Literary Devices – Bereshit 39/0

Literary Devices – Bereshit 39

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Key Words

"פקד"

• Though the root "פקד" appears only twice in the chapter, see the concordance that, with one exception, all appearances of the root (and the related noun פקיד) in Sefer Bereshit are found in the Yosef narratives,¹ suggesting that the word might play an important role.
• Secondary Literature – Professor Yonatan Grossman, in his article Leitwort (III) discusses the repetition of the root, noting that it takes various forms with different meanings:: “פקד” (to take account or remember), “הפקיד” (appoint), and “פקיד” (agent) . The various usages and different contexts² underscore the theme of dual causality that is central to the story of Yosef, playing with the question: “Who is the ruler? Who is the agent?”  (God or man?) 

בית, יד, אדון Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the three words most frequently used in this chapter are בית, יד, and אדון.  All of these words relate to Yosef’s position in Potiphar’s house (בית), where he is given great responsibility and even authority (יד), but is ultimately a servant, at the whim of his master (אדון).  

Relational Epithets

Potiphar

Mrs. Potiphar

¹ Together they appear ten times.

² The root first appears in Bereshit 39:4-5, when Yosef is appointed to a position of authority in Potiphar’s house, and in the following chapter when Yosef is appointed to serve the butler and baker in jail (Bereshit 40:4). Later, it is used in the context of other people who will be given authority to collect grain and administer a plan for Egypt’s welfare (41:33-34). Finally, it describes Hashem’s taking account of Bnei Yisrael in the future (50:24-25). This mirrors the process by which Yosef comes to realize that Hashem is the One who takes account and Who directs the course of human experience.