[pot-uh-fer] 
| the Egyptian officer whose wife tried to seduce Joseph. Gen. 39:1–20. |
| Pot·i·phar (pŏt'ə-fər) n. In the Bible, an officer of the Pharaoh who bought Joseph as a slave and later imprisoned him when Potiphar's wife falsely accused Joseph of rape. [Hebrew pôṭîpar, from Egyptian p-di-p-r', the one whom Ra gave : p-, definite article + di, whom he gave + r', Ra.] |
Potiphar
dedicated to Ra; i.e., to the sun-god, the Egyptian to whom the Ishmaelites sold Joseph (Gen. 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 became overseer over all his possessions. Believing the false accusation which his profligate wife brought against Joseph, Potiphar cast him into prison, where he remained for some years. (See JOSEPH.)
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