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Genesis 39:6 - Yosef's rise and hidden test

Genesis 39:6 - בראשית 39:6

Hebrew Text

וַיַּעֲזֹב כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵף וְלֹא־יָדַע אִתּוֹ מְאוּמָה כִּי אִם־הַלֶּחֶם אֲשֶׁר־הוּא אוֹכֵל וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף יְפֵה־תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה׃

English Translation

And he left all that he had in Yosef’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Yosef was a good-looking person, and well favoured.

Transliteration

Va'ya'azov kol asher lo b'yad Yosef, v'lo yada ito me'uma ki im ha'lechem asher hu ochel. Va'yehi Yosef y'feh to'ar vi'feh mareh.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֮ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵף֒ וְלֹא־יָדַ֤ע אִתּוֹ֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא אוֹכֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף יְפֵה־תֹ֖אַר וִיפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה׃
וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֮ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵף֒ וְלֹא־יָדַ֤ע אִתּוֹ֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא אוֹכֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף יְפֵה־תֹ֖אַר וִיפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה׃

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Parasha Commentary

Yosef's Stewardship and Appearance

The verse (Bereshit 39:6) describes how Potiphar entrusted all his possessions to Yosef's care, retaining only the bread he ate for himself. Rashi explains that "the bread which he did eat" refers to Potiphar's personal food, which he did not delegate to Yosef, as it would be inappropriate for a Hebrew slave to prepare food for an Egyptian master due to dietary restrictions (Rashi on Bereshit 39:6). The Ramban adds that this demonstrates Yosef's exceptional trustworthiness, as Potiphar felt no need to oversee anything under Yosef's management.

Yosef's Physical Beauty

The verse concludes by noting Yosef's striking appearance ("יְפֵה־תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה"). The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 86:6) connects this to Yosef's spiritual refinement, suggesting his inner righteousness manifested in his outward beauty. The Talmud (Sotah 36b) elaborates that Yosef took care to maintain his appearance even in hardship, reflecting his commitment to dignity and self-respect.

  • Trustworthiness: The Sforno emphasizes that Yosef's complete oversight of Potiphar's estate was a divine blessing, rewarding his moral integrity in resisting the wife of Potiphar later in the narrative.
  • Divine Favor: The Radak notes that Yosef's beauty was a sign of Hashem's providence, preparing him for his future leadership role in Egypt.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sotah 36b
The verse is referenced in the context of discussing Joseph's beauty and how it played a role in the events with Potiphar's wife.
📖 Yoma 35b
The verse is mentioned in a discussion about Joseph's righteousness and his ability to resist temptation despite his beauty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does it mean that Potiphar left everything in Yosef's hands?
A: According to Rashi (Genesis 39:6), this means Potiphar entrusted Yosef with complete authority over his household and possessions. The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 86:6) explains that Yosef was so trustworthy that Potiphar didn't even check his accounts.
Q: Why does the verse mention that Yosef was good-looking?
A: The Torah mentions Yosef's beauty (Genesis 39:6) to set the stage for the upcoming test with Potiphar's wife. The Talmud (Sotah 36b) notes that Yosef's beauty was a challenge he had to overcome, showing that even when faced with temptation, he remained righteous.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Yosef being trusted with everything except Potiphar's bread?
A: Rashi (Genesis 39:6) explains that Potiphar kept only his bread (meaning his wife) away from Yosef's supervision. This teaches that while Yosef was given great responsibility, there were still boundaries. The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 86:6) sees this as foreshadowing the test Yosef would face regarding Potiphar's wife.