Genesis Profiles

POTIPHAR & HIS WIFE

Genesis 39:1-20

Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s royal guard, had a large household and a wife with too much time on her hands. One day he purchased Joseph from some Midianite slave traders and put him to work in his home. This was the best decision Potiphar ever made. Not only was Joseph talented, but God was also with him. Because of Joseph, Potiphar began to prosper greatly.

While Potiphar was benefiting from Joseph’s good work ethic, Potiphar’s wife was noticing Joseph’s good looks. Soon she moved from looking to seducing, but Joseph continually resisted her advances. Denied the thrill of chasing and capturing her prey, of feeling a few moments of illicit pleasure, Potiphar’s wife became angry and hurt. One day, after she had been scorned again, she accused Joseph of attempted rape. Since she couldn’t have Joseph, she decided to punish him.

Potiphar had Joseph thrown into prison. We don’t know if Potiphar ever realized what was going on in his house, but he sided with his wife. Because he listened to a faithless woman, Potiphar jailed an innocent man and got rid of the best household overseer in all of Egypt. Had Potiphar been more observant, he would have seen that Joseph was not merely an administrative windfall, he was also a young man of integrity. Perhaps he did see Joseph’s character but didn’t have enough himself to face the truth. In any case, Potiphar and his wife deserved each other.

Although Potiphar recognized talent when he saw it, he wasn’t quite as good a judge of character. Both qualities are important, but character matters far more in the long run. Selfishness, faithlessness, and deceit have no place in a person who wants to develop character. Potiphar and his wife show us that anyone can be a judge of talent, but it takes insight and courage to be a judge of character.

Strengths and accomplishments	Potiphar reached a high rank in Pharaoh’s court Both enjoyed the temporary blessing of having Joseph, God’s servant, as their slave Potiphar was a good judge of talent
Weaknesses and mistakes	Neither recognized the amazing person who lived in their house Both failed in judging character—Potiphar toward his wife and Joseph, his wife toward Joseph Falsely accused and imprisoned Joseph, their faithful servant
Lessons from their lives	A lasting marriage requires faithfulness and hard work God can accomplish his purposes through other’s mistakes and sins God blesses many people who clearly don’t deserve his grace and help One person with character stands out among those who possess little of it
Vital statistics	Where: Egypt Occupation: Potiphar: Palace official. Potiphar’s wife: wife.
Key verse	“And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field” (Genesis 39:5).

The story of Potiphar and his wife is told in Genesis 37:36 and Genesis 39.