Genesis 39:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So he left all that he had in Joseph 's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

NIV: So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

NASB: So he left Joseph in charge of everything that he owned; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

CSB: He left all that he owned under Joseph’s authority; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome.

NLT: So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing — except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man,

KJV: And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

NKJV: Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

An employer who feels the need to make every decision, giving no trust to their employees, is sometimes called a "micro-manager." We have no information of whether Potiphar was a natural micro-manager, but the Bible is clear he was not that way with his captive slave, Joseph (Genesis 39:1). Joseph was so successful in overseeing all of Potiphar's household, and the Lord's blessings on the household were so abundant, that Potiphar stopped concerning himself with any of the household business. He just let Joseph handle it all (Genesis 39:2–5).

Potiphar's only concern, when it came to his household, was what food he would eat. Perhaps this also refers to his most private affairs. Aside from those, Potiphar was convinced Joseph would handle everything as well or better than he could. Again, Potiphar clearly understood that Joseph's success came because of the power and blessing of Joseph's God. He wisely chose to stay out of the way and allow that to continue.

Beyond merely being successful and respected, Joseph was a good-looking young man. The description given here is the same as the compliment paid to his mother, Rachel (Genesis 29:17). Apparently, Rachel's son Joseph was stunning to look at.

Of course, some advantages come with drawbacks. Joseph's good looks will become a liability at this moment in his life, presenting him with temptation in the form of his master's wife (Genesis 39:7).

Genesis 39:1–18 describes Joseph's rise and fall as the slave of Potiphar, the captain of the guard in Egypt. He arrives in this situation after being sold by his own brothers (Genesis 37:26–28). The Lord continues to be with Joseph and to bless him. Potiphar promotes Joseph to the head manager of his household, even giving credit to the Joseph's God for all the success that follows. Potiphar's wife is also impressed with Joseph, but in a less honorable way. She persistently tempts him to sleep with her. When Joseph refuses, she unfairly frames the young Hebrew slave for attempted rape.

Joseph's arrival as a slave in Egypt is not the end of his story. The Lord continues to be with him and to bless him. Joseph rises to become the right-hand man of his master, Potiphar, the captain of the guard. Eventually, he is betrayed by a false accusation of rape by his master's scorned wife. Even then, Joseph finds the Lord is still with him, still blessing him, even in prison. Soon Joseph oversees every aspect of the prison, serving once again under God's faithful blessing.

In chapter 37, Joseph narrowly escaped being murdered by his own brothers (Genesis 37:18–20), only to be sold as a slave (Genesis 37:26–28). Chapter 39 picks up his story after taking a detour into the scandalous life of Judah. Though a slave in Egypt, Joseph thrives under the Lord's blessing. He rises to the top position in his master's household, only to be jailed on a false accusation of attempted rape. Still, Joseph continues to be blessed by God, again rising to become the jailer's most trusted servant. Joseph's reputation and ability to interpret dreams will factor into his rise within the government of Egypt.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.