Potiphar

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

From Egyptian Ρa-Ti , "the given" or devoted to Par or Phar, the (royal) house or palace. "An officer (chamberlain) of Pharaoh, chief of the executioners," i.e. captain of the bodyguard (KJV), who executed the king's sentences ( Genesis 37:36;  Genesis 39:1;  2 Kings 25:8;  Jeremiah 39:9;  Jeremiah 52:12). The prison in which he confined Joseph was an apartment arched, vaulted, and rounded ( Ha-Sohar ) for strength (Called A "Dungeon,"  Genesis 40:15 ) , in the house of the chief of the executioners ( Genesis 40:3).

Joseph's feet at first "they afflicted with fetters, the iron entered into has soul" ( Psalms 105:17-18); but Jehovah gave him favor in the sight of "the keeper of the prison," probably distinct from Potiphar. There seems little ground for thinking that Potiphar was succeeded by another "chief of the executioners," "the keeper of the prison" was entrusted by Potiphar with Joseph. Potiphar scarcely believed his lustful wife's story, or he would have killed Joseph at once; but instead he put him in severe imprisonment at first, then with Potiphar's connivance the prison keeper put the same confidence in Joseph as Potiphar himself had put in him when he was free. Egyptian monuments, in harmony with Scripture, represent rich men's stewards, as Joseph, carefully registering all the produce of the garden and field, and storing it up. (See Joseph .)

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

POTIPHAR .   Genesis 39:1-23 , a high Egyptian official in the story of Joseph. The name is perhaps a deformation of Potiphera (wh. see) or an unsuccessful attempt to form an Egyptian name on the same lines. Potiphar seems to be entitled ‘chief cook’ (EV [Note: English Version.] ‘captain of the guard’), and likewise saris , ‘eunuch’ of Pharaoh. But the former title ‘cook’ may be only a mark of high rank; persons described as royal tasters in the New Kingdom were leaders of expeditions, investigators of criminal cases, judges in the most important trials, etc.; as yet, too, there is little indication that eunuchs were employed in Egypt even at a later period: so this also was but an honorific official title; the Hebrew word saris is actually found attached to the names of Persian officers in Egypt. Joseph was sold to Potiphar, on whose wife’s accusation he was cast into the king’s prison (in Potiphar’s own house), to which Pharaoh afterwards committed his chief butler and chief baker. The office thus held by Potiphar cannot yet be precisely identified in Egyptian documents. In the passage   Genesis 41:45 and the repeated description of Joseph’s wife, the forms of the names and the title of the priest are much more precisely Egyptian.

F. Ll. Griffith.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Pot'iphar. An Egyptian name, also written Potipherah, signifies Belonging To The Sun. Potiphar. With whom the history of Joseph is connected, is described as an officer of Pharaoh; chief of the executioners, an Egyptian."  Genesis 39:1. Compare  Genesis 37:36. (B.C. 1728).

He appears to have been a wealthy man.  Genesis 39:4-6. The view we have of Potiphar's household, is exactly in accordance with the representations on the monuments. When Joseph was accused, his master contented himself with casting him into prison.  Genesis 39:19-20. After this, we hear no more of Potiphar. See Joseph .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Potiphar ( Pŏt'I-Far ). Potiphar, with whom the history of Joseph is connected, is described as "an officer of Pharaoh, chief of the executioners, an Egyptian."  Genesis 39:1 : comp. 37:36. He appears to have been a wealthy man.  Genesis 39:4-6. The view we have of Potiphar's household is exactly in accordance with the representations on the monuments. When Joseph was accused, his master contented himself with casting him into prison.  Genesis 39:19-20. After this we hear no more of Potiphar.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A high officer of Pharaoh, who purchased Joseph of the Midianites, and made him master of his house, but afterwards imprisoned him on a false charge. He is supposed by some to have been the same "captain of the guard" who promoted Joseph in prison,  Genesis 37:36;  39:23 .

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

An officer in the court of Pharaoh—master to the patriarch Joseph ( Genesis 37:36) His name is derived, as it should seem to be, from Parah, which means to scatter.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Pharaoh's captain of the guard, to whom Joseph was sold.  Genesis 37:36;  Genesis 39:1 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 39:1Joseph

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 37:36 Genesis 39:1

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Potiphar', פּוֹטַפִר , contraction of פּוֹטַי פֶרִע , Potipherah [q.v.]; Sept. Πετεφρής ), an officer of Pharaoh, probably the chief of his body- guard ( Genesis 39:1). B.C. cir. 1810. Of the Midianitish merchants he purchased Joseph. The keeper of the prison into which the son of Jacob was eventually cast treated him with kindness, and confided to him the management of the prison ( Genesis 27:36;  Genesis 39:1); and this confidence was afterwards sanctioned by the "captain of the guard" himself, as the officer responsible for the safe custody of prisoners of state ( Genesis 40:3-4). It is sometimes denied, but more usually maintained, that this "captain of the guard" was the same with the Potiphar who is before designated by the same title. It is possible that this "captain of the guard" and Joseph's master were the same person. It would be in accordance with Oriental usage that offenders against the court, and the officers of the court, should be in custody of the captain of the guard; and that Potiphar should have treated Joseph well after having cast him into prison is not irreconcilable with the facts of the case. After having imprisoned Joseph in the first transport of his choler, he might possibly discover circumstances which led him to doubt his guilt, if not to be convinced of his innocence. The mantle left in the hands of his mistress, and so triumphantly produced against him, would, when calmly considered, seem a stronger proof of guilt against her than against him; yet still, to avoid bringing dishonor upon his wife, and exposing her to new temptation, he may have deemed it more prudent to bestow upon his slave the command of the state prison than to restore him to his former employment. (See Joseph).

Potiphar is described as "an officer of Pharaoh, chief of the executioners ( סְרַים פִּרְעֹה שִׂר הִטִּבָּחַים ), an Egyptian" ( Genesis 39:1; comp. 37:36). The word we render "officer," as in the A. V., is literally "eunuch," and the Sept. and Vulg. so translate it here ( Σπάδων , Eunuchus); but it is also used for an officer of the court, and this is almost certainly the meaning here, as Potiphar was married, which is seldom the case with eunuchs, though some, as those which have the custody of the Kaaba at Mecca, are exceptions, and his office was one which would not usually be held by persons of a class ordinarily wanting in courage, although here again we must except the occasional usage of Muslim sovereigns, whose executioners were sometimes eunuchs, as Haruen er-Rashid's Mesrli, in order that they might be able to carry out the royal commands even in the harems of the subjects. Potiphar's office was "chief of the executioners," not, as the Sept. makes it, "of the cooks" ( Ἀρχιμάγειρος ), for the prison was in his house, or, at least, in that of the chief of the executioners, probably a successor of Potiphar, who committed the disgraced servants of Pharaoh to Joseph's charge ( Genesis 40:2-4). He is called an Egyptian; and it is to be noticed that his name contains that of an Egyptian divinity. He appears to have been a wealthy man, having property in the field as well as in the house, over which Joseph was put, evidently in an important post ( Genesis 39:4-6). The view we have of Potiphar's household is exactly in accordance with the representations on the monuments, in which we see how carefully the produce of the land was registered and stored up in the house by overseers, as well as the liberty that women of all ranks enjoyed. When Joseph was accused, his master contented himself with casting him into prison ( Genesis 39:19-20), probably being a merciful man, although he may have been restrained by God from acting more severely. After this we hear no more of Potiphar, unless, which is unlikely, the chief of the executioners afterwards mentioned be he. If he were actually a eunuch, we may the more easily account for his wife's conduct. (See Eunuch).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Pot´iphar (contraction of Potipherah), an officer of Pharaoh, probably the chief of his bodyguard . Of the Midianitish merchants he purchased Joseph, whose treatment by him is described under that head. The keeper of the prison into which the son of Jacob was eventually cast treated him with kindness, and confided to him the management of the prison; and this confidence was afterwards sanctioned by the 'captain of the guard' himself, as the officer responsible for the safe custody of prisoners of state. It is sometimes denied, but more usually maintained, that this 'captain of the guard' was the same with the Potiphar who is before designated by the same title. We believe that this 'captain of the guard' and Joseph's master were the same person. It would be in accordance with Oriental usage that offenders against the court, and the officers of the court, should be in custody of the captain of the guard; and that Potiphar should have treated Joseph well after having cast him into prison, is not irreconcilable with the facts of the case. After having imprisoned Joseph in the first transport of his choler, he might possibly discover circumstances which led him to doubt his guilt, if not to be convinced of his innocence. The mantle left in the hands of his mistress, and so triumphantly produced against him, would, when calmly considered, seem a stronger proof of guilt against her than against him: yet still, to avoid bringing dishonor upon his wife, and exposing her to new temptation, he may have deemed it more prudent to bestow upon his slave the command of the state prison, than to restore him to his former employment.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pot´i - far ( פּוטיפר , pōṭı̄phar  ; compare Egyptian Potiphera (  Genesis 39:1 f)): A high Egyptian official who became the master of Joseph. It is particularly mentioned that he was an Egyptian, i.e. one of the native Egyptian officials at the Hyksos court.