Parshas Mikeitz 5777

The Meaning of Joseph's Egyptian Name

The Torah writes (Genesis 41:45):

Pharaoh then gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him for a wife Asenath daughter of Poti-phera, priest of On. Thus Joseph emerged in charge of the land of Egypt.

According to Targum Jonathan:

And Pharoh called the name of Joseph, The man who reveals mysteries

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains (in the Living Torah):

Many authorities state that this is a Hebrew translation of the Egyptian name that he was given, and that it means 'revealer of secrets' (Targum; Rashi; Septuagint; Josephus 2:6:1). Others say that it is an Egyptian name (Ibn Ezra; Radak, Sherashim). In Egyptian, Tzaphnath is tza-pa-neth meaning, 'the Neth speaks' or 'the god speaks.' Paaneach is pa-anakh, meaning 'the life,' where anach or ankh is the symbol of life. Hence the name can be translated as, 'Lord of life,' 'Neth speaks life,' or 'The God speaks and [this man] lives.'

Daas Zekeinim has a different opinion:

This name is an acronym, describing a person who is steadfast in the presence of strong urges. Potiphar had had no reason to believe that Joseph could not withstand such temptation. [Pharaoh wanted the world to know that Joseph had been completely innocent of any accusation. Ed.]

Shadal also explains:

It means "the savior of the world"

What is On?

The Torah writes (Genesis 41:45):
Pharaoh then gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him for a wife Asenath daughter of Poti-phera, priest of On. Thus Joseph emerged in charge of the land of Egypt.

Targum Onkelos implies this was a city (ibid):

Potiphera, the prince / master of On

So does the Rashbam:

A minister in the city of that name as know from Samuel II 7:18 - "and the sons of David were priests". The meaning of the word must be that they were high positions (but not actual priests)

(the city of On / Aven is also mentioned in Ezekiel 30:17)

Targum Jonathan (ibid) learns this was a different city:

Potiphera, the prince of Tanis

Rav Saadiag Gaon in his Tafsir (ibid) learns it was a different city:

Potiphera, the prince of Alexandria

Shadal explains:

On is Heliopolis, the city of the sun where they worship the sun and every year make a celebration of the sun, and some way the word "On" means the city of the sun in Egyptian

(see also Jeremiah 43:13 where the "city of the sun" in Egypt is mentioned and see also Isaiah 19:18)

Ramban (ibid) explains differently:

It is possible that "On" was the name of his deity [i.e. Potiphera's]

The Man Who Persecuted the Brothers

The Torah writes (Genesis 43:14):

And may El Shaddai dispose the man to mercy toward you, that he may release to you your other brother, as well as Benjamin. As for me, if I am to be bereaved, I shall be bereaved.”

The simple explanation of the verse is that the man referred to by Jacob is Joseph

However, Sefer leMakesi Atik cites a Midrash (see Otzar HaMidrashim Vol 1, pp. 224) that originally Joseph want to greet the brothers in happiness and reveal himself but a person came and accused them of trying to kill him. That was the angel that originally found Joseph in the field and that was the man referred to in this verse.