Asnath, daughter of Potiphera, priest in the sun city of On (Heliopolis), belonged to the highest stratum of Egyptian society. When Pharaoh elevated Joseph to rule over all Egypt, he gave him Asnath as a wife—a union that solidified Joseph's position within the Egyptian power structure. Through her two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, Asnath had lasting significance for Israel's history. The patriarch Jacob adopted both sons and counted them as his own, granting them status as ancestors of two of Israel's twelve tribes. Asnath's role in the biblical narrative reveals the tension between Egyptian and Israelite identity, showing how God's plan of salvation extended beyond ethnic and cultural boundaries.
45Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah and gave him Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went out through the land of Egypt.
Asenath bore Joseph's firstborn son, Manasseh, before the famine struck. The name means 'God has made me forget' and refers to Joseph's earlier sufferings.
Asenath's sons Manasseh and Ephraim were adopted by Jacob and received the patriarch's blessing, with the younger Ephraim placed before the older Manasseh.
5Now then, your two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came to you here—they are mine. Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are.
13Joseph took them both, Ephraim on his right toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh on his left toward Israel's right hand, and brought them close to him.
14But Israel reached out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his hands, he laid his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
20So he blessed them that day, saying: "By you Israel will pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" And so he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.