Azeez's wife declares her purpose to imprison Joseph unless he yield to her solicitations. While there is not much in the way of biblical evidence for such a reading, such fascinating and playful interpretation helps heighten Joseph's climb to fame, even as it further lowers the status of the evil Potiphar in response to his prior sin in mistreating Joseph. Joseph and Potiphar's Wife. All rights reserved. 267283;The Torah: A Women's Commentary, pp. Genesis 39:1-23, a high Egyptian official in the story of Joseph.The name is perhaps a deformation of Potiphera (wh. The names Potiphar and Potiphera can be viewed as being one and the same, as Egyptian writing does not always indicate vowels. Why did Jesus associate with disreputable people? Joseph and Asenath. Name of an Egyptian officer. The founder of this blog, Ed Lundwall, is recovering from Covid. Maybe, but the rubber meets the road, literally, with the funeral procession for his father Jacob, which we'll read two weeks hence. The Ar Zulaika is the name given to the wife of Potiphar in Jewish and Muslim scripture. One has already been given in Exod 2,21 which describes Moses marriage with Zipporah, the daughter of a priest of Midian, who bears him two sons, Gershom and Eliezer (Exod 2,22; 18,3). 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. Joseph married into one of the most prominent priestly families in Egypt, but they were nevertheless pagan. As a result of Potiphar's inappropriate male actions toward Joseph, the angel Gabriel castrated him as an act of divine justice, rendering him unable to continue such predatory activities. 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. Dream a Little Dream, and Then Interpret It, Israel in Egypt: From Valued Subjects to Persecuted Minority, On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah: The Meaning of Our Miracle - Parashat Mikeitz, Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA). I think the latter is probably true). As for Jesus, he was probably somewhere between 12 and 19 years old when Joseph of Nazareth died. It does not store any personal data. Analysis of the marriage and ascendancy structure of Abraham's Horite people reveals that the rulers had two wives. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Supporter. 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 . So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. 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. I read one commentary, which says yes, (including Rashi) and another, which says no. Share By now, you have no doubt thought to yourself that Potiphera sounds a lot like Potiphar. Why Cant You Mount A Horse From The Right Side? In the Old Testament she is described simply as Potiphar's wife, her name being given only in the Koran. 2 responses This is clear from Potiphera (Egyp. Your email address will not be published. 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. In Biblical Names the meaning of the name Asenath is: Peril, misfortune. Potiphar is Pharaoh's officer, the captain of the guard(Gen 37:36; 39:1). Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. His brothers were jealous of him and sold him into slavery. Is it the same person? Clara Brown. 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. Potiphar's wife, who was known for her infidelities, took a liking to Joseph, and attempted to seduce him. Are cryptocurrencies, bitcoin, and bitpay the begining of one world government in the book of Revelation? Joseph and Asenath had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, both born during the seven years of plenty. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. This Hannukah, let's celebrate our freedom by recognizing that remaining true to ourselves and engaging in our communities doesn't have to be an either/or choice. Potiphar puts Joseph in prison. 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 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. 3 His master saw that the L ord was with him and that the L . Asenath was the daughter of POTI PHERA, the governor of On. Lost your password? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. A modern interpretation might say, "He is God's gift.". Following the custom of his Horite forefathers, Abraham had two wives. How to say potiphar in English? The original name for the Nile River was *Ar*, meaning "venerable". Potiphar, Son of Horus. Joseph is not the only one of our ancestors to engage in an exogamous marriage; indeed, this kind of union can be a successful way to bring people into our group. The topic is Scientists theorize that supercontinents have formed in cycles throughout Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. 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. Mikeitz, Genesis 41:1-44:17The Torah: A Modern Commentary, pp. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. 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 withhisnew name, family, and occupation? Heliopolis is Biblical On and was an Ainu shrine. Potiphera . Asked May 07 2020 He was Joseph's master for a time and, it appears, was a man of wealth. . Genesis 41:45 What is your issue?The person I recommend is Patrick Henry Reardon. eyeli Todays free book is The Bible and Archaeology by Frederic G. Kenyon, 20 Where do the batek tribe live? Joseph and Potiphar's Wife. Second, this reading explains the similarity between the names Potiphar and Potiphera, something the Torah never explicitly addresses. MIKETZ Genesis 37:36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard Azeez believes Joseph and condemns his wife. In the Old Testament she is described simply as Potiphars wife, her name being given only in the Koran. Vote Up If we look at Egypt in this time, there was complete disarray in th. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Who was Joseph's boss? A reader has asked whether Potiphar and Potifera might be the same person. May 07 2020 What does it mean if a person is counter revolutionary? How can Jesus be both God and man at the same time? (Mark 2:15). Genesis: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Pentateuch by John Goldingay. see) or an unsuccessful attempt to form an Egyptian name on the same lines. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Potiphar bought Joseph as a slave. I have an issue I'd like to resolve from chapters 19 to 21 concerning the rape and murder of the Levite's concubine. 1070-945 BC), but quite possibly later . Is Potiphar and potiphera the same person? Rabbi Aaron D. Panken, Ph.D., serves as president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. In the Bible, Pharaoh honors Joseph by giving him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On (LXX: Heliopolis; Gen 41:45). What happened to Potiphar after that is unclear; some sources identify him as Potipherah, an Egyptian priest whose daughter, Asenath . Now, the student of Egypt can do some real homework regarding the time of this so-called pharaoh! a little odd, because they had to show all the essential components - head, chest, legs . [9] . ), and Joseph (q.v.) Potiphar is the captain of Pharaoh's guard who is said to . Where was Potiphar located in the Book of Abraham? Please enter your email address. When he was castrated in his body, and they recognized it, and they called him "Potiphera," he was ashamed about the matter and he left his ministry, and took himself to a house of idol worship, and he became a priest for idol worship, for thus was the custom of the honored ones [to be castrated]. Was John the Baptist conceived via an immaculate conception? About Us. Potiphar's wife also seems to be owned by Potiphar. Asenath was the daughter of POTI PHERA, the governor of On. Things are certainly starting to look up. Family tree. Director and Principal Librarian of the Librarian of the British Museum and The majority opinion follows Rashi, and there are several sources in the Midrashic texts that seem to back up Rashis opinion. The commentators run wild with this possibility, but there is little ultimate agreement. The sin of Azeez's wife becomes known in the city (Q12:30). He names his firstborn son Manasseh (Genesis 41:51) to thank God for helping him forget the troubles of his past; he is physically unrecognizable to his brothers (42:8), perhaps because he may look like an Egyptian; and he swears by Pharaoh (42:15), who is not only his boss, but also an Egyptian deity. We are blessed to live in a country that does not demand we change who we are and what we believe in order to fit in. Report. The word came to be used metonymically for the Egyptian king under the New Kingdom (starting in the 18th dynasty, 15391292 bce), and by the 22nd dynasty (c. Egypt was continually governed, at least in part, by native pharaohs for approximately 2500 years, until it was conquered by the Kingdom of Kush in the late 8th century BC, whose rulers adopted the traditional pharaonic titulature for themselves. What is known of Potiphar after that is unclear; some sources identify him as Potipherah, an Egyptian priest whose daughter, Asenath, marries Joseph. How old was Joseph when Potiphars wife tried to seduce him? His eyesight has been affected and his left Joseph is not the only one of our ancestors to engage in an exogamous marriage; indeed, this kind of union can be a successful way to bring people into our group. The Egyptian's wife endeavours to seduce Joseph but he was preserved from her enticements. They may or may not be the same person. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.Morbi adipiscing gravdio, sit amet suscipit risus ultrices eu.Fusce viverra neque at purus laoreet consequa.Vivamus vulputate posuere nisl quis consequat. Asked May 10 2016 (Some people seem to think that Potiphera is the same man as Potiphar, but others think that they are completely different men with similar names. It is later mentioned in Genesis 41:50 that before the years of famine, Joseph had two sons with Asenath. Their relationship is first mentioned in Genesis 41:45. (He is known as Potipherah in the KJV, Poti-Pherah in the NKJV and Potiphera in the NIV.) May 11 2016 phar) [from Egyptian, a shortened form of Potiphera]. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 22 How much is barca in debt? Are Pharaoh and Potiphar the same person? Pa-di-Para), "Whom P'Ra (sun-god) has given," and most authorities would consider Potiphar as an abbreviated form in Heb. In Hebrew, "officer" is (saris), the captain of the guard is (sar tabbach).According to HALOT (The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament), saris means high official eunuch. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. When Joseph's sister Dinah was captured and raped, only two men are named as the abductors. Such a fantastic accusation on Rashi's part is surely surprising, but he comes by it honestly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxe8Gddnlsg. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone. Genesis 37:36 The name is perhaps a deformation of Potiphera (wh. She was Potiphera's daughter. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Potiphar (/ptfr/ POT-if-r; Hebrew: .mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans}/, Modern:Pfar, Tiberian:Ppar/Ppr; from Late Egyptian: p-dj-p-r, lit. Joseph was a teenager when his family had last seen him. There were two men in the tale with similar names Potiphar and Potiphera. 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). His scholarship is impeccable. 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). 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. 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!) The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Radak's point is quite valid, for it is hard to imagine any impetus for Pharaoh to have learned or utilized Hebrew pre-Joseph. Potiphar (his name a derivate of Potiphera meaning that he was given by Ra) was an Egyptian official, serving the Pharaoh of the Exodus, as his captain of the guard. Each of these views finds Scriptural support for its position: the three-wife opinion relies on Gen. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved (uncountable) The card game faro. Does the devil have power to make us sick? 10 weeks in the hospital. He spent You will receive a link and will create a new password via email. a high-born, aristocratic Egyptian woman, the daughter of Potiphera, a priest of On. Noun. Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love. What was Potiphars wifes name in medieval times? See e.g. It is certainly a functional name that does describe well a key role Joseph fulfills. According to Matthew and Luke, however, Joseph was only legally his father. What is the story of Joseph and Potiphar? Potiphar's wife, of course, is not to be confused with Potipherah's wife, one of the incorrect answers given. Are cryptocurrencies, bitcoin, and bitpay the begining of one world government in the book of Revelation? 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. The Eastern Orthodox Church, which names Josephs first wife as Salome, holds that Joseph was a widower and betrothed to Mary, and that references to Jesus brothers were children of Joseph from a previous marriage. She became the mother of Ephraim and Manasseh, the . But the former title 'cook' may be . Required fields are marked *. Potiphar's wife attempted to seduce Joseph. After Pharaoh appoints him overlord of Egypt, Joseph marries Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. Your email address will not be published. What happens to Joseph and Potiphars relationship? Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. 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? Genesis 39:1-20. But if Joseph's story teaches us anything, it is the beauty of resilience and the way life turns unexpectedly. O Bellinzona, Switzerland is a place of extraordinary beauty. Moses later compiled them and substantially edited them in the form with which are familiar today. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. 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. Do you know any good scholars who specialise in the book of Judges? 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. His name in Hebrew is a shortened version of Potiphera, which means "he whom Ra gave.". , VAYESHEV Potiphars titles, servant of Pharaoh and chief of the cooks, while not Egyptian in themselves, may well be Hebrew translations of two Egyptian titles. blessed be He, emasculated [Potiphar]. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. Potiphera is pure Egyptian, meaning 'he whom Re gave,' and is essentially the same name as Potiphar. Who is Potiphar? Joseph and Potiphar's Wife! Alice C. Linsley What follows is a general consideration of beauty as the Good. In 2Kg 20:18 and Is 38:7, the word is translated as "eunuch"; and it . The nobles among conquered peoples had greater skills, education, connections, etc. What better way then to marry him into a family of aristocrats to ensure he stays in Egypt for the long run? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. However, we have to admit that we are speculating. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Wherever Joseph was, God was at work in his life in ways Joseph could not have understood at the time. POTIPHAR. She gives birth to two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Posted on January 17, 2022 by Claude Mariottini. 2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Did Potiphars wife not only try to seduce him day by day, but perhaps even year by year? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. gave [Joseph] Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife." The priest of On led the worship of the Egyptian sun god. When Joseph refused her advances, and ran off, leaving his outer vestment . Everything we know about Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus, comes from the Bible, and mentions of him are underwhelming. Is Potiphar and potiphera the same person? But Radak (Rabbi David Kimchi, Narbonne, France, ca. . Welcome to Sharing Culture! Their relationship is first mentioned in Genesis 41:45. Is the devil was man, and if so will he be saved? Who is Ben Hur in the movie produced in 1959? The Second Commandment is: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (Deuteronomy 5:11; Exodus 20:7). 40 Is potiphar and potiphera the same person? 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. He was Joseph's master for a time and, it appears, was a man of wealth. The first sentence is correct as although "father's grandfather" and "grandfather's father" are referring to the same person but at the time of speaking/referring, they are the instances of a singleton personality. The Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to POTIPHAR, chief of the slaughterers. Verse 45 says, "Pharaoh . If Potiphar and Poti-phera were the same person, then either (a) the same man was both captain of the guard for Paro and a priest, or (b) he was one and then became the other later. . However, I will be ), and a priest of On as well. Pronunciation of potiphar with 3 audio pronunciations, 1 meaning, 10 translations and more for potiphar. Share What is the difference between divination and prophesy? Justice is achieved as the commentators name, neuter, and then neutralize Potiphar, bringing the entire sordid ordeal to an end, and ensuring that Joseph is set up for success in his career in Egyptian government. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Others explain that the fact that the Torah uses two different names indicates that they are two different people. Is it the same person? Joseph's marriage to his daughter seems to go against the Old Testament directive not to intermarry with pagans (Deuteronomy 7:3; Nehemiah 13:27). Is he the same Mark in Acts 15? The text isn't clear and the Rabbis don't agree. Josephus, Philo and many rabbinical passages concur that the two men were distinct. What would be some verses from the Bible to save a marriage? It is later mentioned in Genesis 41:50 that before the years of famine, Joseph had two sons with Asenath. There should be no special quality attached to any name including Potiphar. For example, here is the verse at Genesis 39:1; 'As for Joseph, he was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, a court official of Pharao. Matthew Miller dedicated to Ra; i.e., to the sun-god, the Egyptian to whom the Ishmaelites sold Joseph ( Genesis 39:1).He was "captain of the guard", i.e., chief, probably, of the state police, who, while they formed part of the Egyptian army, were also largely employed in civil duties ( 37:36; marg., "chief of the executioners").Joseph, though a foreigner, gradually gained his confidence, and . What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? These Genesis stories were written, not by Moses, but by the Patriarchs pre-dating Moses. 26 How does bunkering work? I love what you have written. What is notable is the degree to which Joseph becomes an assimilated Egyptian in the process. The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED. 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! (Mark 2:15). 'he whom Ra gave'[1]) is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. On was a city in northern Egypt noted for worship of the Sun God. 1070-945 BC), but quite possibly later . Heliopolis is Biblical On and was an Ainu shrine. Our team has collected thousands of questions that people keep asking in forums, blogs and in Google questions. Alice C. Linsley When he married the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, Yosef became a member of a socially and politically prominent family. I was suspecting that the name Potiphera must be more of a title, like "Pharoah", than an actual name, and that there was nothing necessarily inconsistent about someone functioning at one instance as an officer of Pharoah (a eunuch? During the reign of Akhenaton when sun worship was the . We sin against Gods honor by putting anyone or anything in Gods place. Yet both the biblical text and the way the text is transmitted in traditional Judaism may suggest otherwise. new name, family, and occupation? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What is the difference between a tunic and a cloak? Perhaps this is a cautionary tale for those of us whose names were shortened, whose appearance is adjusted, and whose lifestyles are tailored to fit into a perceived American ideal. Potiphar (his name a derivate of Potiphera meaning that he was given by Ra) was an Egyptian official, serving the Pharaoh of the Exodus, as his captain of the guard. Report, May 11 2016 To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Rashi subscribes to that opinion, and he explains why the name is slightly different in verse 45. phar) [from Egyptian, a shortened form of Potiphera]. 0 responses ( Ge 37:36; 39:4) Potiphar purchased Joseph from the traveling Midianite merchants and, observing what a good servant Joseph was . What is the story of Joseph and Potiphar? See more. In this quotation, al-abari understands the word al-Azz as the king, which gives the same impression of a mighty person, . He is supposed by some to have been the same "captain of the guard" who promoted Joseph in prison, Genesis 37:36; 39:23. What is the difference between a sign and a wonder? The names Potiphar and Potiphera are very similar. Another tradition identifies Keturah with Hagar, and thus Abraham married only twice. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply.See Wiktionary Terms of Use for details. How do you give a first aid to a drowning person? Potiphar and His Wife. How many wives did Joseph in the Bible have? He was born to Joseph and Mary sometime between 6 bce and shortly before the death of Herod the Great (Matthew 2; Luke 1:5) in 4 bce. 6[Doubleday: New York, 1992]). Some scholars think this could be the same person as Potiphar. This issue came up from a discussion on an atheist blog. What is the difference between the LORD'S face and His countenance in Numbers 6:24-27, which is known as the "priest's blessing"? Share In Gen 39 the seductress is the wife of Potiphar. . She accuses Joseph of an attempt to dishonour her. The Pharaoh is said to have given Joseph, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. Potiphar seems to be entitled 'chief cook' (EV [Note: English Version.] One can almost imagine Pharaoh seeing Joseph as a critical economic minister he needs to keep happy to ensure his country's continuity. an apologist for the Anglican Way of Christianity. I think not. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? How did the spirit of God move upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2? And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. For Joseph to refuse Potiphar's wife was for him to honour his owner Potipharand to dishonour God, his true master.
