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Genesis 39:4–5

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39:4So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant.7 Potiphar appointed Joseph8 overseer of his household and put him in charge9 of everything he owned. 39:5From the time10 Potiphar11 appointed him over his household and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed12 the Egyptian’s household for Joseph’s sake. The blessing of the Lord was on everything that he had, both13 in his house and in his fields.14

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Footnotes

  1. 7 The Hebrew verb translated became his personal attendant refers to higher domestic service, usually along the lines of a personal attendant. Here Joseph is made the household steward, a position well-attested in Egyptian literature.
  2. 8 Heb “him”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  3. 9 Heb “put into his hand.”
  4. 10 Heb “and it was from then.”
  5. 11 Heb “he”; the referent (Potiphar) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  6. 12 The Hebrew word translated blessed carries the idea of enrichment, prosperity, success. It is the way believers describe success at the hand of God. The text illustrates the promise made to Abraham that whoever blesses his descendants will be blessed (Gen 12:1–3).
  7. 13 Heb “in the house and in the field.” The word “both” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  8. 14 The passage gives us a good picture of Joseph as a young man who was responsible and faithful, both to his master and to his God. This happened within a very short time of his being sold into Egypt. It undermines the view that Joseph was a liar, a tattletale, and an arrogant adolescent.

In other versions

ESVEnglish 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. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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. From 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.

CSBChristian 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. From the time that he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph. The Lord’s blessing was on all that he owned, in his house and in his fields.

NLTNew 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. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished.

LEBThe 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. And it happened that from the time he appointed him over his house and over all that he had, Yahweh blessed the house of the Egyptian on account of Joseph. And the blessing of Yahweh was upon all that he had in the house and in the field.

KJV 1900King 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. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.