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 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, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 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. 5So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome 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 showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
• Genesis 18:3and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.
• Genesis 19:19Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die.
• Genesis 32:5I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”
• Genesis 33:8Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.”
• 1 Samuel 16:22Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”
• Nehemiah 2:4Then the 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 39:22And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.
• Genesis 15:2But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
• Genesis 24:2So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh,
• Genesis 41:40You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
• Proverbs 14:35The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
• Proverbs 17:2A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.
• Proverbs 22:29Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
• Proverbs 27:18Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on 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