Genesis 39 · Verse 4

Genesis 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.
Genesis 39:4, King James Version

Genesis 39:4 in other translations

BSBJoseph 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.
WEBJoseph 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.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTand 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.
DARBYAnd 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.
BBEAnd 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.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Genesis 39:4 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 39:1-6

Our enemies may strip us of outward distinctions and ornaments; but wisdom and grace cannot be taken from us. They may separate us from friends, relatives, and country; but they cannot take from us the presence of the Lord. They may shut us from outward blessings, rob us of liberty, and confine us in dungeons; but they cannot shut us out from communion with God, from the throne of grace, or take from us the…

Read the full comment on Genesis 39:1-6 →

Genesis 39:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּמְצָ֨אvai.yim.Tza'and he foundH4672
יוֹסֵ֥ףyo.SefJosephH3130
חֵ֛ןchenfavorH2580
בְּעֵינָ֖יוbe.'ei.Navin view hisH5869
וַיְשָׁ֣רֶתvay.Sha.retand he servedH8334
אֹת֑וֹ'o.To<obj.> himH853
וַיַּפְקִדֵ֙הוּ֙vai.yaf.ki.De.huand he appointed himH6485
עַל\־'al-overH5921
בֵּית֔וֹbei.Tohousehold hisH1004
וְכָל\־ve.kholand allH3605
יֶשׁ\־yesh-[that] thereH3426
ל֖וֹlo[belonged] to <the> him
נָתַ֥ןna.Tanhe gaveH5414
בְּיָדֽוֹ\׃be.ya.Doin hand hisH3027

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 39:4

  • Genesis 39:21-22

    But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

  • Genesis 19:19

    Behold 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:

  • Proverbs 27:18

    Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

  • Genesis 39:8

    But 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;

  • Genesis 24:2

    And 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:

  • Acts 20:28

    Take 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.

  • Proverbs 22:29

    Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

  • Proverbs 17:2

    A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

  • Genesis 18:3

    And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

  • Genesis 33:10

    And 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.

  • Proverbs 16:7

    When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

  • Genesis 33:8

    And 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Joseph.
21; 18:3; 19:19; 32:5; 33:8,10; 1Sa 16:22; Ne 2:4,5; Pr 16:7
overseer.
22; 15:2; 24:2; 41:40,41; Pr 14:35; 17:2; 22:29; 27:18; Ac 20:28

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 39:3

    And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

  • Genesis 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.

  • Genesis 39:5

    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.

Read all of Genesis 39

Genesis 39:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Así halló José gracia en sus ojos, y servíale; y él le hizo mayordomo de su casa, y entregó en su poder todo lo que tenía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Joseph trouva grâce à ses yeux, et il le servait; et Potiphar l’établit sur sa maison, et il mit entre ses mains tout ce qui était à lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und Joseph fand Gnade in seinen Augen und diente ihm; und er bestellte ihn über sein Haus, und alles was er hatte, gab er in seine Hand.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Invenitque Joseph gratiam coram domino suo, et ministrabat ei: a quo præpositus omnibus gubernabat creditam sibi domum, et universa quæ ei tradita fuerant: