וְאֵ֛ת שֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖י קָרָ֣א אֶפְרָ֑יִם כִּֽי־הִפְרַ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּאֶ֥רֶץ עׇנְיִֽי׃
And the name of the second called he Ephraim: “For God hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
Exact Source: Daas Zekeinim on Bereishis 41:52
קָרָא אֶפְרַיִם עַל שֵׁם אָבוֹת אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם אֵפֶר. אַבְרָהָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְאָנֹכִי עָפָר וָאֵפֶר; יִצְחָק כְּאֵפֶר עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. דְּאֶפְרַיִם מַשְׁמַע שְׁתֵּי אֲפָרוֹת.
English of Source Text: Daas Zekeinim explains Ephraim as recalling Avraham and Yitzchok through the word “ashes”: Avraham said, “I am dust and ashes,” while Yitzchok was considered like ashes upon the altar. The name Ephraim thus alludes to “two ashes.”
On the passuk: The commentary explains the name Ephraim itself rather than offering Torah Temimah commentary.
Type of Learning: Derash on the verse (classic midrash) — not a formal named middah of the 13.
What Is Learned: The name Ephraim is linked by Daas Zekeinim to the patriarchal imagery of dust and ashes.