Potiphar’s Wife: The False Accuser of Joseph

Potiphar’s Wife: The False Accuser of Joseph

Potiphar’s wife stands as a figure of temptation, deceit, and false accusation. Though her name is not recorded, her actions are pivotal in Joseph’s story. She represents the destructive power of lust and lies, contrasting sharply with Joseph’s integrity.

Name & Etymology

While Scripture does not give Potiphar’s wife a name, later Jewish traditions sometimes call her Zuleika or Zuleikha, though these are not biblical. The absence of a name underscores her role as a character defined by actions rather than identity. In the Septuagint (LXX), she is simply referred to as “the wife of Petephrēs.”

Biblical Narrative (The Story)

Potiphar’s wife enters Joseph’s story in Genesis 39.

• Temptation: “Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. ‘Come and sleep with me,’ she demanded” (Genesis 39:7, NLT). Joseph refused repeatedly, insisting it would be a sin against both Potiphar and God.

• The False Accusation: When Joseph fled from her grasp, leaving his cloak behind, she twisted the story: “She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. Then she told him her story. ‘That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,’ she said” (Genesis 39:16–17, NLT).

• The Result: Potiphar believed her accusation, and Joseph was imprisoned. Yet God used this injustice to advance His plan.

Historical & Cultural Context

Egyptian elite women often lived in luxury but were also subject to the authority of their husbands. Potiphar’s wife used her position to pursue Joseph, an act that would have been scandalous if revealed. Her false accusation reflects the vulnerability of servants and foreigners in ancient households.

Character & Themes

Potiphar’s wife embodies the themes of temptation, deceit, and false witness. Her actions remind us of how unchecked desire can corrupt judgment and destroy lives. She stands as a foil to Joseph, whose integrity and fear of God resisted her advances.

Connection to Christ

Her false accusation against Joseph foreshadows the false accusations brought against Christ. Just as Joseph was condemned though innocent, Jesus too was condemned by lies. Both stories reveal God’s sovereignty in using injustice to accomplish redemption.

Theological Significance

Potiphar’s wife highlights the seriousness of sin and the danger of unchecked passion. She also illustrates the destructive nature of bearing false witness — one of the Ten Commandments God would later give Israel. Her role warns us of the consequences of yielding to sin and the importance of integrity.

Myths & Misconceptions

• Myth: Joseph was partly to blame for her advances.

  
  

  Truth: Scripture is clear that Joseph acted with complete integrity, refusing her attempts and fleeing temptation.

• Myth: Potiphar fully believed her story.

  
  

  Truth: The text implies some doubt, since Joseph was imprisoned rather than executed — a likely punishment for such a crime.

Application

Potiphar’s wife reminds us to guard against temptation and deceit. Her story challenges us to flee from sin, as Joseph did, and to uphold truth even when lies seem powerful. It also encourages us to trust God when falsely accused, knowing He sees and vindicates His people.

Conclusion

Though unnamed, Potiphar’s wife is remembered as a cautionary figure — one whose lust and lies brought injustice. Yet through her actions, God’s plan moved forward, positioning Joseph for his ultimate rise. Her story warns us of the cost of sin and points us toward the integrity God calls His people to embody.