Genesis 40:4 — Word Study
WLCוַ֠יִּפְקֹד שַׂ֣ר הַטַּבָּחִ֧ים אֶת־ יוֹסֵ֛ף אִתָּ֖ם וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת אֹתָ֑ם וַיִּהְי֥וּ יָמִ֖ים בְּמִשְׁמָֽר׃
BSAThe captainsar [ruler, chief] of the guardṭabbâch [executioner, lifeguardsman] assignedpâqad▸ themʼêth to JosephYôwçêph and he became their personal attendantshârath▸ [served them, ministered to their needs] After they had beenhâyâh▸ in custodymishmâr [confinement, prison] for some timeyôwm [days, a season]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַ֠יִּפְקֹד | and he appointed | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| שַׂ֣ר | [the] commander of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| הַטַּבָּחִ֧ים | the bodyguards | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| יוֹסֵ֛ף | Joseph | Noun proper masculine |
| אִתָּ֖ם | with them | Preposition, suffix |
| וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת | and he served | Verb, Piel, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֹתָ֑ם | the object marker them | Particle, suffix |
| וַיִּהְי֥וּ | and they were | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| יָמִ֖ים | days | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| בְּמִשְׁמָֽר׃ | in custody | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant. After they had been in custody for some time, |
| KJV | And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. |
| ASV | And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he ministered unto them: and they continued a season in ward. |
| YLT | and the chief of the executioners chargeth Joseph with them, and he serveth them; and they are days in charge. |
| WEB | The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days. |
| BBE | And the captain put them in Joseph's care, and he did what was needed for them; and they were kept in prison for some time. |
Where they part company is with the translation of שָׁרַת — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause with a subsequent action and a temporal phrase indicating the duration of custody.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbפָּקַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 40:4
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Joseph's Service in Prisongenerated
Genesis 40:4 describes how the captain of the guard assigned the cupbearer and baker to Joseph while they were imprisoned. Joseph, who had already faced significant trials, is now given the responsibility to attend to their needs. This moment highlights Joseph's character and ability to serve others even in difficult circumstances, as seen in the broader narrative of his life in Genesis 39.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 37:36 | Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. |
| 2 | Genesis 39:1–21 | Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. |
| 3 | Psalm 37:5 | Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — פָּקַד, Vai.yif.kodgenerated
פָּקַד (paqad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to visit or oversee, encompassing a range of actions from appointing to punishing. In this verse, it indicates that the captain of the guard has specifically appointed Joseph to take care of the imprisoned officials.
The parsing indicates that this is a sequential imperfect verb in the third person masculine singular, suggesting a completed action that is part of a larger narrative. The word's use here implies Joseph's new role and responsibility, reflecting the trust placed in him by the captain.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb governing the sentence is וַיִּפְקֹד, and he appointed, which leads into a series of noun phrases: the subject שַׂ֣ר the captain, and the object יוֹסֵ֛ף Joseph with the prepositional phrase אִתָּ֖ם with them.
The structure emphasizes Joseph's role as a servant, with the actions of serving and being in custody following the main verb. The Hebrew word order places focus on the appointment and the subsequent actions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates פָּקַד as συνέστησεν, which means he established. This choice indicates a broader interpretation of Joseph's role, suggesting not just appointment but also the establishment of his position in service.
The term שָׁרַת is rendered as παρέστη, meaning he stood by, which emphasizes Joseph's active role in ministering to the needs of the imprisoned officials.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 40:4 tells us that the captain of the guard assigned the cupbearer and baker to Joseph, who became their personal attendant. This shows Joseph's ability to serve others even while he was imprisoned, highlighting his character.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that Joseph was given the responsibility to serve the cupbearer and baker, attending to their needs while they were in custody.
They were imprisoned due to offenses against the king, as indicated in the surrounding context of the chapter.
The term refers to a high-ranking official responsible for overseeing the prison and the prisoners, indicating authority and control.
Joseph's willingness to serve others, even in difficult circumstances, demonstrates his integrity, kindness, and ability to lead.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What qualities do you see in Joseph that enable him to serve others even in challenging situations?
- How can we apply Joseph's example of service in our own lives?
- What does it mean to be entrusted with responsibility, as Joseph was?
- In what ways can we support those who are going through difficult times, like Joseph did?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Ambrose of Milan comments on this passage, noting the significance of Joseph's role as an example for others in delicate situations.
But what shall I say about these eunuchs? who should be an example to the other eunuchs, because their status is fragile and delicate, and all their hope lies in the king's will,Early Church Fathers on Genesis 40 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 40:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them,.... Committed them to his care and custody, he being very probably recommended to him by the keeper of the prison for his prudence and fidelity;
Read John Gill on Genesis 40 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 40 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleA season, Heb. days, i.e. either many days, or a year, as that word sometimes signifies. See .
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 40 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 40:4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.Ver. 4. And the captain of the guard, &c.] This was Potiphar probably: who by this time saw his own error, and Joseph’ s innocency; yet kept him still in prison, perhaps to save his wife’ s honesty. Truth is the daughter of Time; it wil1 not always lie hid. Splendet cure obscuratur; vincit cum opprimitur, Hinc, ut Pacis templum in media urbe extruxerunt olim Romani, ita Veritatis statuam in suis urbibus olim coluerunt Aegyptii. The word Aληθεια is from α and ληθειν Caseus, in Ethic
Read John Trapp on Genesis 40 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3, 4) In the house of the captain of the guard.—That is, of Potiphar. As he is said to have charged Joseph with the care of these two high officials, he must, ere this, have become aware of his innocence. But as the wife in ancient times in Egypt was endowed with all the husband’s property, and was a formidable person, as we learn from many of the records now being translated and published, Potiphar may not have wished to offend her. He served them.—Used only of light service. (See Note on Genesis 39:4.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 40 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. They continued a season] ימים yamim, literally days; how long we cannot tell. But many suppose the word signifies a complete year; and as Pharaoh called them to an account on his birthday, Genesis 40:20, Calmet supposes they had offended on the preceding birthday, and thus had been one whole year in prison.
Read AdamClarke on Genesis 40 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4. charged Joseph with them] i.e. put them under the care of Joseph, who is to be in attendance on them, not as a fellow-prisoner, but as a servant in his master’s house. Compare the words of “the chief butler” in Genesis 41:12 (also from E), “there was with us there a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard.” This is different from the idea given in Genesis 39:22, where he is a prisoner, and appointed by the “keeper of the prison” to look after the other prisoners. a season] Lit. “days.”
Read Cambridge on Genesis 40 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible4. Charged Joseph with them — Being royal officers, it would be natural to charge a Hebrew slave to serve them, though he had charge of all the prison. Genesis 39:22.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 40 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant. After they had been in custody for some time,
The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days.
The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant. After they had been in custody for some time,
The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be their attendant, and he served them. They spent some time in custody.
Tyndale line
And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he ministered unto them: and they continued a season in ward.
And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he ministered unto them: and they continued a season in ward.
And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; and they continued a season in custody.
And the chiefe steward gaue Ioseph charge ouer them, and he serued them: and they continued a season in warde.
Strictly literal
And the captain of the life-guard appointed Joseph to them, that he should attend on them. And they were [several] days in custody.
and the chief of the executioners chargeth Joseph with them, and he serveth them; and they are days in charge.
and the chief of the executioners charges Joseph with them, and he serves them; and they are in confinement [for some] days.
And the captain of the guards charged Joseph with them, and he served them; and they continued a season in ward.
The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to them, and he served them. They remained in custody for some time.
From the Latin
But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody.
Simplified
The commander of the guard assigned Joseph to them as their personal attendant. They were kept in prison for some time.
And the captain put them in Joseph's care, and he did what was needed for them; and they were kept in prison for some time.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree here, word for word. The Septuagint matches 9 of the 11 words from the Masoretic Text, indicating a close relationship between these ancient versions.
וַ֠יִּפְקֹד שַׂ֣ר הַטַּבָּחִ֧ים אֶת־ יוֹסֵ֛ף אִתָּ֖ם וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת אֹתָ֑ם וַיִּהְי֥וּ יָמִ֖ים בְּמִשְׁמָֽר׃
9 of the 11 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויפקד שׂר הטבחים את יוסף אתם וישׁרת אתם ויהיו ימים במשׁמר
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 40:4
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
פָּקַד (paqad) is a Hebrew verb that encompasses a range of meanings including to attend to, visit, muster, appoint, and punish. It can imply oversight or care, as well as the act of seeking or lacking something. The word can also be used in various grammatical forms, indicating actions such as being appointed or being visited upon. The plural form פְּקוּדִים refers to musterings or expenses.
פָּקַד 303 vb. attend to, visit, muster, appoint
Qal
pay attention to, observe (with care, practical interest)
attend to, in act, see to
seek (with interest, desire)
seek in vain, need, miss, lack
specif. visit, c. acc., for different purposes
c. עַל pers., visit upon
pass in review, muster (nearly = number), c. acc.
appoint
Niph.
be (sought, i.e. needed) missed, lacking
be visited (graciously)
be visited upon, עַל pers.
be appointed
Pi. (intens.) muster a host
Pu. be passed in review; be caused to miss, deprived
Hithp. be mustered
Hothp. id.
Hiph.
c. acc. pers. set (over), make overseer
c. acc. rei (implic.)
commit, entrust
deposit
Hoph.
be visited in punishment
be deposited
be made overseer
base
[פְּקוּדִים] n.pl.[m.] abstr. musterings, i.e. expenses;—cstr. Ex 38:21
ref
H6485a פָּקַד attend to, visit, muster, appoint .. . . pay attention to, observe (with care, practical interest)
. attend to, in act, see to
. seek (with interest, desire)
. seek in vain, need, miss, lack
. specif. visit, c. acc., for different purposes
. c. עַל pers., visit upon
. pass in review, muster (nearly = number), c. acc.
. appoint
. . be (sought, i.e. needed) missed, lacking
. be visited (graciously)
. be visited upon, עַל pers.
. be appointed
. (intens.) muster a host
. be passed in review; be caused to miss, deprived
. be mustered
. id.
. . c. acc. pers. set (over), make overseer
. c. acc. rei (implic.) . commit, entrust
. deposit
. . be visited in punishment
. be deposited
. be made overseer
H6485b פְּקוּדִים n. pl. [m.] abstr. musterings, i.e. expenses
6485 paqad paw-kad'
a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent);
by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss,
deposit, etc.:--appoint, X at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint
to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep,
be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up,
look, make, X by any means, miss, number, officer, (make)
overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to)
remember(-brance), set (over), sum, X surely, visit, want.
פָּקַד (pa.qad) — to reckon: list.
: list/count
1) to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pay attention to, observe
1a2) to attend to
1a3) to seek, look about for
1a4) to seek in vain, need, miss, lack
1a5) to visit
1a6) to visit upon, punish
1a7) to pass in review, muster, number
1a8) to appoint, assign, lay upon as a charge, deposit
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be sought, be needed, be missed, be lacking
1b2) to be visited
1b3) to be visited upon
1b4) to be appointed
1b5) to be watched over
1c) (Piel) to muster, call up
1d) (Pual) to be passed in review, be caused to miss, be called, be called to account
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to set over, make overseer, appoint an overseer
1e2) to commit, entrust, commit for care, deposit
1f) (Hophal)
1f1) to be visited
1f2) to be deposited
1f3) to be made overseer, be entrusted
1g) (Hithpael) numbered
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
שַׂר (sar) refers to a leader or ruler, encompassing a range of meanings from prince and chief to official and captain. It denotes various ranks, including military commanders and religious leaders, and can also imply a noble or merchant of high status. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to rule'.
שַׂר 420 n.m. chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
base
H8269 שַׂר chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
8269 sar sar
from 8323; a head person (of any rank or class):--captain
(that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper,
lord, ((-task- ))master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.
see HEBREW for 08323
שַׂר (sar) — ruler.
1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain
1a) chieftain, leader
1b) vassal, noble, official (under king)
1c) captain, general, commander (military)
1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes)
1e) heads, princes (of religious office)
1f) elders (of representative leaders of people)
1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity)
1h) patron-angel
1i) Ruler of rulers (of God)
1j) warden
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
טַבָּח (tabbach) refers to a cook or guardsman, with roots indicating a butcher or executioner. It encompasses roles such as a bodyguard and the act of slaughtering animals for food. The term is linked to the Aramaic equivalent טַבָּח (H2877), which also means 'guardsman'.
טַבָּח n.m. 1. cook, 2. guardsman
base
H2876 טַבָּח 1. cook, 2. guardsman
2876 tabbach tab-bawkh'
from 2873; properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman
(because he was acting as an executioner); also a cook
(usually slaughtering the animal for food):--cook, guard.
see HEBREW for 02873
טַבָּח (tab.bach) — guard.
1) executioner, cook, bodyguard, guardsman
1a) cook (who also killed the animal for food)
1b) guardsmen, bodyguard
Aramaic equivalent: tab.bach (טַבָּח "guardsman" H2877)
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
יוֹסֵף (Yowceph) means 'he adds' or 'increases' and refers primarily to Joseph, the eldest son of Jacob and Rachel. The name appears in various contexts, including other individuals named Joseph, such as a man of Issachar, a son of Asaph, and a priest. The entries highlight his familial relationships and roles during different periods, including the Exile and Return.
יוֹסֵף 212 and יְהוֹסֵף n.pr.m. (he adds, increases)
elder son of Jacob and Rachael
a man of Issachar
a son of Asaph
one of those who took strange wives
a priest
base
H3130 יוֹסֵף and יְהוֹסֵף (he adds, increases) . elder son of Jacob and Rachael
. a man of Issachar
. a son of Asaph
. one of those who took strange wives
. a priest
3130 Yowceph yo-safe'
future of 3254; let him add (or perhaps simply active
participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven
Israelites:--Joseph. Compare 3084.
see HEBREW for 03254
see HEBREW for 03084
יוֹסֵף (yo.seph) — Joseph.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.24;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Rachel (H7354);
brother of: Benjamin (H1144);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); married to Asenath (H0621);
father of: Manasseh (H4519) and Ephraim (H0669); also called Zaphenath-paneah at Gen.41.45;
§ Joseph = "Jehovah has added"
1) the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel
2) father of Igal, who represented the tribe of Issachar among the spies
3) a son of Asaph
4) a man who took a foreign wife in the time of Ezra
5) a priest of the family of Shebaniah in the time of Nehemiah
יוֹסֵף (yo.seph) — Joseph.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.13.7;
father of: Igal (H3008)
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Joseph
Remover or increaser. (1.) The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 30:23, 24), who, on the occasion of his birth, said, “God hath taken away [Heb. ‘asaph] my reproach.” “The Lord shall add [Heb. yoseph] to me another son” (Gen. 30:24). He was a child of probably six years of age when his father returned from Haran to Canaan and took up his residence in the old patriarchal town of Hebron. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age,” and he “made him a long garment with sleeves” (Gen. 37:3, R.V. marg.), i.e., a garment long and full, such as was worn by the children of nobles. This seems to be the correct rendering of the words. The phrase, however, may also be…
(increase). The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel. He was born in Padan-aram (Mesopotamia), probably about B.C. 1746. He is first mentioned when a youth, seventeen years old. Joseph brought the evil report of his brethren to his father, and they hated him because his father loved him more than he did them, and had shown his preference by making a dress which appears to have been a long tunic with sleeves, worn by youths and maidens of the richer class. (Genesis 37:2) He dreamed a dream foreshadowing his future power, which increased the hatred of his brethren. (Genesis 37:5-7) He was sent by his father to visit his brothers, who were tending flocks in the fields of Dothan. They resolved to kill him, but he was saved by Reuben, who persuaded the brothers to cast Joseph into…
1. The son of Jacob and his beloved Rachel, born in Mesopotamia, Ge 30:22-24, B. C. 1747. He is memorable for the wonderful providence of God, which raised him from a prison to be the grandvizier of Egypt, and made him the honored means of saving countless human lives. His history is one of the most pleasing and instructive in the Bible; and is related in language inimitably natural, simple, and touching. It is too beautiful for abridgment, and too familiar to need rehearsal. It throws much light on the superintending providence of God, as embracing all things, great and small in the perpetual unfolding of his universal plan. No narrative in the Bible more strikingly illustrates the protective and elevating power of the fear of God, and its especial value for the young. To behold this lovely image of filial piety and unwavering…
increase; addition
The Hebrew word אֵת (eth) is a preposition indicating nearness or proximity, often translated as 'with' or 'near.' It conveys a sense of companionship or association, distinguishing itself from similar terms by expressing closer relationships. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including possession and memory, but do not provide specific verse references.
אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity
Of companionship, together with
Of localities
אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially
in one's possession or keeping
in one's knowledge or memory
מֵאֵת from proximity with
Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.
base
H854 אֵת with—prep. denoting proximity . Of companionship, together with
. Of localities
. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially . in one's possession or keeping
. in one's knowledge or memory
. מֵאֵת from proximity with
Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.
854 'eth ayth
probably from 579; properly, nearness (used only as a
preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by,
at, among, etc.:--against, among, before, by, for, from,
in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional
prefix.
see HEBREW for 0579
אֵת (et) — with.
1) with, near, together with
1a) with, together with
1b) with (of relationship)
1c) near (of place)
1d) with (poss.)
1e) from...with, from (with other prep)
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3mp
שָׁרַת (sharath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to minister or serve. It is derived from a primitive root that conveys the idea of attending to someone as a servant or worshipper. The entries indicate its use in contexts related to ministry and service, particularly in the Piel form, which emphasizes active participation in serving.
[שָׁרַת] 97 vb. Pi. minister, serve
base
H8334 שָׁרַת Pi. minister, serve
8334 sharath shaw-rath'
a primitive root; to attend as a menial or worshipper;
figuratively, to contribute to:--minister (unto), (do)
serve(- ant, -ice, -itor), wait on.
שָׁרַת (sha.rat) — to minister.
(Piel) to minister, serve, minister to
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vpw3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo/Sp3mp — Particle · suffixHTo/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
day, opp. night
Day as division of time
יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
Pl. days of anyone
Days
יוֹם = time
Phrases
base
H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night
. Day as division of time
. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
. Pl. days of anyone
. Days
. יוֹם = time
. Phrases
3117 yowm yome
from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm
hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one
sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by
an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +
chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)
day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +
(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as
(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,
presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,
then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,
weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole
(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
יוֹם (yom) — day.
: day/when/time/period
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
יוֹם (yom) — day: old.
: old/(full/many)[days]
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
יוֹם (yom) — day: year.
: year[of_days]
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
מִשְׁמָר (mishmar) refers to a place of confinement, such as a prison or jail, and also denotes a guard or watch. It can imply both a physical location for custody and the act of guarding or observing. The word is derived from a root meaning to guard, and it encompasses concepts of diligence and observance.
מִשְׁמָר n.[m.] place of confinement, gaol, prison; late, guard, watch, observance
base
H4929 מִשְׁמָר place of confinement, gaol, prison; late, guard, watch, observance
4929 mishmar mish-mawr'
from 8104; a guard (the man, the post or the prison); a
deposit (fig.); also (as observed) a usage (abstr.), or an
example (concr.):--diligence, guard, office, prison, ward,
watch.
see HEBREW for 08104
מִשְׁמָר (mish.mar) — custody.
1) place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance
1a) jail, prison, guard-house
1b) guard, guard post, act of guarding
1c) observances
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa