.
• Proverbs 27:18Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever looks after 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