EXTRA · Parashas Mikeitz · Passuk 41:45

EXTRA on Mikeitz 41:45

Complete Passuk

וַיִּקְרָ֨א פַרְעֹ֣ה שֵׁם־יוֹסֵף֮ צָֽפְנַ֣ת פַּעְנֵ֒חַ֒ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֣וֹ אֶת־אָֽסְנַ֗ת בַּת־פּ֥וֹטִי פֶ֛רַע כֹּהֵ֥ן אֹ֖ן לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיֵּצֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֖ף עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

And Pharaoh called Yosef’s name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On. And Yosef went out over the land of Egypt.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical midrashic tradition on the name and the marriage (Bereshit Rabbah and parallel sources).

Sefaria · Bereshit Rabbah 90 (context)

Core Text of Chazal

צָפְנַת פַּעְנֵחַ – מְפָרֵשׁ הַצְּפוּנוֹת. אָסְנַת בַּת פּוֹטִי פֶרַע – יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁהָיְתָה מִזֶּרַע יוֹסֵף עַצְמוֹ בְּדֶרֶךְ נֵס.

English of Core Text: “Zaphenath-paneah” — interpreter of the hidden things. Asenath daughter of Poti-phera — some say she was of the seed of Yosef himself by miraculous means (or, in other classical readings, that she converted and became a fitting match).

On the daf / in context: The midrashic literature explores both the Egyptian name given to Yosef (revealer of secrets) and the identity of Asenath, ensuring that the matriarch of Ephraim and Menasheh is presented in a manner consistent with the later status of the tribes.

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

What Is Learned: The name Pharaoh gave Yosef acknowledges his unique ability to reveal what is hidden, and the tradition surrounding Asenath safeguards the legitimacy of the two tribes that descend from her.