New King James Version
Genesis 39:6
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 39:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
- New International Version (NIV)So 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,
- English Standard Version (ESV)So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
- New Living Translation (NLT)So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man,
Context of Genesis 39:6
4So 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. Thus 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. 7And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 8But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.
Read all of Genesis 39Genesis 39:6 word by word
וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֮ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵף֒ וְלֹא־יָדַ֤ע אִתּוֹ֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא אוֹכֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף יְפֵה־תֹ֖אַר וִיפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he leftעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
- all that he had in Joseph’sיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
- handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
- and he knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- not oughtמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
- he had, save[כִּי] אם'im · if: exceptH518
- the breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
- which he did eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- goodlyתֹּ֫אַרtô'ar · appearanceH8389
- and wellיָפֶהyâpheh · beautifulH3303
- favouredמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
Cross-references for Genesis 39:6
- Genesis 39:4So 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.
- Luke 16:10He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
- Luke 19:17And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
- Genesis 43:32So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
- Proverbs 31:11The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.
- Genesis 12:14So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
- Genesis 29:17Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.
- 1 Samuel 16:12So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”
- 1 Samuel 17:42And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.
- Acts 7:20At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months.
Commentaries on Genesis 39:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored - מראה ויפה תאר יפה yepkeh thoar, vipheh mareh, beautiful in his person, and beautiful in his countenance. The same expressions are used relative to Rachel; see them explained Genesis 29:17; (note). The beauty of Joseph is celebrated over all the East, and the Persian poets vie with each other in descriptions of his comeliness. Mohammed spends the twelfth chapter of the Koran entirely on Joseph, and represents…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. 6-10A major theme in wisdom literature (wise teaching about how to live well; see study note on 37:2–50:26) is a warning to young people: sexual sin and other wrong behavior will lead to harm and ruin (compare Proverbs 5–7). Joseph resisted temptation because he had godly wisdom. He was guided by the fear of the Lord (a deep respect and reverence for God that leads to obedience; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).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 39:6
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries