Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Parallel Translations
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Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
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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.
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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.
Cross-references (18)
Passages linked to Genesis 39:4 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Genesis 39:21-22 But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it.
- Genesis 19:19 See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can’t escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die.
- Genesis 24:2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.
- Genesis 39:8 But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand.
- Proverbs 27:18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
- Acts 20:28 Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
- Genesis 18:3 and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
- Genesis 33:10 Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me.
- Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- Proverbs 17:2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
- Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
- Genesis 15:2 Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
- Genesis 32:5 I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.’ ”
- Genesis 33:8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” Jacob said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.”
- Genesis 41:40-41 You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
- 1 Samuel 16:22 Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight.”
- Nehemiah 2:4-5 Then the king said to me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it.”
- Proverbs 14:35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (8 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Because God prospered him: and so he made religion…
Because God prospered him: and so he made religion to serve his profit.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Gen 39:4 And Joseph found grace in his sight,…
Gen 39:4 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.
Ver. 4. And Joseph found grace in his sight.] This also was of God, who fashioneth men’s opinions, and therefore Paul, though he went to carry alms (and such are commonly welcome), yet prays that his "service might be accepted of the saints." {Rom 15:31}
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And he served him.] As his page or chamberlain; afterwards he became his steward. He that is faithful in a little shall be master of more.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain He served him, not now as a slave, but…
He served him, not now as a slave, but in a higher degree.
All that he had he put into his hand, i.e. committed to his care and management, as Gen 16:6.
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Object. How could this be, when Joseph understood not the Egyptian tongue?
Answ. Joseph doubtless when he came thither did as much as possibly he could endeavour to get the knowledge of that language, and being a person of excellent parts, would soon obtain it, especially because of the great affinity between that language and his own. Nor must we think that Joseph was thus highly advanced in an instant, but by degrees, step by step, and after some considerable time.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And Joseph found grace in his sight,.... In the…
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.
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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.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 4. He made him overseer] הפקיד hiphkid, from…
Verse 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.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Gen 39:4. He made him overseer over all that…
Gen 39:4. He made him overseer over all that he had — Committed all to his care and management. But it may be asked how this could be, since Joseph understood not the Egyptian language? In answer to which it may be observed, that, undoubtedly, as soon as he came thither he would do his utmost to obtain the knowledge of that language, and being a person of good parts, would soon obtain it, especially as there was a great affinity between that language and his own. Besides, it is not to be supposed that Joseph was highly advanced at once, but step by step, and after some considerable time. For, considering Potiphar’s office and station, it is not likely that he would thus prefer Joseph till he had had full evidence of his fidelity, as well as of his ability to manage so great a trust.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 4. ministered unto him] Joseph’s character and capacities were…
4. ministered unto him] Joseph’s character and capacities were first tested by personal service, and afterwards by the responsibility of general supervision.
overseer] Joseph was made steward of the whole household, a position of which we find mention in early Egyptian records. Cf. Gen_43:16, Gen_44:1.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain And Joseph found grace in his sight, vide Gen_6:8…
And Joseph found grace in his sight, vide Gen_6:8 Gen_18:3 Gen_19:19 Gen_39:21. Most men are pleased with a good servant. Even Laban bad no objections to Jacob so long as he divided that Jehovah was multiplying his flocks for Jacob"s sake. (Gen_30:27) and he served him (i.e. he waited on Potiphar, or acted as his personal attendant and comptroller of his household): and he (i.e. Potiphar) made him overseer over his house, a position corresponding to that occupied by Eliezer in the household of Abraham. (Gen_24:2) Egyptian monuments attest the existence of such an officer in wealthy houses at an early period; a tomb at Kum-el-Ahmar exhibiting the account books, writing materials, and clerks that pertain to the office of s steward, and another at Beni-hassan, besides displaying his accustomed implements, styling him the Overseer (Wilkinson"s "Ancient Egyptians, vol. 1. p. 372, ed. 1878; Hengstenberg s "Egypt and the Books of Moses," p. 24). A sepulchral inscription belonging to the period of the eleventh dynasty also mentions among the officers comprising the household of Ameni the chancellor Athorsi, the barber Khentikhrati, the slave Gefahapi, the lady"s maid Khui, the steward Ameni, the steward Santit (vide "Records of the Past," vol. 6. p. 3). Joseph had also, after his exaltation, a ruler or steward of his house (cf. Gen_43:16, 19 44:1) and all that he had he put into his hand = literally, and all which was to him he gave into his hand, i.e. he entrusted to Joseph"s cam).
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.