Putiphar

PUTIPHAR. - Name of two Egyptian figures who appear in the story of the patriarch Joseph.

A double Hebrew name corresponds to them: Pōṭlphar and Pōṭl-phēra', Greek Πετεφρῆς, Latin Putiphar. The original form of the Egyptian name is under discussion: many maintain that it is equivalent to the theophoric P-dj-p-R' "given by Rā'", attested by a funerary stele of the XXI dynasty (Cairo Museum), which dates from the 9th century B.C.; others propose other etymologies and suppose that the use of the name may be applied to the times of Joseph. P. (Pōṭlphar) was an official of the Pharaoh's court, to whom the Ishmaelites sold Joseph (Gen. 37, 36); the latter knew how to make himself so well liked that in a short time he had from his master the direction of his entire, very wealthy household (ibid. 39, 1-6). But P.'s wife, having fallen in love with the young man, wanted to induce him to sin; since Joseph had eluded her desires, he was accused by the woman before her husband of attempted violence and put in the state prison, where he remained three years (ibid. 39, 7-20).

A second P. (Pōṭī-phēra') is cited in Gen. 41, 45.50; 46, 20, as Joseph's father-in-law. In his capacity as priest of On (Heliopolis) he was dear to the sovereign; to reward services rendered to the country by Joseph during the famine, the Pharaoh ordered that his daughter Aseneth (v.) be given to him in marriage.

Aristide Calderini - Sergio Bosticco