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Potiphar

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Egyptian official who bought Joseph as a slave and whose wife falsely accused him

Detailed Definition
Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard, trusted Joseph until his wife’s deceit led to Joseph’s imprisonment (Genesis 39). He illustrates misplaced trust and injustice. In poetry, Potiphar embodies the fragility of favor, the danger of proximity to power, and the irony of being an instrument of both oppression and providence—often symbolizing how human systems serve divine plans unwittingly.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Genesis 39, Potiphar’s household inspires poetry about integrity amid temptation; 18th-century verse depicts Potiphar’s initial trust in Joseph as model of discernment; Contemporary poems explore Potiphar’s role as unwitting agent in God’s providence; In poems about false witness, Potiphar’s doubt contrasts with Joseph’s faithfulness; Some liturgical works cite Potiphar to teach about divine sovereignty in suffering; Educational poems use Potiphar to discuss slavery and justice in ancient contexts.
Additional Notes
Potiphar, an Egyptian official who bought Joseph as a slave (Genesis 39), trusted him greatly until his wife’s false accusation; though peripheral, Potiphar’s household sets the stage for Joseph’s rise; poets may use him to explore trust, injustice, or the hidden mechanisms of providence in adversity.
Also Known As
Potiphar captain of the guard Potiphar master of Joseph
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