פּוֹטִיפַר
𐤐𐤅𐤈𐤉𐤐𐤓
Potifar
H6318 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name, masculine: Potiphar. The chief of the Egyptian guard (also described as a high-ranking official or captain of the bodyguard) during the reign of Pharaoh in the narrative of Joseph. The name itself identifies an Egyptian individual, reflecting both a personal name and official standing.
Semantic Range
Potiphar (personal name of an Egyptian officer), name applied to the Egyptian official who purchased Joseph
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The name פּוֹטִיפַר is of Egyptian origin, not Hebrew. It likely derives from an Egyptian phrase, conventionally understood as meaning 'the one whom (the god) Ra has given' or '(he) whom Ra gave', corresponding to Egyptian PꜢ-dỉ-pꜥ-Rꜥ. The name has been transliterated into Hebrew script.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פּוֹטִיפַר appears only in the Yoseph narrative in Genesis (Gen 37:36; 39:1, 4, 19, 20), describing the Egyptian officer who purchased Joseph as a slave. The text emphasizes his Egyptian and official status. In the narrative, Potiphar's title is 'סְרִיס פַּרְעֹה, שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים' (officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard), indicating a high administrative and possibly security-related position in Pharaoh's court. The form of the name is adapted to Hebrew phonology and morphology but does not exist as a common noun or verb in Hebrew. Potiphar is distinct from Potiphera (פּוֹטִיפֶרַע)—the latter, mentioned in Gen 41:45 as the priest of On, is similarly derived but represents a separate individual. English translations typically preserve the name as 'Potiphar'. The name is not employed as a title or common noun in the Hebrew Bible but remains a personal name signifying a particular Egyptian official. Later tradition sometimes conflates 'Potiphar' with 'Potiphera,' but the biblical narrative maintains their separation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Egyptian derivation; Potiphar, an Egyptian; Potiphar.
Bantu Hebrew
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פוטיפר (p-w-ṭ-y-p-r) — proper name of an Egyptian official; personal name of foreign origin
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6318-01 |
לְ/פֽוֹטִיפַר֙ | lefotifar | HR/Np |
to Potiphar | to Potiphar | 1 |
H6318-02 |
פּוֹטִיפַר֩ | potifar | HNp |
Potiphar | Potiphar | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6318-01 |
Genesis 37:36 | לְ/פֽוֹטִיפַר֙ | lefotifar | HR/Np |
to Potiphar | to Potiphar |
H6318-02 |
Genesis 39:1 | פּוֹטִיפַר֩ | potifar | HNp |
Potiphar | Potiphar |