TT #24 · Parashas Mikeitz · Passuk 43:28
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ שָׁל֛וֹם לְעַבְדְּךָ֥ לְאָבִ֖ינוּ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חָ֑י וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ (וישתחו) [וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ]׃
They replied, “It is well with your servant our father; he is still in good health.” And they bowed and made obeisance.
Torah Temimah points to Sotah 13b.
מפני מה מת יוסף קודם לאחיו? מפני שהנהיג עצמו ברבנות. מפני מה נקרא יוסף עצמות בחייו? מפני שלא מיחה בכבוד אביו, דקאמרי ליה עבדך אבינו, ולא אמר להו ולא מידי.
English: The Gemara explains why Yosef was called “bones” even during his lifetime: he did not protest when his brothers referred to Yaakov as “your servant, our father.”
On the daf / in context: Sotah discusses Yosef’s conduct toward his father’s honor and his failure to object when the brothers addressed Yaakov as Yosef’s servant-father.
Type of Learning: Derash on the verse (narrative / midrashic) — not a formal named middah of the 13.
What Is Learned: A person in a position of power remains responsible for protecting the honor of his parent; the Gemara associates Yosef’s silence with the fact that he was called “bones” even while alive.