New English Translation
Genesis 39:4
4So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned.
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. He was successful and lived in the household of his Egyptian master. 3His master observed that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he was doing successful. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. 5From the time Potiphar appointed him over his household and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s household for Joseph’s sake. The blessing of the Lord was on everything that he had, both in his house and in his fields. 6So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; he gave no thought to anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well built and good-looking.
Read all of Genesis 39Genesis 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 showed him kindness. He granted him favor in the sight of the prison warden.
- Genesis 18:3He said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant.
- Genesis 19:19Your servant has found favor with you, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I am not able to escape to the mountains because this disaster will overtake me and I’ll die.
- Genesis 32:5I have oxen, donkeys, sheep, and male and female servants. I have sent this message to inform my lord, so that I may find favor in your sight.’”
- Genesis 33:8Esau then asked, “What did you intend by sending all these herds to meet me?” Jacob replied, “To find favor in your sight, my lord.”
- 1 Samuel 16:22Then Saul sent word to Jesse saying, “Let David be my servant, for I really like him.”
- Nehemiah 2:4The king responded, “What is it you are seeking?” Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven
- Proverbs 16:7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he even reconciles his enemies to himself.
- Genesis 39:22The warden put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care. He was in charge of whatever they were doing.
- Genesis 15:2But Abram said, “O sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?”
- Genesis 24:2Abraham said to his servant, the senior one in his household who was in charge of everything he had, “Put your hand under my thigh
- Genesis 41:40You will oversee my household, and all my people will submit to your commands. Only I, the king, will be greater than you.
- Proverbs 14:35The king shows favor to a wise servant, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
- Proverbs 17:2A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.
- Proverbs 22:29Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will take his position before kings; he will not take his position before obscure people.
- Proverbs 27:18The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever takes care of 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
In the dictionaries
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
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