What Does Genesis 39:3 Mean in the King James?
And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The LORD is the source of the advance, while the human hand is where it takes shape.
THE MEANING
The work in your hands can advance because the LORD is with you. Its fruit is visible to others, yet its source is the LORD’s presence. Divine presence and human action meet in the same work.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that visible success must come from you alone: the work is in your hand, while its advance is attributed to the LORD.
THE ROOT
מַצְלִיחַ
matsliach
GROWS FROM
צלח
To advance or prosper; in the causative form, to bring something forward successfully.
“prosper” in this verse is matsliach. The form here presents the LORD as the one causing the advance; the hand names where that advance takes shape in action. Hebrew holds divine source and human doing together inside the image of prospering.
ALSO GROWS
tsalach: To advance, come through, or prosper.
צָלַח
This basic form presents prosperity as movement forward, giving depth to the verse’s language of success.
yatsliach: He or it prospers.
יַצְלִיחַ
The same root describes what a fruitful life does in Psalm 1:3, linking prosperity with ongoing growth.
hitzliach: He caused to prosper or made successful.
הִצְלִיחַ
This causative form echoes the verse’s emphasis on the LORD bringing the work forward.
THE PATTERN
Fruitful work takes shape through human action while its increase is attributed to the LORD.
The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.THE THREAD
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.“Prosperous” uses the same צלח root as Genesis 39:3. Joshua applies the root to a way made to advance; here, that advance takes shape through the work in a person’s hand.
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