Genesis 41:51Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is recorded that he had two sons before the onset of the famine, and he named the first one Manasseh, stating that God had enabled him to forget all his distress and his father's household. Observe the devotion of this man, as he reflects on his son’s name to commemorate his journey, ensuring that his gratitude to God is lasting, and allowing the son to understand through his own name the trials and perseverance that led the righteous man to such glory. The declaration, "Because God has granted me to forget all my troubles and all my father's house," suggests the weight of his afflictions.

Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, born to Aseneth, the daughter of Petephrius, a priest. The name Manasseh signifies ‘forgetting the troubles that have occurred,’ while Ephraim stands for ‘fruitfulness and abundance.’ This can be seen as illustrating how from the sacred mother, symbolizing the Church, the fruits emerged, and those called from among the Gentiles were numbered among the children of God through faith in Christ. They were led to forget their labors and tribulations. It is written, ‘the former sorrows shall be forgotten, .... and shall not come upon the heart.’ They shall have praise upon their heads, and joy and gladness shall surround them (Isaiah 65:16-17). Sickness, sorrow, and sighing will be taken away.

In relation to the upcoming inquiry regarding the sons of Joseph, it is important to highlight that prior to the famine, when Jacob arrived in Egypt, Joseph had two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. The name Manasseh signifies that Joseph overcame his hardships, as the Hebrew term for ‘forgetting’ resembles ‘Manasseh.’ Ephraim, on the other hand, is named to reflect how God multiplied Joseph’s blessings, with its meaning in our language being ‘increase.’

Joseph called his firstborn son Manasseh, signifying a deep realization: God has orchestrated my circumstances so that I have forgotten my distress. He named his second son Ephraim, reflecting another profound and spiritual insight: God has exalted me in the land of my humiliation. These names are rich with meaning as understood in the Hebrew language.