Asenath

/AS-eh-nath/

Summary

The Egyptian wife of Joseph, daughter of the priest of On, and mother of Ephraim and Manasseh.

☩Identity

Asenath was the daughter of Potipherah, priest (or prince) of On, whom Pharaoh gave to Joseph as a wife. This marriage to a woman of high social standing was likely intended to strengthen Joseph's position in Egypt. She became the mother of Manasseh and Ephraim before the years of famine began.

Key verses:Genesis 41:45Genesis 41:50Genesis 46:20

☩Name Etymology

The name Asenath is of Egyptian origin. Various scholars have interpreted it as meaning 'worshipper of Neith' or 'she who belongs to Neith,' referring to the Egyptian goddess of wisdom who was a tutelary deity of On (Heliopolis), the city of the sun god.

Related Verses3 mentions

Genesis· 3 verses

41:45 41:50 46:20

References

1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Asenath," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
2.James Orr (ed.), "Asenath," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
3.George Morrish, "Asenath," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Asenath," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).