Vayeishev 39:6 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 39:6 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

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

He left all that he had in Joseph’s hands and, with him there, he paid attention to nothing save the food that he ate. Now Joseph was well built and handsome.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Bereshis Rabbah 86:5.

Sefaria — Bereshis Rabbah 86:5

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וַיַּעֲזֹב כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ בְּיַד יוֹסֵף — חוּץ מִן הַפַּת שֶׁהָיָה אוֹכֵל, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה חוֹשֵׁד בּוֹ בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ.

English: “And he left all that he had in Yosef’s hand” — except the bread that he ate, because he suspected him regarding his wife.

In context: The exception of “the bread” is midrashically read as a euphemism for the wife already under suspicion.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bereshis Rabbah) — not a formal named middah of the 13. “Bread” is taken as a veiled reference.

What Is Learned

Even while trusting Yosef with everything, Potiphar already withheld the domain of his wife.