The Meaning of Genesis 39:6 Explained

Genesis 39:6

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.

YLT: and he leaveth all that he hath in the hand of Joseph, and he hath not known anything that he hath, except the bread which he is eating. And Joseph is of a fair form, and of a fair appearance.

Darby: And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and took cognizance of nothing with him, save the bread that he ate. And Joseph was of a beautiful form and of a beautiful countenance.

ASV: And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not aught that was with him, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was comely, and well-favored.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 39:6 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 39:6 mean?

Thus he left all that he had in hand of Joseph and not concerns himself with anything except for the bread which he ate And was Joseph handsome in form and handsome in appearance
וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב כָּל־ אֲשֶׁר־ לוֹ֮ בְּיַד־ יוֹסֵף֒ וְלֹא־ יָדַ֤ע אִתּוֹ֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־ הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁר־ ה֣וּא אוֹכֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף יְפֵה־ תֹ֖אַר וִיפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה

וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב  Thus  he  left 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
לוֹ֮  he  had 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
בְּיַד־  in  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
יוֹסֵף֒  of  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
וְלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָדַ֤ע  concerns 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אִתּוֹ֙  himself 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
מְא֔וּמָה  with  anything 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְאוּמָה  
Sense: anything.
כִּ֥י  except 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הַלֶּ֖חֶם  the  bread 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
אוֹכֵ֑ל  ate 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וַיְהִ֣י  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.
יוֹסֵ֔ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
יְפֵה־  handsome 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: יָפֶה  
Sense: fair, beautiful, handsome.
תֹ֖אַר  in  form 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: תֹּאַר  
Sense: shape, form, outline, figure, appearance.
וִיפֵ֥ה  and  handsome 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: יָפֶה  
Sense: fair, beautiful, handsome.
מַרְאֶֽה  in  appearance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַרְאֶה  
Sense: sight, appearance, vision.