Genesis 39:4

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 39:4

served = became his personal servant. hand. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). App-6 . Hand put for care which it takes. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 39:3-6

"And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he ministered unto him: and he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had put into his hand. And it came to pass that from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was upon all that he had, in the house and in the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 39:1-6

The clause "the Lord was with Joseph" occurs four times in this chapter (Genesis 39:2-3; Genesis 39:21; Genesis 39:23) and explains the reason for his success. The divine name "LORD," Yahweh, appears seven times in this chapter (Genesis 39:2-3 [twice], 5 [twice], 21, and 23) but only one other time in the Jacob toledot (Genesis 37:2 to Genesis 50:26): in Genesis 49:18. God had previously promised to be with Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 26:3; Genesis 26:24; Genesis 26:28; Genesis 28:15; Genesis... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 39:1-23

Joseph in the House of Potiphar5. Overseer] rather, ’house-steward.’6. Potiphar left everything under Joseph’s control except his own food. There may be here an allusion to the strict caste laws of Egypt: cp. Genesis 43:32; Genesis 46:34.7. Joseph was yet but a youth, when temptations are strongest, and he was far removed from all the restraining influences of home. But He who was ’the fear of Isaac’ (Genesis 31:42) was ’the fear of Joseph ’also, and his resolute resistance to temptation... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 39:1-23

Genesis 39:9 'How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?' So said Joseph, alone with Potiphar's wife? The unhappy woman had been enticing Joseph, then about twenty-seven years old, to gross and grievous sin. Sin had mastered her; she was the insane slave of its power. Now, she in turn craved, by a sort of dreadful 'law of sin,' to drag down another soul with her in the pit. Joseph was not a glorified spirit. He was a young mortal man, subject to 'like passions' with ours. The... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 39:1-23

JOSEPH IN PRISONGenesis 39:1-23"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life."- James 1:12DRAMATISTS and novelists, who make it their business to give accurate representations of human life, proceed upon the understanding that there is a plot in it, and that if you take the beginning or middle without the end, you must fail to comprehend these-prior parts. And a plot is pronounced good in proportion as, without violating truth to nature,... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 39:1-23

CHAPTER 39 Joseph In Egypt 1. In Potiphar’s house (Genesis 39:1-6 ) 2. Tempted by Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:7-18 ) 3. Joseph in prison (Genesis 39:19-23 ) Potiphar, the master of Joseph, was an officer of Pharaoh. His name means “devoted to Ra,” a god of Egypt. Why is it stated a number of times that Potiphar was an Egyptian? Discoveries have shown that Egypt had come at that time under a new dynasty; therefore it is repeatedly stated that Potiphar, the Egyptian, was retained in his... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Genesis 39:4

39:4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him {c} overseer over his house, and all [that] he had he put into his hand.(c) Because God prospered him: and so he made religion serve his profit. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 39:1-23

JOSEPH--A SUFFERER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS How good it is to turn from Judah's sordid history to consider Joseph's history of faithful devotedness to the Lord! The deepest blessing for us in this is of course in the fact of the refreshing way in which Joseph is a type of the Lord Jesus. Just as Joseph learns through suffering, so the Lord Jesus "learned obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Joseph was sold in Egypt to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's bodyguard. But the Lord... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 39:1-23

JOSEPH ’S HISTORY DISPENSATIONAL ASPECT OF JACOB’S HISTORY Following F.W. Grant in the Numerical Bible, the life of Jacob gives as its lesson the story of that discipline by which the Spirit of God brings us from weakness to power, from nature’s strength to that wholesome weakness in which alone is strength. But for this, natural strength must be crippled, which is provided for in two ways: in allowing us to realize the power of another nature (Esau) and in the direct dealing of God with our... read more