Zaphnathpaaneah

Zaph’nath-pa-ane’ah. A name given, by Pharaoh, to Joseph. Gen 41:45. The rabbins interpreted Zaphnath-paaneah as Hebrew in the sense revealer of a secret. As the name must have been Egyptian, it has been explained from the Coptic as meaning the preserver of the age.

[Zaph’nath-paa’neah]

Name given to Joseph by Pharaoh. Gen 41:45. The learned Jews translate it as a Hebrew name, ’Revealer of secrets,’ as in the margin of the A.V.; but as an Egyptian name, which it is, it has been interpreted ’Prince of the life of the world.’ In the LXX the name stands Ψονθομφανήχ an equivalent to the Coptic Psotempheneh, which has been thus explained: p represents the article; sote is ’saviour,’ m is sign of the genitive case; ph the article; and eneh is ’world.’ ’The saviour of the world.’ The two latter meanings suit Joseph well, as being a type of Christ.