Who Is Potiphar? - Mesu Andrews

Potiphar is kind of a big deal in my writing journey. Did you know he’s the reason I wrote Of Fire and Lions–my book about Daniel?

Long-story-short: Because of Isaiah’s prophecy to Hezekiah, Daniel’s ancestor, I thought Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers (Daniel 1:3-4) made Daniel a eunuch when they took him captive to Babylon:

“And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Isaiah 39:7

But when I realized that the Hebrew word used in that prophecy for eunuch (sārîs) was also used to describe Potiphar . . .

“Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials (sārîs), the captain of the guard.” Genesis 37:36

Now, I’m well aware that Potiphar’s wife was discontent, but I don’t believe Potiphar was a eunuch (as we normally think of its definition)! So . . . Daniel was suddenly the Bible’s most eligible bachelor, and he got a fictional wife in Of Fire and Lions.

10 Things We Know About Potiphar:

I suppose we don’t KNOW whether Potiphar was or wasn’t a eunuch in the sense we normally think of, but here are ten TRUTHS Genesis 39 tells us about this enigmatic fella:

He was an Egyptian. (v. 1)
He was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. (v. 1)
He bought Joseph from Ishmaelites–and became Joseph’s master. (v. 1)
Joseph lived in Potiphar’s house. (v. 2)
Potiphar observed the Lord’s favor on Joseph, so he was willing to make Joseph his attendant (though we later discover Egyptians don’t eat with Hebrews – Gen. 43:32). (v. 3)
Later, Potiphar put him in charge of all he owned, and the blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. (vs. 4-5)
Potiphar might have been a picky eater, leaving everything he had in Joseph’s care except the food he ate. (v. 6)
Gave Joseph greater authority and freer access (to everything except Potiphar’s wife) than anyone else in Potiphar’s household. (v. 9)
Potiphar “burned with anger” when his wife showed him Joseph’s cloak and told him her lies. (v. 19)
He put Joseph in Pharaoh’s prison without a trial. (v. 20)

Taking Notice of Scripture’s “Extras”

Anytime Scripture records more than a sentence or two of description on someone other than Abraham’s family, I ask the question:

Why is this person included in God’s eternal record?

After combing through Scripture–as we did above–I then move to other research. Most biblical scholars believe Moses wrote Genesis, and if Moses were sitting in my living room, I’d have sooooo many questions about Potiphar!

Was it important that Potiphar was Pharaoh’s bodyguard?
Did it matter that he bought Joseph from Ishmaelites?
Why spend almost as many verses describing Potiphar’s favor for Joseph as you wrote about his wife’s disfavor–post rejection?

The BIGGEST QUESTION OF ALL?

Why are Potiphar or his wife never mentioned in Scripture again?

Lessons From Do Knows & Don’t Knows

It’s easy to become discouraged by all we DON’T know about a biblical character, but great lessons come from both what we do know and what we don’t. Can you read both messages in the graphic at the right?

As is true with the graphic, good AND evil can appear in a single circumstance, and one event can bring both joy AND pain, celebration AND suffering. I believe God’s Word maintains records that can apply to humankind regardless of race, age, or culture, and I think Potiphar shows us some of those examples–for good and evil.

#1 – Potiphar Embraced Those Different Than Him

Have you heard the word, “woke?” My best interpretation of its meaning is someone who finally awakens to understand the injustice that plagues our current culture. Though in our highly sensitized world, not even those who seek to define the word can agree on its meaning.

However, I’ll go out on a limb here and say–as I understand it–Potiphar was WOKE! He was a high-ranking Egyptian official who bought a Hebrew slave from Ishmaelite traders, and he served a foreign pharaoh as captain of his bodyguard.

Potiphar’s ability to set aside his cultural class and racial distinctions are an exceptional quality in his ancient culture. Though bound by the norms of slavery, court intrigue, and Egypt’s national upheaval, Elohim preserved Potiphar’s example in Scripture to inspire those who take time to ponder his commitment to look beyond race and ethnicity.

#2 – Potiphar, An Unlikely Savior

Consider Joseph. A seventeen-year-old kid (Gen.37:2). Betrayed by his brothers. A grueling captive’s march to Egypt. Sold to Pharaoh’s top-ranking bodyguard. How scary is that? Joseph grew up as the pampered favorite prince in his father’s Bedouin camp. He’s not accustomed to soldiers. Or Egypt. Or anything else there.

The food is different. The clothes are different. The language is different. The weather is different. The animals are different–except the sheep. Joseph knows about sheep. And goats. But definitely NOT CROCODILES!

One thing is surprisingly the same: Elohim and His favor. Things begin to go right for Joseph in Egypt–and Potiphar notices. The big, burly, scary master notices the new slave is extraordinarily “lucky” and wants some of whatever he’s got. So he promotes Joseph. Promotes him again. And again. And soon, Potiphar’s household sees the same kinds of blessings.

#3 Potiphar Let Emotion Rule Him

We don’t know how long Joseph had served in Potiphar’s household before the master’s wife falsely accused the man responsible for blessing the whole household.

“When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, ‘This is how your slave treated me,’ he burned with anger.Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.” Genesis 39:19–20 (emphasis added)

Who was Potiphar angry with?

Joseph? Did he really believe Joseph would attack his wife?
His wife? Because she’d accused Joseph in front of witnesses, Potiphar saw no way to dismiss the charges even if he’d believed Joseph was innocent.
Himself? For some reason, he couldn’t bring this matter before Pharaoh, so he made the choice himself to betray the Hebrew who had brought only blessing to his household.

The decision made during the fury was crushing no matter why Potiphar burned with anger because wise decisions seldom come when emotions run high. The next time your emotions are spinning with excitement or frustration, pray for calm before deciding something that could change your life and/or others.

Potiphar’s Big Place In Scripture

Who is Potiphar? He is the first master of an Israelite in Egypt and the precursor to the injustice that comes a few generations later.

“Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. ‘Look,’ he said to his people, ‘the Israelites have become far too numerous for us . . .’ So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.” Exodus 1:8–9; 11

Though Potiphar was an enigmatic master, he was the instrument God used to prepare Joseph to serve Egypt’s king without fear. He’s Scripture’s indisputable proof that God’s blessing isn’t hindered by our chains nor His favor by our circumstance.

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you . . . Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” Genesis 41:39–40