Asenath
Gentile Egyptian · Creation & Patriarchs · Old Testament
- Role
- Egyptian wife of Joseph
- When
- c. 1900 BC (traditional)
What they did
Daughter of Potipherah priest of On, given to Joseph as wife by Pharaoh. She bore Manasseh and Ephraim before the famine.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
An Egyptian woman became the mother of two tribes of Israel, a sign of Gentiles being woven into God's people.
And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him. Genesis 41:50 (KJV)
Bible references
And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. Genesis 41:45 (KJV)
And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. Genesis 41:50-52 (KJV)
And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him. Genesis 46:20 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Poti-pherah, priest of On
- Spouse(s)
- Joseph
- Children
- Manasseh, Ephraim