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, so he became a successful man. He worked in the house of his Egyptian master. 3Joseph’s master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he did successful. Potiphar liked Joseph so much that he made him his trusted servant. He put him in charge of his household and everything he owned. 5From that time on the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s household because of Joseph. Therefore, the Lord’s blessing was on everything Potiphar owned in his house and in his fields. 6So he left all that he owned in Joseph’s care. He wasn’t concerned about anything except the food he ate. 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 39:21the Lord was with him. The Lord reached out to him with his unchanging love and gave him protection. The Lord also put Joseph on good terms with the warden.
• Genesis 18:3“Please, sir,” Abraham said, “stop by to visit me for a while.
• Genesis 19:19Even though you’ve been so good to me and though you’ve been very kind to me by saving my life, I can’t run as far as the hills. This disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die.
• Genesis 32:5I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, and male and female slaves. I’ve sent ⌞these messengers⌟ to tell you ⌞this news⌟ in order to win your favor.’ ”
• Genesis 33:8Then Esau asked, “Why did you send this whole group ⌞of people and animals⌟ I met?” He answered, “To win your favor, sir.”
• 1 Samuel 16:22Saul sent ⌞this message⌟ to Jesse, “Please let David stay with me because I have grown fond of him.”
• Nehemiah 2:4“What do you want?” the king asked me. So I prayed to the God of heaven,
• Proverbs 16:7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
• Genesis 39:22So the warden placed Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in that prison. Joseph became responsible for everything that they were doing.
• Genesis 15:2Abram asked, “Almighty Lord, what will you give me? Since I’m going to die without children, Eliezer of Damascus will inherit my household.
• Genesis 24:2So Abraham said to the senior servant of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, “Take a solemn oath.
• Genesis 41:40You will be in charge of my palace, and all my people will do what you say. I will be more important than you, only because I’m Pharaoh.”
• Proverbs 14:35A king is delighted with a servant who acts wisely, but he is furious with one who acts shamefully.
• Proverbs 17:2A wise slave will become master over a son who acts shamefully, and he will share the inheritance with the brothers.
• Proverbs 22:29Do you see a person who is efficient in his work? He will serve kings. He will not serve unknown people.
• Proverbs 27:18Whoever takes care of a fig tree can eat its fruit, and whoever protects his master is 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