So Joseph found favor in his sight: for the translation of this expression, see 6.8. In the context of someone doing good work for a master, this is often expressed as “He was very happy with Joseph.”

Attended him: Joseph’s master liked and trusted him, and so he gave Joseph the position of attendant or personal servant. We may translate, for example, “His master liked Joseph and therefore made him his servant.”

And he made him overseer of his house: Joseph was made “administrator,” “chief,” “head” of the other servants in Potiphar’s house.

Put him in charge of all that he had is literally “and all that he had he gave into his hand.” We may render this “He entrusted to Joseph all his possessions [things he owned].” In some languages this thought may be expressed “He told Joseph ‘You are to take care of all these things of mine.’ ” In one translation the last two clauses are combined: “He made Joseph the boss of all the people in his household and of everything he owned.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .