EXTRA · Parashas Mikeitz · Passuk 41:42

EXTRA on Mikeitz 41:42

Complete Passuk

וַיָּ֨סַר פַּרְעֹ֤ה אֶת־טַבַּעְתּוֹ֙ מֵעַ֣ל יָד֔וֹ וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֖הּ עַל־יַ֣ד יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיַּלְבֵּ֨שׁ אֹת֜וֹ בִּגְדֵי־שֵׁ֗שׁ וַיָּ֛שֶׂם רְבִ֥ד הַזָּהָ֖ב עַל־צַוָּארֽוֹ׃

And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Yosef’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Bereishis Rabbah 90:3, R. Shimon ben Gamliel: the signs given to Yosef are connected to the parts of him that had resisted sin.

Sefaria · Bereishis Rabbah 90:3

Chazal

וַיָּסַר פַּרְעֹה אֶת הַטַּבַּעַת... אֲמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל: יוֹסֵף מִשֶּׁלּוֹ נָתְנוּ לוֹ — פִּיו שֶׁלֹּא נָשַׁק בַּעֲבֵרָה, גּוּפוֹ שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע בַּעֲבֵרָה, וְצַוָּארוֹ שֶׁלֹּא הִרְכִּין לַעֲבֵרָה; וְיָדָיו שֶׁלֹּא מִשְׁמְשׁוּ בַּעֲבֵרָה קִבְּלוּ אֶת הַטַּבַּעַת.

On the daf / in context: The Midrash continues the bodily correspondence: his mouth, body, neck, hands, feet, and thought are each linked to a way he refrained from sin; his elevation publicly rewards that restraint.

Type of Learning: Derash on the verse (classic midrash) — not a formal named middah of the 13.

What Is Learned: Bereishis Rabbah connects Yosef’s public elevation with his private moral restraint: the honors are presented as a reward for the parts of him that did not participate in sin.