Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt: Now (also Good News Translation) is used to translate the Hebrew connective. It serves in English as a transition to a new episode. However, our text is again opening an episode about Joseph after having left his story at the end of chapter 37. Accordingly in many languages it will be necessary to make clear that we are again picking up the thread of the Joseph story and not continuing the Judah and Tamar story. In fact, verse 1 picks up from 37.28, where Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites. For comments and advice about translating Ishmaelites, see the discussion at 37.28. We may begin chapter 39 by saying “After the traders had bought Joseph and brought him to Egypt, Potiphar … bought him” or “Well Joseph was now in Egypt, because the traders who bought him … took him there; and they sold him to Potiphar….” If the translation uses cross references, verse 1 may be referenced to 37.28.

Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard: for the translation see 37.36. It should be noted that Potiphar’s name is not used again. From this point on he is referred to as “Joseph’s master” or as “the Egyptian.”

Bought him: this may need to be expressed as “bought him as a slave,” if the idea of slavery is not clear to readers from the context.

Who had brought him down there: for taken down and brought him down, see 12.10. This clause is repetitive, particularly if the translator follows the model for the opening sentence. See Good News Translation. Translators will notice that in verses 2 and 3 Revised Standard Version joins clauses five times with “and.” Some of these cause relations between the clauses to become unclear.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .