Potiphar and His Wife Facts for 9-13 Year Olds

Categories: Jacob

• Potiphar is only mentioned in 2 chapters in Genesis.
• His name in Hebrew is a shortened version of Potiphera, which means “he whom Ra gave.” A modern interpretation might say, “He is God’s gift.”
• When Joseph is taken to Egypt, Potiphar buys him as a household slave.
• Potiphar has a good job as “captain of the palace guard.”
• He needs the services of a trustworthy slave to manage his household.
• Potiphar sees “that the Lord is with Joseph and that the Lord gives him success in everything he does.”
• Potiphar is blessed because of Joseph.
• Potiphar soon makes Joseph head of his household.
• Potiphar entrusts Joseph with everything.
• Potiphar’s wife likes Joseph too.
• One day she asks him to go to bed with her.
• Joseph refuses.
• Joseph respects Potiphar and says that would be “a great wickedness, and sin against God.”
• Potiphar’s wife, however, “speaks to Joseph every day” hoping to convince him otherwise.
• One day she grabs him.
• He gets away and leaves her holding his garment in her hands.
• Right away she accuses Joseph of attacking her.
• When Potiphar hears her story, he becomes enraged.
• Potiphar puts Joseph in prison.
• The Lord is still with Joseph, and the prison’s commander puts him in charge.
• After Pharaoh appoints him overlord of Egypt, Joseph marries Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
• Some scholars think this could be the same person as Potiphar.
• There is no further information about Potiphar or his wife.