(story told in Genesis 37:36; 39:1-20)
Potiphar was an important Egyptian official, serving as the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. He first appears in the story when Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, is brought to Egypt. Potiphar bought Joseph from the traders and brought him into his household. Though Joseph was a slave, God was with him, and everything he did succeeded. Potiphar noticed this and soon trusted Joseph with all the responsibilities of his home.
Under Joseph’s care, Potiphar’s household flourished. He didn’t have to worry about anything except the food he ate. Potiphar respected Joseph and relied on his honesty and skill. However, trouble began when Potiphar’s wife took notice of Joseph and tried to tempt him to sin. Joseph refused again and again, staying loyal to both his master and to God.
One day, when Joseph rejected her advances, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of trying to harm her. She showed Joseph’s cloak as false proof, twisting the story to make herself look innocent. When Potiphar heard his wife’s words, he became angry and had Joseph thrown into prison.
The Bible doesn’t say whether Potiphar believed his wife or not, but it’s possible he suspected the truth—since Joseph wasn’t executed, which would have been the usual punishment for such a crime. Even in prison, Joseph continued to prosper because God was still with him.
Potiphar’s story reminds us that even people with power can make wrong judgments. Yet his part in Joseph’s life also shows how God can use injustice to prepare someone for greater things. What began in a household of service became the path to Joseph’s rise in Egypt.