Genesis 41:52Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Behold, the name of this son conveys a profound sense of thankfulness. He affirms that not only have I put aside my past anguish, but I have thrived in this land where I faced such disgrace, coming to the brink of despair and risking my life.

Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, born to Aseneth, the daughter of the priest Petephrius. Manasseh signifies ‘the forgetting of past troubles,’ while Ephraim conveys the idea of ‘growth and abundance.’ It is as if from the holy mother, which symbolizes the Church, these fruits emerged, and those called from the Gentiles were included among the children of God through their faith in Christ, finding relief from their labor and suffering. It is declared that ‘the former sorrows shall be forgotten, .... and shall not come upon the heart.’ They will wear praise as a crown, and joy and gladness will surround them (Isaiah 65:16-17). Affliction, grief, and weeping will be taken away.

Regarding the upcoming inquiry about the sons of Joseph, it is important to note that prior to the famine when Jacob came to Egypt, Joseph had two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. The name Manasseh signifies that Joseph had forgotten his hardships, as the Hebrew term for 'forgetting' resembles 'Manasseh.' Meanwhile, Ephraim is named because God granted Joseph a measure of prosperity, with the name meaning 'increase' in our context.

Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh, signifying his belief that God had allowed him to forget his afflictions. His second son was named Ephraim, reflecting the idea that God had blessed him in the land where he had known adversity. These names encapsulate profound reflections that resonate with their meanings in Hebrew.