“Pharaoh called Joseph's name Tzafenat Paane’aḥ and he gave him Asenat, daughter of Potifera, priest of On, as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:45). “Pharaoh called Joseph's name Tzafenat Paane’aḥ” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: He reveals hidden matters [tzefunot] and it is easy [noḥot] for him to state them. Rabbi Ḥizkiya said: With knowledge, he reveals hidden matters [tzefunot], and assuages [meniaḥ] the spirit of people with them.
The Rabbis say: Tzadi – seer [tzofeh]; peh – redeemer [podeh]; nun – prophet [navi]; tav – supporter [tomekh]; Peh – interpreter [poter]; ayin – clever [arum]; nun – understanding [navon]; ḥet – prognosticator [ḥozeh].5These are the Hebrew letters that spell Tzafenat Paane’aḥ. “Joseph was thirty years old as he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Joseph came out from before Pharaoh, and he passed through the entire land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:46).
Rabbi Aḥa said: You came to reveal that you are the son of the hidden one.6Rachel was hidden when Jacob and his family confronted Esau, as the midrash will go on to explain. Regarding them all, it is written: “The maidservants approached” (Genesis 33:6); “Leah, too, approached…” (Genesis 33:7). But regarding Joseph it is written: “Then Joseph and Rachel approached” (Genesis 33:7). Joseph said: ‘This wicked one has a covetous eye…’7Joseph did not want Esau to direct his eyes at Rachel, and therefore he stood tall and obscured her (see Bereshit Rabba 78:10).
The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘You obscured your mother from sight and stood tall. I will repay you and elevate you’ – “Joseph was thirty years old [as he stood before Pharaoh]” (Genesis 41:46).