Interesting Facts

• Potipherah is identified as the priest of On.
• He was the father of Asenath (also spelled Osnath), who became the wife of Joseph.
• Pharaoh sent to Potipherah to take his daughter and give her to Joseph as wife.
• One source identifies his father as Ahiram, also a priest of On.
• Another source identifies him as the chief cook and his daughter’s name as the daughter of Potiphar.

Genealogy

• Potipherah was the father of Asenath (Osnath), who married Joseph.
• According to one source, his father was Ahiram, who was also the priest of On.
• Another source refers to him as Potiphar and states his daughter was the daughter of the priest of Heliopolis, the chief cook.
• The sources do not provide information about Potipherah’s own birth, marital connections (other than being the father of Asenath), or other offspring.

Historical Context

Potipherah’s prominent position as the priest of On (also known as Heliopolis) places him within the religious elite of ancient Egypt during the time Joseph rose to power. On was a significant religious center dedicated to the worship of the sun god Ra, suggesting that Potipherah held a position of considerable social and religious influence. The fact that Pharaoh orchestrated the marriage between Joseph and Potipherah’s daughter, Asenath, indicates the political importance of this union. This alliance likely served to further integrate the powerful Joseph into Egyptian society and perhaps gain favor with the influential priesthood of On. The divergence in the sources, with one identifying him as “Potiphar, the daughter of the priest of Heliopolis, the chief cook”, might reflect different traditions or understandings of Joseph’s time in Egypt, highlighting the fluidity of such historical accounts. Regardless of the precise details of his title, Potipherah’s involvement in providing a wife for Joseph underscores the complex interplay between Egyptian religion, social hierarchy, and political maneuvering during this period.

Narrative

Potipherah’s role in the narrative is primarily defined by his connection to Joseph through the marriage of his daughter Asenath (Osnath). The sources indicate that Pharaoh himself initiated this union, sending for Potipherah to give his daughter to Joseph. This act highlights Potipherah’s compliance with the Pharaoh’s wishes and his contribution to establishing Joseph’s family and lineage within Egypt. While the texts do not offer any direct speech or explicit motivations of Potipherah, his agreement to this arrangement suggests his recognition of Pharaoh’s authority and Joseph’s elevated status. His position as a priest of On further solidifies his standing within Egyptian society, making his family a notable choice for Pharaoh to forge a marital tie with his second-in-command. The account in one source that refers to him as “Potiphar” and “chief cook” introduces an element of complexity, possibly indicating different traditions or perspectives on the events. Nevertheless, Potipherah’s central narrative function is to be the father-in-law of Joseph, a relationship established through Pharaoh’s decree and one that played a significant role in Joseph’s integration and success in Egypt.