Lives of Scripture

Potiphar, an Egyptian official described as captain of Pharaoh's bodyguard, purchased Joseph from the Ishmaelite traders who had bought him from his brothers (Genesis 37:36; 39:1). Genesis notes plainly that 'the LORD was with Joseph' and caused everything he did to succeed, and Potiphar recognized this clearly enough to place Joseph over his entire household, trusting him with everything he owned (39:2-6). That trust was tested when Potiphar's wife repeatedly propositioned Joseph, who refused each time on the grounds that such a betrayal would be a sin against God, not only against Potiphar (39:7-10). When she finally seized his garment and, spurned, twisted the incident into a false accusation of assault against Joseph, Potiphar's anger burned and he had Joseph thrown into prison without any investigation into his otherwise proven integrity (39:11-20). Scripture does not explore Potiphar's inner conflict or whether he suspected the truth; it simply records his decision and its unjust cost to an innocent man. Yet even in Potiphar's prison, the narrative repeats its refrain that the LORD was with Joseph, showing favor to him even there (39:21-23) -- Potiphar's unjust verdict becoming, in God's providence, simply the next stage on the path that would eventually place Joseph second only to Pharaoh in all of Egypt.