New International Version
Genesis 39:4
4Joseph 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.
Context of Genesis 39:4
2The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 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. 5From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
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 39:21the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
- Genesis 18:3He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
- Genesis 19:19Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die.
- Genesis 32:5I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’ ”
- Genesis 33:8Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?” “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said.
- 1 Samuel 16:22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
- Nehemiah 2:4The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
- Proverbs 16:7When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
- Genesis 39:22So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.
- Genesis 15:2But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
- Genesis 24:2He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh.
- Genesis 41:40You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
- Proverbs 14:35A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.
- Proverbs 17:2A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
- Proverbs 22:29Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.
- Proverbs 27:18The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their 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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