Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 41:45
45. Zaphnath-paaneah—variously interpreted, "revealer of secrets"; "saviour of the land"; and from the hieroglyphics, "a wise man fleeing from pollution"—that is, adultery. gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of—His naturalization was completed by this alliance with a family of high distinction. On being founded by an Arab colony, Poti-pherah, like Jethro, priest of Midian, might be a worshipper of the true God; and thus Joseph, a pious man, will be freed from the charge of marrying an... read more
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 41:45
Genesis 41:45. Zaphnath-paaneah— The most probable interpretation of these words, is the revealer of secrets: the Chaldee targum has it, the man to whom secrets are revealed. And of the Greek versions cited in the Hexapla, one renders the words, a man that knoweth secrets; another, one to whom futurity is revealed; and a third, one to whom God hath revealed hidden things. St. Jerome asserts, that it signifies no less than the Saviour of the world; salvatorem mundi, as the Vulgate has it.... read more