Bible Dictionary
Asenath
Asenath was an Egyptian woman, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, and wife of Joseph. She was the mother of Manasseh and Ephraim.
Definition
Asenath was an Egyptian woman, daughter of Potipherah, priest of On or Heliopolis, and wife of Joseph. She was the mother of Manasseh and Ephraim.
Biblical Usage
Asenath appears in the account of Joseph’s elevation in Egypt and in the genealogical record of his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
Historical Background
She bore an Egyptian name associated in the supplied material with the goddess Neith. On was also known as Heliopolis.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
An Egyptian name, meaning “gift of the sun-god”, daughter of Potipherah, priest of On or Heliopolis, wife of Joseph (Gen. 41:45). She was the mother of Manasseh and Ephraim (50-52; 46:20).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(worshipper of Neith), daughter of Potipherah, priest, or possibly prince, of On [Potipherah, Or Potipherah], wife of Joseph, (Genesis 41:45) and mother of Manasseh and Ephraim. (Genesis 41:50; 46:20) (B.C. 1715.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>as'-e-nath (Aseneth): The wife of Joseph, daughter of Potiphera, mother of Manasseh and Ephraim (Ge 41:45,50; 46:20). She was evidently an Egyptian woman and bore an Egyptian name. '-c-n-t, pointed by the Massoretes as 'acenath, appears in the Septuagint as aseneth or asenneth. The last two consonants appear to represent the name of the Egyptian goddess Neith. The first part of the name will then represent either ns = "belonging to" (so Brugsch and generally), or 'ws-n (note the doubled "n" in the Septuagint transcription) = "she belongs to" (so Spiegelberg). It is possible that these four letters represent the Egyptian name Sn-t (so Lieblein and others), though the 'aleph (') must then be explained as 'aleph prostheticum and the taw (t) would be less regular than a he (h) to stand for the Egyptian feminine t.</p><p>J. Oscar Boyd</p>