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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB 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.
- 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joseph wins Potiphar's favor and is put in charge of his entire household.
Overview
Joseph's integrity and competence earn him trust and authority over all his master's affairs. His rise from slave to overseer foreshadows his later elevation in Egypt. God advances Joseph step by step toward the position from which he will preserve many lives.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Gen 39:21–22But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
- Gen 39:8But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
- Gen 24:2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
- Gen 19:19Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
- Acts 20:28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
- Prov 27:18Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
- Prov 17:2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
- Gen 18:3And said, My LORD, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
- Prov 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- Prov 22:29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
- Gen 33:10And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
- Gen 33:8And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
- Neh 2:4–5Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
- Prov 14:35The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
- Gen 15:2And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
- Gen 32:5And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
- Gen 41:40–41Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
- 1 Sam 16:22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 39:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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