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Read the Bible

Green's Literal Translation

Genesis 39:4

And Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. And he appointed him over his house, and he gave all he owned into his hand.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Civil Service;   Joseph;   Servant;   Thompson Chain Reference - Business Life;   Capital and Labour;   Employers (Masters);   Joseph;   Overseers;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Egypt;   Servants;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Egypt;   Joseph;   Pharaoh;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Favor;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Genesis;   Hand;   Household;   Overseer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Grace;   Pharaoh;   Potiphar;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Annunciation, the ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Overseer;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Grace;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bishop;   Potiphar;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Pot'iphar,;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Overseer;   Shebna;   Slave;   Steward;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ahishar;   Sidra;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Yosef found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
And Joseph found favor in his eyes and he served him. Then he appointed him over his house and all that he owned he put into his hand.
New Century Version
So Potiphar was very happy with Joseph and allowed him to be his personal servant. He put Joseph in charge of the house, trusting him with everything he owned.
New English Translation
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.
Amplified Bible
So Joseph pleased Potiphar and found favor in his sight and he served him as his personal servant. He made Joseph overseer over his house, and he put all that he owned in Joseph's charge.
New American Standard Bible
So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and put him in charge of all that he owned.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So Ioseph founde fauour in his sight, and serued him: and he made him ruler of his house, and put all that he had in his hand.
Legacy Standard Bible
So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended on him; and he appointed him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he gave in his hand.
Contemporary English Version
Potiphar liked Joseph and made him his personal assistant, putting him in charge of his house and all of his property.
Complete Jewish Bible
Yosef pleased him as he served him, and his master appointed him manager of his household; he entrusted all his possessions to Yosef.
Darby Translation
And Joseph found favour in his eyes, and attended on him; and he set him over his house, and all that he had he gave into his hand.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Potiphar was very happy with Joseph. He allowed Joseph to work for him and to help him rule the house. Joseph was the ruler over everything Potiphar owned.
English Standard Version
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.
George Lamsa Translation
And Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him; and he made him steward of his house, and all that he had he put in his charge.
Good News Translation
Potiphar was pleased with him and made him his personal servant; so he put him in charge of his house and everything he owned.
Christian Standard Bible®
Joseph found favor with his master and became his personal attendant. Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
so yt he founde fauor in his masters sight, & was his seruaunt. He made him ruler of his house, and put all that he had, vnder his hande.
American Standard Version
And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he ministered unto him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Bible in Basic English
And having a high opinion of Joseph as his servant, he made him the overseer of his house and gave him control over all he had.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Ioseph founde grace in his maisters syght, and serued hym: And he made hym ouerseer of his house, & put all that he had in his hande.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Joseph found favour in his sight, and he ministered unto him. And he appointed him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
King James Version (1611)
And Ioseph found grace in his sight, and he serued him; and hee made him ouerseer ouer his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Joseph found grace in the presence of his lord, and was well-pleasing to him; and he set him over his house, and all that he had he gave into the hand of Joseph.
English Revised Version
And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he ministered unto him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Berean Standard Bible
Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Joseph foond grace bifor his lord, and `mynystride to hym, of whom Joseph was maad souereyn of alle thingis, and gouernede the hows bitaken to hym, and alle thingis that weren bitakun to hym.
Young's Literal Translation
and Joseph findeth grace in his eyes and serveth him, and he appointeth him over his house, and all that he hath he hath given into his hand.
Update Bible Version
And Joseph found favor in his eyes, and he ministered to him: and he made him "Overseer of the House", and all that he had he put into his hand.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
World English Bible
Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
New King James Version
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
This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.
New Life Bible
So Joseph found favor in his eyes, and worked only for him. Potiphar made him the one to watch over his house and take care of all that he owned.
New Revised Standard
So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him; he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So Joseph found favour in his eyes and waited upon him, - and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had, gave he into his hand.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joseph found favour in the sight of his master, and ministered to him: and being set over all by him, he governed the house committed to him, and all things that were delivered to him:
Revised Standard Version
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 American Standard Bible (1995)
So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge.

Contextual Overview

1 And Joseph was carried down to Egypt. And Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, the chief of the executioners, an Egyptian man, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites who had carried him down there. 2 And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. And he was in the house of the Egyptian, his master. 3 And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and Joseph was prospering in his hand everything which he did. 4 And Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. And he appointed him over his house, and he gave all he owned into his hand. 5 And it came about that from the time he appointed him over his house and over all he owned, Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of Jehovah was on all that he had, in the house and in the field. 6 And he left all he owned in Joseph's hand. And he did not know anything that he had, except the bread which he was eating. And Joseph was beautiful in form and beautiful of appearance.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Joseph: Genesis 39:21, Genesis 18:3, Genesis 19:19, Genesis 32:5, Genesis 33:8, Genesis 33:10, 1 Samuel 16:22, Nehemiah 2:4, Nehemiah 2:5, Proverbs 16:7

overseer: Genesis 39:22, Genesis 15:2, Genesis 24:2, Genesis 41:40, Genesis 41:41, Proverbs 14:35, Proverbs 17:2, Proverbs 22:29, Proverbs 27:18, Acts 20:28

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:10 - all the Genesis 39:6 - he left Genesis 43:16 - the ruler Ruth 2:6 - the servant 1 Kings 11:19 - found 1 Kings 16:9 - steward of 1 Kings 18:3 - the governor of his house Matthew 20:8 - unto Luke 7:2 - who Luke 19:17 - Well

Cross-References

Genesis 15:2
And Abram said, Lord Jehovah, what will You give to me since I am going childless and the son of the inheritance of my house is Eleazar of Damascus?
Genesis 18:3
And he said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, I beg You, do not leave from near Your servant.
Genesis 19:19
Behold, now, Your servant has found grace in Your sight, and You have magnified Your mercy which You have done to me in saving my life. And I am not able to escape to the mountain lest some evil overtake me and I die.
Genesis 24:2
And Abraham said to his slave, oldest in his house, the one who governed in all that was to him, Please put your hand under my thigh.
Genesis 32:5
And it is mine to have oxen, and asses, flocks, and slaves and slave-girls. And I have sent to tell my lord, to find favor in your eyes.
Genesis 33:8
And he said, Whose is all this camp which I met? And he said, To find favor in the eyes of my lord.
Genesis 33:10
And Jacob said, No, please, if I now have found favor in your eyes, take my present from my hands. For I have seen your face, like seeing the face of God; and you are pleased with me.
Genesis 39:4
And Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. And he appointed him over his house, and he gave all he owned into his hand.
Genesis 39:5
And it came about that from the time he appointed him over his house and over all he owned, Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of Jehovah was on all that he had, in the house and in the field.
Genesis 39:8
And he refused, and said to his master's wife, Behold, my master does not know what is in the house with me, and all that he owns he has given into my hand.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Joseph found grace in his sight,.... In the sight of his master, as he did in the sight of God, he had favour both with God and man; his master had a high esteem of him, and a great value for him, and showed him much kindness and respect:

and he served him; readily, willingly, cheerfully, and faithfully; or he served him personally; his master took such a liking to him, that he selected him from the rest of his servants to wait on his person, and to be what we now call a "valet de chambre", whose business was to dress and undress him, to wait upon him at table, c.

and he made him overseer over his house, and all [that] he had he put into his hand that is, after he had served him some time, in the capacity of a valet, he advanced him, and made him the head servant, or steward of his house, and committed all his business, cash, and accounts to his care, and put all his servants under him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

- 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 37:0: “The Lord;” the God of covenant is with Joseph. “In the house.” Joseph was a domestic servant. “And his master saw.” The prosperity that attended all Joseph’s doings was so striking as to show that the Lord was with him. “Set him over” - made him overseer of all that was in his house. “The Lord blessed the Mizrite’s house.” He blesses those who bless his own Genesis 12:3. “Beautiful in form and look” Genesis 29:17. This prepares the way for the following occurrence.

Genesis 39:7-10

Joseph resists the daily solicitations of his master’s wife to lie with her. “None greater in this house than I.” He pleads the unreserved trust his master had reposed in him. He is bound by the law of honor, the law of chastity (this great evil), and the law of piety (sin against God). Joseph uses the common name of God in addressing this Egyptian. He could employ no higher pleas than the above.

Genesis 39:11-18

“At this day,” the day on which the occurrence now to be related took place. “To do his business.” He does not come in her way except at the call of duty. He hath brought in. She either does not condescend, or does not need to name her husband. “A Hebrew to mock us.” Her disappointment now provokes her to falsehood as the means of concealment and revenge. A Hebrew is still the only national designation proper to Joseph Genesis 14:13. Jacob’s descendants had not got beyond the family. The term Israelite was therefore, not yet in use. The national name is designedly used as a term of reproach among the Egyptians Genesis 43:32. “To mock us,” - to take improper liberties, not only with me, but with any of the females in the house. “I cried with a loud voice.” This is intended to be the proof of her innocence Deuteronomy 22:24, Deuteronomy 22:27. “Left his garments by me;” not in her hand, which would have been suspicious.

Genesis 39:19-23

Her husband believes her story and naturally resents the supposed unfaithfulness of his slave. His treatment of him is mild. He puts him in ward, probably to stand his trial for the offence. The Lord does not forsake the prisoner. He gives him favor with the governor of the jail. The same unlimited trust is placed in him by the governor as by his late master.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Genesis 39:4. He made him overseer — הפקיד hiphkid, from פקד pakad, to visit, take care of, superintend; the same as επισκοπος, overseer or bishop, among the Greeks. This is the term by which the Septuagint often express the meaning of the original.


 
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