Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 41:45

45 And Pharaoh called Josephs name Zaphnath-Paaneah , and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah , Priest of On ▪ and Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

(i. e.) The revealer of secrets, as the Hebrews generally understand it, and with them most others.

Not that Potiphar, Gen. 39. 1. both because he had another Title and dwelt in another place, and because it is not probable Ioseph would have married the daughter of so unchast a mother, but another and a greater person. It is the observation of a late ingenious and learned writer, that among the Egyptians there were three words or endings of words near akin, but differing in signification, and in the degree of dignity and authority to which those names were annexed, Phar, which belonged to inferiour officers, and Pherah, which was given to those of greater dignity and power, and Pharaoh, which was appropriated to the King.

Or Prince as the word signifies, Exod. 18. 1. 2 Sam. 8. 18. and 20. 26. and elsewhere. This sense is the more probable both from Iosephs high quality, and from his holy disposition, whereby he hated Idolatry, and would never have married the daughter of an idolatrous Priest.

A famous City of Egypt called also Aven, Ezek. 30. 17. and afterwards, as some think, Heliopolis, now Damiata. See Ier. 43. 13.

Upon his employment and to execute the Kings command, and his own counsel.

Marginal references: Or, Prince.