Genesis 41:43

43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt.

Genesis 41:43 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:43

And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had,
&c.] By which it appeared that he was next to Pharaoh, but not above him; as kings were wont to have more chariots than one, those were distinguished by first, second being of greater state the one than the other, see ( 2 Chronicles 35:24 ) : and they cried before him, bow the knee;
that is, his guard that attended him, when he rode out in his chariot, called to the people, as they passed along, to bow the knee to Joseph, as a token of veneration and respect; or they proclaimed him "Abrech", which Onkelos paraphrases, this is the father of the king; and so Jarchi, who observes, that "Rech" signifies a king in the Syriac language; and this agrees with what Joseph himself says, that God had made him a father to Pharaoh, ( Genesis 45:8 ) . Others render it a tender father; and the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem take in both senses,

``this is the father of the king, (or let the father of the king live, so the Jerusalem,) who is great in wisdom, and tender in years:''

though rather he may be so called, because he acted the part of a tender father to the country, in providing corn for them against a time of scarcity: and he made him [ruler] over all the land of Egypt;
appointed him to be governor of the whole land, and invested him with that office, and made him appear to be so, by the grandeur he raised him to.

Genesis 41:43 In-Context

41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”

42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck.

43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt.

44 And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”

45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt.