Gen 39:4-5 | NETfull | STEP | So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned.

Genesis 39:4-5

4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. ^{▼▼ 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.} Potiphar appointed Joseph ^{▼▼ Heb “him”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} overseer of his household and put him in charge ^{▼▼ Heb “put into his hand.”} of everything he owned. 5 From the time ^{▼▼ Heb “and it was from then.”} Potiphar ^{▼▼ Heb “he”; the referent (Potiphar) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} appointed him over his household and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed ^{▼▼ 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).} the Egyptian’s household for Joseph’s sake. The blessing of the Lord was on everything that he had, both ^{▼▼ Heb “in the house and in the field.” The word “both” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.} in his house and in his fields. ^{▼▼ 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.}