'On' was another name for Heliopolis, which was the religious centre of Ra, the god representing the sun. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". First, we can grapple with a few potential readings of Joseph's newly bestowed Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. In Genesis 37 Joseph is seventeen years of age; when he gets out of prison in 41,30 he is thirty years old. In this reading, Joseph is nothing but . of Potipher. Asked May 07 2020 ), and Joseph (q.v.) What is notable is the degree to which Joseph becomes an assimilated Egyptian in the process. A final question remains, however: why in the world, given their relationship thus far, would Pharaoh want Joseph to marry Potiphar's (if it is Potiphar!) Who is Ben Hur in the movie produced in 1959? I think not. Does Joseph do all of this for show, just on the outside, perhaps for political prudence? When we last encountered our hero Joseph, he had been sold to traders from the pit his brothers threw him in, had been brought to Egypt as a slave, and had suffered greatly due to his supposedly salacious interactions with Potiphar's wife, all to end up moldering in an Egyptian jail. Joseph and Potiphar's Wife - Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Whats The Difference Between Dutch And French Braids? Your email address will not be published. Potiphera. 'captain of the guard'), and likewise saris, 'eunuch' of Pharaoh.. However, we have to admit that we are speculating. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. However, now we believe that Mary and Joseph were both in their teens when Jesus was born, around sixteen and eighteen respectively. An Egyptian court official and chief of Pharaoh's bodyguard. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Report When forty years of age, Joseph married a woman called Melcha or Escha by some, Salome by others; they lived forty-nine years together and had six children, two daughters and four sons, the youngest of whom was James (the Less, the Lords brother). The names of Potiphar are deconstructed and read as Hebrew roots, rendering terms that are related to idolatry. Sethite Hebrew priest of Nekheb on the Nile with authority over the palace. While this follows some early Egyptian birth naming customs, it is far from certain to be correct, and does little to clarify the biblical author's viewpoint of Joseph. Director and Principal Librarian of the Librarian of the British Museum and The rabbis recognized that the names "Potiphar" and "Potiphera" were related names of an Egyptian priest without providing any specific reference to the Egyptian god he served. Father Abraham, justified by faith, saw the promise of the Son to come and believed! (Since the midrash assumes that Potiphar is the same as Poti-phera, father to Asenath, Potiphar's wife would have been Asenath's mother, a kind of Mrs. Robinson figure [as . It is mentioned in Isaiah 16:1 and 2 Kings 14:7. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. For Joseph to refuse Potiphar's wife was for him to honour his owner Potipharand to dishonour God, his true master. Joseph's experience in the house of Potiphar was both rewarding and disappointing. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email. Their relationship is first mentioned in Genesis 41:45. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Why did Herod like to listen to John the Baptist, who criticized Herods lifestyle? See e.g. Potiphar's wife, who was known for her infidelities, took a liking to Joseph, and attempted to seduce him. Asenath is the daughter of Potiphera and a wife of Joseph (41). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Potiphar is the captain of Pharaoh's guard who is said to have purchased Joseph as a slave and, impressed by his intelligence, makes him the master of his household. What does it mean if a person is counter revolutionary? When Joseph refused her advances, and ran off, leaving his outer vestment in her hands, she retaliated by falsely accusing him of trying to rape her, and Potiphar had Joseph imprisoned. Potiphar . In Parshat Miketz, Genesis 41, the pharaoh gave Joseph the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, to marry. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2012-2023 On Secret Hunt - All Rights Reserved May 11 2016 I don't buy it. Lost your password? blessed be He, emasculated [Potiphar]. Is Potiphar and potiphera the same person? They take this story out of context and use it as propaganda. Genesis 39:1-20. "I pray, when I play pharaoh at White's, that the cards fall as they have come to my . Zaphnath-Paaneah (Biblical Hebrew: fna Pana, LXX: Psonthomphanch) is the name given by Pharaoh to Joseph in the Genesis narrative (Genesis 41:45). When Joseph refused her advances, and ran off, leaving his outer vestment . It is difficult to tie Potiphar or Joseph accurately to a particular pharaoh or time period. Do you know any good scholars who specialise in the book of Judges? He is the maternal grandfather of the Israelite patriarchs Manasseh and Ephraim. Community answers are sorted based on votes. Please enter your email address. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. He was Joseph's master for a time and, it appears, was a man of wealth. What is known of Potiphar after that is unclear; some sources identify him as Potipherah, an Egyptian priest whose daughter, Asenath, marries Joseph. 1160-1235) rejects such a reading in no uncertain terms: This is the Egyptian language, just as Nebuchadnezzar called Daniel and his associates by a name in the Aramaic language. Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team, AskTheRabbi.org is a service ofthe Gateways Organization [year] There remain Potiphar and Potiphera. She gives birth to two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. it is clear that Potiphar was a powerful person . In this reading, Joseph is nothing but an object for whom Potiphar and his wife (now both predators) compete. When Joseph refused her advances, and ran off, leaving his outer vestment in her hands, she retaliated by falsely accusing him of trying to rape her, and Potiphar had Joseph imprisoned. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The nobles among conquered peoples had greater skills, education, connections, etc. This is the single extra-Biblical occurance of the name. I read one commentary, which says yes, (including Rashi) and another, which says no. What happened to Potiphar after that is unclear; some sources identify him as Potipherah, an Egyptian priest whose daughter, Asenath . Further support for my reading of the narrative of Joseph and Potiphar's wife comes when we set this story alongside the narrative that precedes it that of Judah . Josephs decision not to sleep with Potiphars wife is traditionally held up by Christian and Jewish faith communities as a model of piety. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Yes, the story of the rape and dismemberment of the Levite's concubine is in all the feminist texbooks, so to speak. Among many others, two mainstream commentators, Rashi and his grandson Rashbam (Rabbi Samuel ben Meir, France, 1080-1160) duke it out thus: Rashbam: Potiphera - According to the straightforward meaning, this is not Potiphar. daughter? Should the explanation in Genesis on how God created plants before the sun affect the understanding of creation? captain of the guard), and likewise saris, eunuch of Pharaoh. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? Continue with Recommended Cookies. ESV - appears in the Judaeo-Christian Old Testament and in the Koran. His name means he whom Ra has given. About Us. She became the mother of Ephraim and Manasseh, the . Easton's Bible Dictionary. Joseph and Potiphar: The Named, the Neutered, and the Neutralized, Dr. Panken's excellent commentary on the naming, neutering, and neutralizing of Joseph's father-in-law Potiphar opens the door for us to ask, what becomes of Joseph with. With the Torah's focus on family dynamics, it is rather odd that we learn, then, of Joseph's marriage in one short and strange verse (Genesis 41:45): Pharaoh called Joseph Zaphenath-paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as a wife; thus Joseph came to be in charge of the land of Egypt. (Mark 6:20). [2] The false accusation by Potiphar's wife plays an important role in Joseph's narrative, because had he not been imprisoned, he would not have met the fellow prisoner who introduced him to Pharaoh. Who is this Mark in Colossians 4? In the Book of Jubilees, she is said to be given to Joseph to marry by Pharaoh, a daughter of Potiphar, a high priest of Heliopolis, with no clarification as to whether or not this Potiphar is the same Potiphar whose wife falsely accused Joseph of attempting to rape her. According to the opinion that they are two different people the question is easily answered - the Torah says that Potiphera was the priest of . Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. 3 His master saw that the L ord was with him and that the L . What better way then to marry him into a family of aristocrats to ensure he stays in Egypt for the long run? I was also going on a hunch about the LXX, which appears not to distinguish between the two names. ), and a priest of On as well. 20 Where do the batek tribe live? Others explain that the fact that the Torah uses two different names indicates that they are two different people. 20 In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. An Egyptian court official and chief of Pharaoh's bodyguard. eyeli Todays free book is The Bible and Archaeology by Frederic G. Kenyon, He spent Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar , an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. Pleasecontact the AskTheRabbi Support team. In 2Kg 20:18 and Is 38:7, the word is translated as "eunuch"; and it . Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. He was responsible for the personal protection of the Egyptian King, his family and court; as well as presiding over the Royal Prison. But the former title 'cook' may be . ( Gen. 37:36; 39:4) Potiphar purchased Joseph from the traveling Midianite merchants, and, observing what a good servant . The Spanish authority Ramban (Nachmanides, 1194-1270), expands on Rashi and the Talmudic interpretation: And I say that according to the words of our Rabbis, Potiphar was a minister to Pharaoh. In Gen 39 the seductress is the wife of Potiphar. She accuses Joseph of an attempt to dishonour her. Potiphars titles, servant of Pharaoh and chief of the cooks, while not Egyptian in themselves, may well be Hebrew translations of two Egyptian titles. Welcome to Sharing Culture! The sin of Azeez's wife becomes known in the city (Q12:30). Joseph, in the Old Testament, son of the patriarch Jacob and his wife Rachel. The Pharaoh is said to have given Joseph, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. These Genesis stories were written, not by Moses, but by the Patriarchs pre-dating Moses. How to say potiphar in English? Your email address will not be published. See more. What is the story of Joseph and his brothers. How did the spirit of God move upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2? Why did Herod like to listen to John the Baptist, who criticized Herods lifestyle? After Joseph correctly interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, one of the ways in which Pharaoh rewarded Joseph was by giving him Potiphera's daughter Asenath as his wife, as noted in Genesis 41:45. 40 What's vodka made from? The Pharaoh is said to have given Joseph, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. We sin against Gods honor by putting anyone or anything in Gods place. 6[Doubleday: New York, 1992]). An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Sela probably was not a major site i A fresco at Erebuni Fortress in Armenia (8th Century BC) Potiphar's wife attempted to seduce Joseph. POTIPHAR. But Radak (Rabbi David Kimchi, Narbonne, France, ca. Why didnt Abraham bargain with God when it came to Isaac being offered as a burnt offering like he did when it came to Sodom and Gomorrah? Feminism is grounded on the principle that women are universally oppressed by the dominant male hierarchy. This precise situation is described by the Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 13b: And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, bought him [Joseph]. Josephs dreams first get him into trouble, but his ability to understand them leads him to be chosen by the Pharaoh and to save the world. His experience was rewarding because he was able to make an impact on the life of Potiphar, to such an extent, that Potiphar put Joseph in charge of all he had. The supreme ruler of ancient Egypt; a formal address for the sovereign seat of power as personified by the 'king' in an institutional role of Horus son of Osiris; often used by metonymy for Ancient Egyptian sovereignty. When those around him see what has happened, they give him a mocking title with what sounds like a more feminine Hebrew ending, reflecting his newfound lack of male sexuality. What is the difference between a tunic and a cloak? Required fields are marked *. 77 years old when he fled to Haran 84 years old when he married 90 years old when Joseph was sold into slavery 130 years old when he moved to Egypt 147 years old when he died Was buried in the cave of Macpelah n Two major deceptions of Jacob: 1. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potiphar&oldid=1142124452, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Ancient Egyptian-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, In art the subject is one of the most commonly shown in the, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 17:07. There were two men in the tale with similar names Potiphar and Potiphera. This is the single extra-Biblical occurance of the name. Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related. Our experts have done a research to get . Are cryptocurrencies, bitcoin, and bitpay the begining of one world government in the book of Revelation? - 100 Bible Stories In the Book of Jubilees, she is said to be given to Joseph to marry by Pharaoh, a daughter of Potiphar, a high priest of Heliopolis, with no clarification as to whether or not this Potiphar is the same Potiphar whose wife falsely accused Joseph of attempting to rape her. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Is he the same Mark in Acts 15? Potiphar. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. However, there is nothing in the Hebrew which suggests that Potiphar was the same person as Potiphera. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The Book of Abraham, included in the Pearl of Great Price, one of the standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and by churches of the Latter Day Saint movement, refers to a Potiphar`s Hill in Egypt (Abraham 1:10, 20). 5 Where was Potiphar located in the Book of Abraham? a high-born, aristocratic Egyptian woman, the daughter of Potiphera, a priest of On. What happens to Joseph and Potiphars relationship? appears in the Judaeo-Christian Old Testament and in the Koran. Joseph and Potiphar's Wife. In the Book of Jubilees, she is said to be given to Joseph to marry by the Pharaoh, a daughter of Potiphar, a high priest of Heliopolis, with no clarification as to whether or not this Potiphar is the same Potiphar whose wife falsely accused Joseph of attempting to rape her. Asenath Clarify The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is. Amram married his aunt, Jochebed, the sister of his father Kehath. In this quotation, al-abari understands the word al-Azz as the king, which gives the same impression of a mighty person, . McKinlay (1995) noted that Potiphars wife is treated as an object in his masters possession (Gen 39:89), and the reason Joseph refuses is not because he doesnt want to have sex with her, but because it would violate his masters trust and be a sin against the God Yahweh. After successfully interpreting the dreams of two fellow prisoners and humbly declaring his interpretive powers as entirely derived from God, Joseph finds himself suddenly called to Pharaoh's palace to help the master of all Egypt with two problematic dreams of his own. . The wives of other noblemen, seeing Joseph's beauty, call him an angel. Genesis 41:50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bare unto him. Once he accurately interprets these dreams he is well on the road to prosperity and self-sufficiency, as Pharaoh places him in charge of all of Egypt for the coming feast/famine cycle. The story of the encounter between Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar can be read in full in Genesis 39:6-20. How old was Joseph when Potiphars wife tried to seduce him? What is notable is the degree to which Joseph becomes an assimilated Egyptian in the process. He was Joseph's master for a time and, it appears, was a man of wealth. Joseph and Potiphar's Wife! In another early text, The History of Joseph the Carpenter, which was composed in Egypt between the 6th and 7th centuries, Christ himself tells the story of his step-father, claiming Joseph was 90 years old when he married Mary and died at 111. Azeez's wife declares her purpose to imprison Joseph unless he yield to her solicitations. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Potiphar's wife, of course, is not to be confused with Potipherah's wife, one of the incorrect answers given. . Asenath is mentioned in the Torah she-bi-khetav: Lit. Such a fantastic accusation on Rashi's part is surely surprising, but he comes by it honestly. 26 How does bunkering work? A second issue in our verse is the role of matchmaker the Torah assigns to Pharaoh. Heliopolis is Biblical On and was an Ainu shrine. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. This is (at the least) somewhat Biblically accurate. Unfortunately, Potiphars wife, who was known for her infidelities, took a liking to Joseph, and attempted to seduce him. Noun. Thank you for subscribing to emails from ReformJudaism.org! And the commentators who interpreted that this is the sacred tongue [Hebrew], it is a wonder how Pharaoh could have called [him] by a name in the sacred tongue! According to one view, Abraham remarried after the death of Sarah and had a total of three wives: Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah. Azeez believes Joseph and condemns his wife. Yet both the biblical text and the way the text is transmitted in traditional Judaism may suggest otherwise. Is it the same person? The text isn't clear and the Rabbis don't agree. We sin against Gods honor by blaspheming God or perjuring ourselves. In Biblical Names the meaning of the name Potiphar is: Bull of Africa, a fat bull. Potiphar's wife also seems to be owned by Potiphar. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Our team has collected thousands of questions that people keep asking in forums, blogs and in Google . The Ar When he married the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, Yosef became a member of a socially and politically prominent family. Rashi, along the lines of earlier translators and commentators, draws on the Hebrew root tzadi-fei-nun, meaning "hidden," to explain that Joseph's Egyptian name means "one who explains the hidden," but he also readily admits that there is "nothing similar to 'paneah' in the Bible." POTIPHAR.Gen 39:1-23, a high Egyptian official in the story of Joseph. Persian miniatures often illustrate Yusuf and Zulaikha in Jami's Haft Awrang ("Seven thrones"). How did Jesus sit on the donkey and her offspring on one time in Matthew 21:5-8? Maybe, but the rubber meets the road, literally, with the funeral procession for his father Jacob, which we'll read two weeks hence. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. (Mark 2:15). Potiphar bought Joseph as a slave. Is Potiphar and potiphera the same person? Is it the same person? Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply.See Wiktionary Terms of Use for details. And so, Pharaoh selects the daughter of the Priest of On, a man named Potiphera. His brothers were jealous of him and sold him into slavery. Josephs Egyptian wife. The universally acceptable interpretation of Potiphera is that it is from the Egyptian Pa-di-Pre, "the gift of the (god) Re," a well-known type of name (Pa-di-DEITY), and in fact attested just once on a stela in Cairo Museum, attributed to the 21st Dynasty (=ca. How can Jesus be both God and man at the same time? ( Ge 37:36; 39:4) Potiphar purchased Joseph from the traveling Midianite merchants and, observing what a good servant Joseph was . Vote Up Potiphar is possibly the same name as Potiphera (Hebrew: ) from Late Egyptian p-dj-p-r "he whom Ra has given." Potiphar is the captain of Pharaoh's guard who is said to have purchased Joseph as a slave and, impressed by his intelligence, makes him the master of his household. The story of Zuleika, wife of Potiphar (q.v. What is the story of Joseph and Potiphar? The first was a ha Alice C. Linsley Abraham, Moses , Samuel, and David were all Horite Hebrew as evidenced by the common marriage and ascendancy pattern Alice C. Linsley Sela was the capital of Edom. Second, God calls His people to live . What happened to Potiphar after that is unclear; some sources identify him as Potipherah, an Egyptian priest whose daughter, Asenath . He was responsible for the personal protection of the Egyptian King, his family and court; as well as presiding over the Royal Prison. Their relationship is first mentioned in Genesis 41:45.