3
His lordאֲדֹנָיוsawוַיַּרְאthatכִּיYHWHיְהוָהwas with himאִתּוֹand that allוְכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרheהוּאdid,עֹשֶׂהYHWHיְהוָהmade successfulמַצְלִיחַin his hand.בְּיָדוֹ
Genesis 39:3
Study it in the app“His lord saw that YHWH was with him and that all that he did, YHWH made successful in his hand.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 39:3, word by word
- His lordאֲדֹנָיadonay
lord
The one with authority over another; or a respectful title.
Where else “adonay” appears- sawיַּרְאyar
realize
To realize: "he saw that it was good".
Where else “yar” appears- YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- didעֹשֶׂהose
do
To carry out an act or to deal with someone in a certain way, for good or ill.
Where else “ose” appears- made successfulמַצְלִיחַmatsliach
give success
To make something succeed.
Where else “matsliach” appears- in his handיָדyad
hand
The part of the body with which one takes, gives and works; also what one does.
Where else “yad” appears
The context
2YHWH was with Joseph, and he became a successful man; and he was in the house of his lord the Egyptian.
3 · This verse (above)
4So Joseph found favor in his eyes, and he served him; and he appointed him over his house, and all that he had he put in his hand.
To study Genesis 39 in a group
1. What it says
What happened to Joseph in Potiphar’s house, and why did he end up in prison (vv. 2-20)?
2. What it means
What does it mean that YHWH was with Joseph even in prison (vv. 21-23)?
3. How I live it
How can you keep your integrity when doing the right thing costs you?