Joseph's Egyptian wife and mother of Ephraim and Manasseh
Även känd som: Asenath
PatriarkernaWifeMotherMatriarchc. 1800–1700 BC
Asenath belonged to the Egyptian ruling elite as the daughter of Potiphera, priest of the sun city On (Heliopolis). When Pharaoh elevated Joseph to the highest office in Egypt after he interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, Asenath was given to Joseph as a wife—an marital alliance that solidified Joseph's legitimacy within the Egyptian power structure. Before the seven years of famine began, Asenath bore the sons Manasseh and Ephraim. In a pivotal event toward the end of the patriarch Jacob's life, he chose to adopt these two grandsons as his own sons and blessed them with inheritance rights equal to his other sons (Gen 48). Asenath's children thus became ancestors of two of Israel's twelve tribes, and she herself secured a lasting place in Israel's salvation history. Her role in the narrative highlights how the biblical covenant story could unexpectedly include people from backgrounds outside Abraham's lineage.
After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and was elevated to rule over all Egypt, Pharaoh gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as a wife. The marriage marked Joseph's new position and gave him legitimacy in Egyptian society. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered service under Pharaoh.
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 years of famine came. Joseph named him Manasseh, which can be linked to the Hebrew verb for 'to forget,' because God had made him forget all his hardship and his entire father's house.
Asenath bore her second son Ephraim. Joseph named him Ephraim, which can be linked to the Hebrew word for 'fruitfulness,' because God had made him fruitful in the land where he had suffered.
Asenath is mentioned as the mother of Manasseh and Ephraim in the list of Jacob's family who came to Egypt, confirming her place in Israel's genealogy and her sons' belonging to the covenant people.
When Jacob was near death, he adopted Asenath's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own and blessed them with inheritance rights equal to his other sons. Jacob placed the younger Ephraim before the firstborn Manasseh in the blessing—an expression that God's choice does not necessarily follow human conventions. Through this act, Asenath's sons were fully incorporated into Israel's tribal community.
4He said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and multiply you; I will make you a company of peoples, and I will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'
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.
17When Joseph saw that his father was placing his right hand on Ephraim's head, he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's.
19But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will be great. Yet his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations."
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.