H6319 H6319
Potiphera, Egyptian priest of On, Joseph's father-in-law
Potiphera was an Egyptian priest of On (Heliopolis) whose daughter Asenath became Joseph's wife. The name, abbreviated from Potiphera ('he whom Ra has given'), reflects authentic Egyptian naming patterns and confirms Joseph's deep integration into Egyptian society. Pharaoh gave Asenath to Joseph as part of his elevation to second-in-command. Their marriage produced Manasseh and Ephraim, making Potiphera the grandfather of two tribal patriarchs. His priestly status at the sun-god temple in On indicates high social standing, underscoring the honor Pharaoh bestowed on Joseph.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Personal name of an Egyptian priest serving at On (Heliopolis), given as Joseph's father-in-law. Genesis 41:45 records Pharaoh giving Joseph 'Asenath daughter of Potiphera priest of On' as wife. Verse 50 notes that before the famine, Joseph had two sons 'whom Asenath daughter of Potiphera priest of On bore to him,' and 46:20 repeats this detail. The name is genuinely Egyptian, meaning 'he whom Ra has given,' similar to Potiphar (Joseph's earlier master) but not identical. His priestly office at On (center of Ra worship) shows Joseph's high-level integration into Egyptian aristocracy. Translations preserve the name: 'Potiphera,' 'Potifera.' 3×
AR["فُوطِي-فَارَعَ"]·ben["পোটি-ফেরার", "পোটী-ফেরার"]·DE["Poti-Feras"]·EN["Potiphera"]·FR["Potiphéra"]·heb["פוטי פרע"]·HI["पोटीफ़ेरा", "पोटीफ़ेरा-की"]·ID["Potifera"]·IT["Potiphera"]·jav["Potiféra"]·KO["보디-브라", "보디베라의"]·PT["Poti-Fera'"]·RU["Потифера"]·ES["Poti-Fera", "Potifera"]·SW["Poti-Fera", "Potifera"]·TR["Poti-Fera'nın", "Potifera'nın"]·urd["فوطی-فرع-کی", "فوٹیفرع-کی"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† פּוֹטִיפַר n.pr.m. Joseph’s master (abbrev. from foll.);—Gn 37:36 (E), 39:1 (RJ), Πετεφρης, etc.