The account of Joseph focuses on the power of God. God is able to protect his people despite the evil actions of some. He also is able to continue to bless them despite their circumstances. This is a sign of Yahweh's covenant faithfulness. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#peopleofgod, /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sign and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenantfaith)
Genesis just recorded a period of time where Joseph's ancestors and brothers struggled with sin. Joseph's character in this chapter is upright. He chose to do what was right, even when it could cause him harm. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sin)
Traveling to Egypt is always considered as going "down" in contrast to going "up" to the promised land. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The Ishmaelites had taken Joseph to Egypt" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
This means that Yahweh helped Joseph and was always with him. Alternate translation: "Yahweh guided Joseph and helped him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
Here the author speaks of working in the master's house as if it were living in the master's house. Only the most trusted servants were permitted to work in their master's house. Alternate translation: "he worked in the house" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Joseph was now Potiphar's slave.
This means that the master saw how Yahweh was helping Joseph. Alternate translation: "His master saw that Yahweh was helping him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"Yahweh caused everything that Joseph did to prosper"
"To find favor" means to be approved by someone. The idiom "in his sight" refers to a person's opinion. Possible meanings are 1) Alternate translation: "Potiphar was pleased with Joseph" or 2) Alternate translation: "Yahweh was pleased with Joseph" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
This means that he was Potiphar's personal servant.
"Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and everything that belonged to Potiphar"
When something is "put under someone's care," it means that the person is responsible for its care and safe-keeping. Alternate translation: "he had Joseph care for" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
You may need to use the words "Joseph" and "the Egyptian" before using pronouns to refer to them. "The Egyptian made Joseph manager over his house and over everything he possessed, and it came about from the time that that Yahweh blessed the Egyptian's house because of Joseph"
This phrase is used here to tell the reader that these two verses are background information for the next event. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
"Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and everything that belonged to him"
Here "blessed" means to cause good and beneficial things to happen to the person or thing that is being blessed.
Here the author speaks of the blessing that Yahweh gave as if it were a physical covering put over something. Alternate translation: "Yahweh blessed" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This refers his household and his crops and livestock. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "Potiphar's household and all of his crops and livestock" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
When something is "put under someone's care," it means that the person is responsible for its care and safe-keeping. Alternate translation: "So Potiphar put Joseph in charge of everything that he had" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This double negative emphasizes that the food that he ate was the only thing he had to think about. This is probably an exaggeration or metaphor to say that Joseph took care of all the important business of the house while Potiphar thought only about minor personal affairs. Alternate translation: "The only thing he had to think about was the food that he ate" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublenegatives and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-hyperbole and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
The word "now" marks a stop in the story as the author gives background information about Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
Both of the words have same meaning. They refer to Joseph's pleasing appearance. He was likely good-looking and strong. Alternate translation: "handsome and strong" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)
"And so." This phrase is used here to mark a new event. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "Have sexual relations with me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"Listen." Joseph uses this word to get Potiphar's wife's attention.
"my master has no concern about his household with me in charge" or "my master trusts me with his household"
When something is "put under someone's care," it means that the person is responsible for its care and safe-keeping. Alternate translation: "he has put me in charge of everything that belongs to him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Here the author speaks of authority as if it were greatness. Alternate translation: "I have more authority in this house than anyone else" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "He has given me everything except you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-litotes)
Joseph uses a question for emphasis. This can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "I certainly cannot do such a wicked thing and sin against God." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
This means that she kept asking him to sleep with her. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "She kept on asking Joseph to sleep with her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "to have sexual relations with her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"to be near her"
"And so." This phrase is used here to mark a new event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
"None of the other men who worked in the house"
This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "Have sexual relations with me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"and quickly ran outside" or "and quickly ran out of the house"
"Then" The phrase "it came about" is used here to mark the next event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
"had quickly ran out of the house"
"the men who worked in her house"
"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you."
Here Potiphar's wife is accusing Joseph of trying to seize her and have sexual relations with her. Alternate translation: "He came into my room to have sexual relations with me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"When he heard me scream, he." The phrase "it came about" is used here to mark the next event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
"Joseph's master." This refers to Potiphar.
"She explained it like this"
The word "us" refers to Potiphar, his wife, and includes the rest of the household. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)
"came in to make a fool of me." Here, the word "mock" is a euphemism for "to seize and to sleep with." Alternate translation: "came into where I was and tried to force me to sleep with him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"Then." Potiphar's wife uses this phrase to mark the next event in the account she is telling him about Joseph trying to sleep with her. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
"ran quickly out of the house"
"And so." This phrase is used here to mark a new event in the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
"Joseph's master." This refers to Potiphar. This information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "Joseph's master, Potiphar" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"heard his wife explain to him." The word "his" and "him" here refer to Potiphar.
"Potiphar became very angry"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the place where the king put his prisoners" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"Joseph stayed there"
This refers to how Yahweh took care of Joseph and was kind to him. Alternate translation: "But Yahweh was kind to Joseph" or "But Yahweh took care of Joseph" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
The abstract noun "faithfulness" can be stated as "faithful" or "faithfully." Alternate translation: "was faithful to his covenant with him" or "faithfully loved him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
This means Yahweh caused the prison warden to approve of Joseph and to treat him well. Alternate translation: "Yahweh caused the prison warden to be pleased with Joseph" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"the prison manager" or "the man in charge of the prison"
Here "hand" represents Joseph's power or trust. Alternate translation: "put Joseph in charge of" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"Joseph was in charge of everything they did there"
This refers to how Yahweh helped Joseph and guided him. Alternate translation: "because Yahweh guided Joseph" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"Yahweh caused everything that Joseph did to prosper"