Genesis 40 · Verse 4

Genesis 40:4

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
Genesis 40:4, King James Version

Genesis 40:4 in other translations

BSBThe captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant. After they had been in custody for some time,
WEBThe captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days.
ASVAnd the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he ministered unto them: and they continued a season in ward.
YLTand the chief of the executioners chargeth Joseph with them, and he serveth them; and they are days in charge.
DARBYAnd the captain of the life-guard appointed Joseph to them, that he should attend on them. And they were several days in custody.
BBEAnd the captain put them in Joseph's care, and he did what was needed for them; and they were kept in prison for some time.
WebsterAnd the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; and they continued a season in custody.

What does Genesis 40:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them--not the keeper, though he was most favorably disposed; but Potiphar himself, who, it would seem, was by this time satisfied of the perfect innocence of the young Hebrew; though, probably, to prevent the exposure of his family, he deemed it prudent to detain him in confinement (see Psa 37:5). They continued a season in ward--literally, "days," how long, is uncertain; but as they were called to account on the king's birthday, it has been supposed that their offense had been committed on the preceding anniversary [Calvin].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 They continued a season - ימים yamim, literally days; how long we cannot tell. But many suppose the word signifies a complete year; and as Pharaoh called them to an account on his birthday, Gen 40:20, Calmet supposes they had offended on the preceding birthday, and thus had been one whole year in prison.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 40:1-19

It was not so much the prison that made the butler and baker sad, as their dreams. God has more ways than one to sadden the spirits. Joseph had compassion towards them. Let us be concerned for the sadness of our brethren's countenances. It is often a relief to those that are in trouble to be noticed. Also learn to look into the causes of our own sorrow. Is there a good reason? Is there not comfort sufficient to…

Read the full comment on Genesis 40:1-19 →

Genesis 40:4 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.

וַ֠יִּפְקֹדVai.yif.kodand he appointedH6485
שַׂ֣רsar[the] commander ofH8269
הַטַּבָּחִ֧יםha.ta.ba.Chimthe bodyguardsH2876
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
יוֹסֵ֛ףyo.SefJosephH3130
אִתָּ֖ם'i.Tamwith themH854
וַיְשָׁ֣רֶתvay.Sha.retand he servedH8334
אֹתָ֑ם'o.Tam<obj.> themH853
וַיִּהְי֥וּvai.yih.Yuand they wereH1961
יָמִ֖יםya.MimdaysH3117
בְּמִשְׁמָֽר\׃be.mish.Marin custodyH4929

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

Cross references for Genesis 40:4

  • Psalms 37:5

    Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

  • Genesis 37:36

    And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.

  • Genesis 39:1

    And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

  • Genesis 39:21-23

    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. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the captain.
37:36; 39:1,21-23; Ps 37:5
a season.{Yamim,} literally days; how long is uncertain, though the word may signify, as many suppose, a complete year (see Ge 4:3; 24:55); and as Pharaoh called them to an account on his birthday, (ver. 20,) Calmet supposes they had offended on the preceding birthday, and thus had been one whole year in prison.

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

Context

  • Genesis 40:3

    And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

  • Genesis 40:4

    And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

  • Genesis 40:5

    And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

Read all of Genesis 40

Genesis 40:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el capitán de los de la guardia dió cargo de ellos á José, y él les servía: y estuvieron días en la prisión.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le chef des gardes les confia aux soins de Joseph, et il les servait; et ils furent plusieurs jours sous garde.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und der Oberste der Trabanten bestellte Joseph zu ihnen, und er bediente sie; und sie waren eine Zeitlang in Gewahrsam.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		At custos carceris tradidit eos Joseph, qui et ministrabat eis: aliquantulum temporis fluxerat, et illi in custodia tenebantur.