is potiphar and potiphera the same person

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Joseph's experience in the house of Potiphar was both rewarding and disappointing. Is it the same person? She requested from Joseph to teach her the word of his God and that she and her husband would change to his God if Joseph did her wish. Often you will find the interchangeable re with ra because the vowels are implied by the scribe. 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. What happens to Joseph and Potiphars relationship? Joseph and Potiphar's Wife. How did Jesus sit on the donkey and her offspring on one time in Matthew 21:5-8? It is later mentioned in Genesis 41:50 that before the years of famine, Joseph had two sons with Asenath. . an apologist for the Anglican Way of Christianity. 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). Unfortunately, Potiphars wife, who was known for her infidelities, took a liking to Joseph, and attempted to seduce him. The medieval Sefer HaYashar, a commentary on the Torah, gives Potiphars wifes name as Zuleikha, as do many Islamic traditions thus the Persian poem called Yusuf and Zulaikha from Jami s Haft Awrang (Seven thrones). In the Old Testament she is described simply as Potiphar's wife, her name being given only in the Koran. Clarify 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. Did Joseph marry Potiphar's daughter? The 13 New Testament books written by Paul (the epistles) make no reference to him at all, nor does the Gospel of Mark, the first of the Gospels. In the Old Testament she is described simply as Potiphars wife, her name being given only in the Koran. This precise situation is described by the Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 13b: And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, bought him [Joseph]. appears in the Judaeo-Christian Old Testament and in the Koran. Is Potiphar and potiphera the same person? Who is Potiphar? After Joseph's brothers sell him to the Midianites, they take him down to Egypt. The form "Potiphar" is probably an abbreviation of "Potiphera"; the two are treated as identical in the Septuagint, and are rendered or . Potipherah was the priest of On and Joseph ended up marrying his daughter Asenath. . He was Joseph's master for a time and, it appears, was a man of wealth. Is Potiphar and potiphera the same person? 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. The nobles among conquered peoples had greater skills, education, connections, etc. (Mark 2:15). But who, exactly, is this Potiphera Priest of On? 267283;The Torah: A Women's Commentary, pp. He spent Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Rashi, citing Sotah 13b, says that Poti-phera is Potiphar. The answer is actually quite logical. . Share 0 responses Feminism is grounded on the principle that women are universally oppressed by the dominant male hierarchy. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Asenath In Gen 39 the seductress is the wife of Potiphar. An Egyptian court official and chief of Pharaoh's bodyguard. Asenath means 'belonging to (goddess) Neith.' Potiphera was priest of On, one of the most influential offices in Egypt. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. 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. Why did Jesus associate with disreputable people? Clarify Should the explanation in Genesis on how God created plants before the sun affect the understanding of creation? of Potiphera. Joseph married into one of the most prominent priestly families in Egypt, but they were nevertheless pagan. Second, God calls His people to live . Required fields are marked *. Still, our speculation is based on verifiable patterns in Genesis.Also, you are lifting up something that many Americans don't understand about slavery in the ancient world. Genealogy for Potiphar . The Second Commandment is: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (Deuteronomy 5:11; Exodus 20:7). Potiphar puts Joseph in prison. 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. I make no apology for being an Anglican Traditionalist. But the former title 'cook' may be . What happens to Joseph and Potiphar's relationship? In addition, Potiphar could see that Joseph was a . ( Ge 37:36; 39:4) Potiphar purchased Joseph from the traveling Midianite merchants and, observing what a good servant Joseph was . His scholarship is impeccable. This was the norm for Jewish newlyweds at that time. His brothers were jealous of him and sold him into slavery. The sin of Azeez's wife becomes known in the city (Q12:30). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The Pharaoh is said to have given Joseph, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. After appointing Joseph as viceroy, Pharaoh gave him as a wife Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. He was the father of Asenath, who was given to Joseph as his wife by Pharaoh, (41:45) and who bore Joseph two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. The view that the names Potiphar and Potiphera refer to men of high rank is supported by the stela of Potiphera in Cairo Museum. Proper noun. 4 What happens to Joseph and Potiphars relationship? The sefer here in his discussion of the name Potiphera says that there is a dispute amongst the Rabbis whether Potiphar (Bereishis/Genesis 39,1), the chief executioner of Pharaoh, and Potiphera are the same person or not.. 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. Joseph has one wife, Asenath the daughter of Potiphar the priest of On, whom he marries in Egypt. a high-born, aristocratic Egyptian woman, the daughter of Potiphera, a priest of On. Posted on January 17, 2022 by Claude Mariottini. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". (biblical) An Egyptian and captain of the guard under Pharaoh. Asked May 10 2016 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. And so, Pharaoh selects the daughter of the Priest of On, a man named Potiphera. Potiphar's wife, who was known for her infidelities, took a liking to Joseph, and attempted to seduce him. According to one view, Abraham remarried after the death of Sarah and had a total of three wives: Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related. ( Gen. 37:36; 39:4) Potiphar purchased Joseph from the traveling Midianite merchants, and, observing what a good servant . The commentators run wild with this possibility, but there is little ultimate agreement. There is no reason to assume that the officer of Pharoah's guard, whose wife . Believers and non-believers can see it as an illustration of the need to keep trying and persevere. Where was Potiphar located in the Book of Abraham? Potiphera was Joseph's father-in-law and a priest of the Temple in Heliopolis. The meaning of Potiphar or Potiphera in Egyptian is "the one whom god Re has given", i.e., "the gift of god Re". 1070-945 BC), but quite possibly later . Report. [9] . 40 What's vodka made from? (Mark 6:20). If so, both the captain of the guard and the high priest of Heliopolis bore the same name, but would not be the same person. Playing on the similarity between ufeir'o ("mutilated him") and the last two syllables of Potiphera, the Talmud crafts a bizarre tale that serves two narrative purposes: first, it portrays Potiphar as a sexual predator, thus recasting the entire interaction between Potiphar's wife and Joseph in Genesis 39. ), and a priest of On as well. 10 weeks in the hospital. 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. 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. According to the documentary hypothesis, the story of Potiphar and his wife is credited to the Yahwist source, and stands in the same place that the stories of the butler and the baker and Pharaoh's dreams stand in the Elohist text. 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). Share These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Maybe Potipher purchased Asenath on one slave dealing caravan and then came back through Shechem a few years later to see if he could bargain for more, whereupon he came upon Joseph's evil brothers who were ready to make a deal? Sethite Hebrew priest of Nekheb on the Nile with authority over the palace. Our team has collected thousands of questions that people keep asking in forums, blogs and in Google . What does it mean if a person is counter revolutionary? We sin against Gods honor by putting anyone or anything in Gods place. Name of an Egyptian officer. Is Potiphar and potiphera the same person? This is (at the least) somewhat Biblically accurate. It does not store any personal data. "the written Torah."The Bible; the Pentateuch; Tanakh (the Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographia) Torah as "the daughter of Poti-phera" (Gen. 41:45), who was married to Joseph in Egypt. (Founded 21 March 2007). 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). Genesis 39:1-23, a high Egyptian official in the story of Joseph.The name is perhaps a deformation of Potiphera (wh. If we look at Egypt in this time, there was complete disarray in th. The majority opinion follows Rashi, and there are several sources in the Midrashic texts that seem to back up Rashis opinion. Yes, the story of the rape and dismemberment of the Levite's concubine is in all the feminist texbooks, so to speak. 'he whom Ra gave'[1]) is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. 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. Maybe, but the rubber meets the road, literally, with the funeral procession for his father Jacob, which we'll read two weeks hence. During the reign of Akhenaton when sun worship was the . Genesis 39:1-20. What happened to Potiphar after that is unclear; some sources identify him as Potipherah, an Egyptian priest whose daughter, Asenath . The traditions that trace Asenath to the family of Jacob relate that she was the daughter born to Dinah following her rape by Shechem son of Hamor. Potiphar is the captain of Pharaoh's guard who is said to . Alice C. Linsley Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines. ESV. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. 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. Is it the same person? How many blood transfusions can a person have? nga mihi mahana translation; peterseim funeral home. Does God gives us political leaders or do we vote them by choice? 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. Does the devil have power to make us sick? [3], Joseph and Potiphar's Wife by Ludovico Cigoli, Guercino, Joseph and Potiphar's Wife, 1649, Joseph and Potiphar's Wife by Bartolom Esteban Perez Murillo, Joseph and Potiphar's Wife by Jean-Baptiste Nattier, Joseph and Potiphar's Wife, by Guido Reni 1631, Joseph and Potiphar's Wife by Rembrandt, 1634. One of the atheist commentators was arguing that Scripture commands and advocates the subjugation of women to men, and treating them as objects. Do you know any good scholars who specialise in the book of Judges? 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. 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. . . The Gospel of Luke says Mary is a virgin betrothed to Joseph, while the Gospel of Matthew says Jesuss virginal conception happens before Mary lives with Joseph in his house, because, in a Jewish wedding, by being betrothed to a man, the woman is already his wife, yet she does not start living in his house until the . He is supposed by some to have been the same "captain of the guard" who promoted Joseph in prison, Genesis 37:36; 39:23. Potiphar and His Wife. 40 Is potiphar and potiphera the same person? . The names Potiphar and Potiphera can be viewed as being one and the same, as Egyptian writing does not always indicate vowels. What better way then to marry him into a family of aristocrats to ensure he stays in Egypt for the long run? In Hebrew this name means nothing at all. The original name for the Nile River was *Ar*, meaning "venerable". How is Zygospore different from the Sporangiophore in fungi? 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!) There should be no special quality attached to any name including Potiphar. As for Jesus, he was probably somewhere between 12 and 19 years old when Joseph of Nazareth died. 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. The story became a very common subject in Western art during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, usually depicting the moment when Joseph tears himself away from the bed containing a more-or-less naked figure of Potiphar's wife. Joseph and Asenath had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, both born during the seven years of plenty. Heliopolis is Biblical On and was an Ainu shrine. What happened to Potiphar after that is unclear; some sources identify him as Potipherah, an Egyptian priest whose daughter, Asenath, marries Joseph. It is mentioned in Isaiah 16:1 and 2 Kings 14:7. She gives birth to two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Asenath is the daughter of Potiphera and a wife of Joseph (41). Potiphar later brings Joseph to Pharaoh, who is plagued by inexplicable dreams, and expresses deep regret for having Joseph put in prison, but Joseph understands and forgives Potiphar. 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. my: Tracing the Hand of Moses in Genesis ), and Joseph (q.v.) In Biblical Names the meaning of the name Asenath is: Peril, misfortune. Mikeitz, Genesis 41:1-44:17The Torah: A Modern Commentary, pp. Analysis of the marriage and ascendancy structure of Abraham's Horite people reveals that the rulers had two wives. Pharaoh gave Asenath to Joseph for a wife. (uncountable) The card game faro. Why did Jesus associate with disreputable people? Anyway, this man was a priest, a man who honored pagan God's. Potiphar and Poti-Perah are definitely two different people. Rashi subscribes to that opinion, and he explains why the name is slightly different in verse 45. When Joseph's sister Dinah was captured and raped, only two men are named as the abductors. Genesis: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Pentateuch by John Goldingay. On, the equivalent of the Greek Heliopolis, neighboring the Eastern Delta or Goshen, later the site of the Hebrews' settlement, was the center of sun worship. Was John the Baptist conceived via an immaculate conception? 2 responses Heliopolis is Biblical On and was an Ainu shrine. 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. The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Father Abraham, justified by faith, saw the promise of the Son to come and believed! Share Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply.See Wiktionary Terms of Use for details. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Potiphar's wife attempted to seduce Joseph. The African wife of Potiphar is very active for a woman who appears only in a chapter of the book of Genesis. An Egyptian court official and chief of Pharaoh's bodyguard. Who were the priests of On? How do you give a first aid to a drowning person? 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. How did the spirit of God move upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2? (Mark 2:15). He was responsible for the personal protection of the Egyptian King, his family and court; as well as presiding over the Royal Prison. What is the difference between the priests and the Levites? 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This is the single extra-Biblical occurance of the name. Is Potiphar and potiphera the same person? How Do You Get Rid Of Hiccups In 5 Seconds. What is the difference between a sign and a wonder? Are Pharaoh and Potiphar the same person? See e.g. . She gives birth to two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. He was Joseph's master for a time and, it appears, was a man of wealth. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. How did the spirit of God move upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2? That said, rabbinic interpretation is not authoritative for Christians.The standard interpretation is that Potiphe-re is a corruption of Ap-Ophis-Ra. Who is Ben Hur in the movie produced in 1959? As Jacobs name became synonymous with all Israel, so that of Joseph was eventually equated with all the tribes that made up the northern kingdom. Now I admit that I make some assumptions. It is certainly a functional name that does describe well a key role Joseph fulfills. 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. Was Joseph wrong to marry the daughter of a pagan priest (Genesis 41)? POTIPHAR.Gen 39:1-23, a high Egyptian official in the story of Joseph. In this quotation, al-abari understands the word al-Azz as the king, which gives the same impression of a mighty person, . There remain Potiphar and Potiphera. According to the opinion that they are two different people the question is easily answered - the Torah says that Potiphera was the priest of . I read one commentary, which says yes, (including Rashi) and another, which says no. 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. Josephs father Jacob (also called Israel) favored him and gave Joseph the coat as a gift; as a result, he was envied by his brothers, who saw the special coat as an indication that Joseph would assume family leadership. 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. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Was John the Baptist conceived via an immaculate conception? We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Midrashic sources identify Potiphera as none other than Potiphar, Joseph's previous master.4. 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. Pa-di-Para), "Whom P'Ra (sun-god) has given," and most authorities would consider Potiphar as an abbreviated form in Heb. Should the explanation in Genesis on how God created plants before the sun affect the understanding of creation? 26 How does bunkering work? She became the mother of Ephraim and Manasseh, the . Now, the student of Egypt can do some real homework regarding the time of this so-called pharaoh! 45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. 40 Is potiphar and potiphera the same person? 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. 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? ( Ge 37:36; 39:4) Potiphar purchased Joseph from the traveling Midianite merchants and, observing what a good servant Joseph was . In Genesis 37 Joseph is seventeen years of age; when he gets out of prison in 41,30 he is thirty years old. This is the single extra-Biblical occurance of the name. Potiphere and Potiphere are the same person. What is the difference between a tunic and a cloak? On was a city in northern Egypt noted for worship of the Sun God. Supporter. The Ar Report POTIPHAR. phar) [from Egyptian, a shortened form of Potiphera]. Preside Pangaea, Rodinia, Columbia, and Kenorland, Bible and Archaeology by Frederic G. Kenyon. According to the Hebrew Bible, Potipherah ( / ptfr /, Hebrew: P fera) was a priest of the ancient Egyptian town of On, [1] mentioned in the Genesis 41:45 and 41:50. Man depicted close to them may be Potipherah. Joseph seeks protection from God who hears his prayer and turns aside their snares but Joseph is imprisoned notwithstanding his innocence. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Family tree. The Lord is still with Joseph, and the prison's commander puts him in charge. Potiphera's wife is powerful in terms of class and ethnic status, less so as a married woman, but she is dependent on male complicity in the transgressive sex act. I don't buy it. So, "If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck . Also Known As: "Potifera", "Poti-phera", "Potiphera" Birthdate: estimated before . Why did Herod like to listen to John the Baptist, who criticized Herods lifestyle? But this verse tells us that Poti-phera was a priest, while in 39:1 Potiphar was the captain of the guard. What . Potiphar's wife also seems to be owned by Potiphar. 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. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. 31 When should weight be measured? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Alice C. Linsley. How to say potiphar in English? Potiphar and Potiphera. There is no definitive answer to your question! You are a gem, Jonathan! Rabbi Aaron D. Panken, Ph.D., serves as president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. 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. According to the Jewish calendar, Joseph was purchased in the year 2216, which is 1544 BC, at the end of the Second Intermediate Period or very beginning of the New Kingdom. However, I will be Citing the story of the Levite who allowed his concubine to be raped and then murdered her, this passage was one of her proof texts. Build your family tree online . 264277; Revised Edition, pp. According to BDB Theological Dictionary Potiphar is an abbreviation of Potiphera. Some scholars think this could be the same person as Potiphar. daughter? 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. Potiphar being a high ranking official of the Pharaoh, owned his own field as well as his house . 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! How can Jesus be both God and man at the same time? Potiphar. Rashi: Potiphera - This is Potiphar, and he is called Potiphera because he was castrated, since he bought Joseph to sleep with him. Is it easy to get an internship at Microsoft? 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. One can almost imagine Pharaoh seeing Joseph as a critical economic minister he needs to keep happy to ensure his country's continuity. All rights reserved. What is the story of Joseph and Potiphar? 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. But Radak (Rabbi David Kimchi, Narbonne, France, ca. I was also going on a hunch about the LXX, which appears not to distinguish between the two names. http://www.allsaintsorthodox.org/pastor/bio.php. Answer (1 of 7): This is an interesting question. In Genesis 39, Joseph was sold to into slavery to Potiphar, one of the pharaoh's officials. Playing on the similarity between ufeir'o ("mutilated him") and the last two syllables of Potiphera, the Talmud crafts a bizarre tale that serves two narrative purposes: first, it portrays Potiphar as a sexual predator, thus recasting the entire interaction between Potiphar's wife and Joseph in Genesis 39. Continue with Recommended Cookies. In this reading, Joseph is nothing but . GENESIS through the lens of Anthropology . This is clear from Potiphera (Egyp. The view that the names Potiphar and Potiphera refer to men of high rank is supported by the stela of Potiphera in Cairo Museum.