Vayeishev 39:4 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 39:4 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּמְצָ֨א יוֹסֵ֥ף חֵ֛ן בְּעֵינָ֖יו וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת אֹת֑וֹ וַיַּפְקִדֵ֙הוּ֙ עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ וְכׇל־יֶשׁ־ל֖וֹ נָתַ֥ן בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

he took a liking to Joseph. He made him his personal attendant and put him in charge of his household, placing in his hands all that he owned.

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Bereshis Rabbah 86:4.

Core Text

וַיִּמְצָא יוֹסֵף חֵן בְּעֵינָיו — בִּזְכוּת אֲבוֹתָיו.

English: “And Yosef found favor in his eyes” — in the merit of his fathers.

In context: Favor in the Egyptian house is attributed to ancestral merit, not only personal charm.

Derash on the verse (Bereshis Rabbah) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Favor is grounded in zechus avos.

Yosef’s rise in Potiphar’s house rests on the merit of the Avos as well as his own conduct.