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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
- Gen 39:8But 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.
- Gen 24:2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.
- Gen 19:19See 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.
- Acts 20:28Take 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.
- Prov 27:18Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
- Prov 17:2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
- Gen 18:3and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
- Prov 16:7When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- Prov 22:29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
- Gen 33:10Jacob 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.
- Gen 33:8Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” Jacob said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.”
- Neh 2:4–5Then the king said to me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.
- Prov 14:35The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
- Gen 15:2Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
- Gen 32:5I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.’”
- Gen 41:40–41You shall be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.”
- 1 Sam 16:22Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor 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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