Genesis 39:4

39:4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant.¹ Potiphar appointed Joseph² overseer of his household and put him in charge³ of everything he owned.

Genesis 39:6-7

39:6 So Potiphar⁴ left⁵ everything he had in Joseph’s care;⁶ he gave no thought⁷ to anything except the food he ate.⁸

Now Joseph was well built and good-looking.⁹ 39:7 Soon after these things, his master’s wife took notice of¹⁰ Joseph and said, “Have sex with me.”¹¹

Genesis 39:9

39:9 There is no one greater in this household than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. So how could I do¹² such a great evil and sin against God?”

¹sn The Hebrew verb translated became his personal attendant refers to higher domestic service, usually along the lines of a personal attendant. Here Joseph is made the household steward, a position well-attested in Egyptian literature.

²tn Heb “him”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³tn Heb “put into his hand.”

⁴tn Heb “he”; the referent (Potiphar) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵sn The Hebrew verb translated left indicates he relinquished the care of it to Joseph. This is stronger than what was said earlier. Apparently Potiphar had come to trust Joseph so much that he knew it was in better care with Joseph than with anyone else.

⁶tn Heb “hand.” This is a metonymy for being under the control or care of Joseph.

⁷tn Heb “did not know.”

⁸sn The expression except the food he ate probably refers to Potiphar’s private affairs and should not be limited literally to what he ate.

⁹tn Heb “handsome of form and handsome of appearance.” The same Hebrew expressions were used in Gen 29:17 for Rachel.

¹⁰tn Heb “she lifted up her eyes toward,” an expression that emphasizes her deliberate and careful scrutiny of him.

¹¹tn Heb “lie with me.” Here the expression “lie with” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.

¹²tn The nuance of potential imperfect fits this context.