The Meaning of Genesis 39:5 Explained

Genesis 39:5

KJV: And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

YLT: And it cometh to pass from the time that he hath appointed him over his house, and over all that he hath, that Jehovah blesseth the house of the Egyptian for Joseph's sake, and the blessing of Jehovah is on all that he hath, in the house, and in the field;

Darby: And it came to pass from the time he had set him over his house and all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

ASV: And it came to pass 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 field.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass from the time  [that] he had made him overseer  in his house,  and over all that he had,  that the LORD  blessed  the Egyptian's  house  for Joseph's  sake;  and the blessing  of the LORD  was upon all that he had  in the house,  and in the field. 

What does Genesis 39:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 39:1-18 - Joseph In Potiphar's House
Ungodly families and employers owe more than they realize to the presence in their homes and businesses of those who love God; for God comes with His servants. See Genesis 39:2; Genesis 39:21; Genesis 39:23, and Acts 7:9. But those who would enjoy that accompanying Presence must resist and overcome the appeals of the flesh. Days of outward prosperity are those in which we are most keenly tempted. The most venomous serpents coil in the damp heat of tropical forests. When temptation and opportunity meet, our case is hard indeed. At such times only God's grace can hold us back. As temptation presents itself again and again, it gives us opportunities of continued growth in strength and grace. Joseph had probably wrought out his noble answer in his own secret heart, and had lived by it, weeks before he flashed it forth. In the critical hour the mouth blurts out what the heart has been meditating. They who can rule themselves will be presently trusted to rule others. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 39

1  Joseph is bought by Potiphar, and preferred in the family
7  He resists temptation by Potiphar's Wife
13  He is falsely accused by her
20  He is cast into prison
21  God is with him there, and he is advanced by the keeper of prison

What do the individual words in Genesis 39:5 mean?

So it was from then [on] he made overseer him of his house and all that had he and blessed Yahweh - house of the Egyptian on account of Joseph and was the blessing of Yahweh on all he in the house and in the field
וַיְהִ֡י מֵאָז֩ הִפְקִ֨יד אֹת֜וֹ בְּבֵית֗וֹ וְעַל֙ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־ ל֔וֹ וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־ בֵּ֥ית הַמִּצְרִ֖י בִּגְלַ֣ל יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיְהִ֞י בִּרְכַּ֤ת יְהוָה֙ בְּכָל־ ל֔וֹ בַּבַּ֖יִת וּבַשָּׂדֶֽה

וַיְהִ֡י  So  it  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מֵאָז֩  from  then  [on] 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: אָז  
Sense: then, at that time.
הִפְקִ֨יד  he  made  overseer 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
בְּבֵית֗וֹ  of  his  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ  and  blessed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בֵּ֥ית  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הַמִּצְרִ֖י  of  the  Egyptian 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִצְרִי  
Sense: Egyptian—an inhabitant or citizen of Egypt.
בִּגְלַ֣ל  on  account  of 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גָּלָל  
Sense: on account of, for the sake of.
יוֹסֵ֑ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
וַיְהִ֞י  and  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בִּרְכַּ֤ת  the  blessing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בְּרָכָה  
Sense: blessing.
יְהוָה֙  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּכָל־  on  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
בַּבַּ֖יִת  in  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
וּבַשָּׂדֶֽה  and  in  the  field 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.