Verse Lens · Context pointer

Genesis 39:6 Explained in Context

Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.

Selected verse

Verse 6. 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.

King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions

Role in This Section

Potiphar leaves nearly all household care in Joseph's hand, and the narrator then notes Joseph's physical attractiveness. The verse closes the stewardship scene and introduces the feature noticed in verse 7.

Read It With

  • Genesis 39:1–23

Read verses 4–7 together. Verses 4–6 show the extent of entrusted care, while the appearance notice leads directly to the master's wife's gaze and demand.

Why It Needs Context

The verse does not yet narrate sexual pressure, and appearance must not be treated as its cause. The surrounding verses distinguish Joseph's role, the narrator's description, and the aggressor's action.

Read Genesis 39:1–6 together

Why these verses belong together: Joseph's purchase, the LORD's presence, successful work, Potiphar's recognition, household appointment, and extensive trust form one opening movement.

Verse 1. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

Verse 2. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Verse 3. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

Verse 4. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

Verse 5. 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.

Verse 6. 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.

Continue in Context

The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.

Read Genesis 39:1–23 — The LORD Is With Joseph in Slavery and Prison
Sources used for this context pointer

How certain is this explanation? strong

These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.

Biblical text

King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006

eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society

USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.

Supports: Displayed text, garment and enslavement context, prison continuation, and later providence.

Exact location: Genesis 39:1–23; 37:23–36; 40:1–23; 45:5–8; 50:20 in the pinned standardized 1769 KJV

Open source ↗

hebrew text morphology and lemma data

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project

Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026

Supports: Success, hand, sexual commands, seizure and flight, Hebrew and slave labels, prison terminology, hesed, and repeated divine-presence wording.

Exact location: WLC Genesis 39:1–23, especially vv. 2–6, 7–12, 14, 17, 20–23

Open source ↗
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