F.E. Marsh :: 239. Joseph's Name

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WHAT Joseph was called. Joseph’s name was changed by Pharaoh to Zepthnath-paaneah. There are quite a number of meanings given to this name. In the Vulgate it is Salvator Mundi, which is The Salvation or The Saviour of the World. Gesenius gives it as The Prince of the Life of the World. Brugsch, The Food of Life or The Food of the Living. Others view the term as really an Egyptian word in Hebrew letters, and make it The Governor of the abode of Him who lives. According to the margin of our Bible, it signifies A Revealer of Secrets, or The man to whom secrets are revealed. The different meanings may well be summed up, “The discoverer of hidden things,” or in the Egyptian tongue, “The Saviour of the World.” Let us take up the different meanings given above as illustrating what Christ is.

1. The Saviour of the World. That Christ is the Saviour that God has appointed for the world, is stated again and again (John 3:16; 4:42).
2. The Prince of the Life of the World. “The Prince of Life” is one of Christ’s titles. As such He was killed by His enemies (Acts 3:15), and is now in resurrection power quickening those who are dead in trespasses and sins.
3. The Food of Life. “The Bread of Life” is another of Christ’s titles (John 6:35). Satisfaction is found in Christ as well as salvation.
4. The Food of the Living. Those who are alive from the death of sin find there is food provided for them. “Give her something to eat,” were the words of Christ after He had given the young maiden life; and the Lord having given us life, provides nourishment for that life in Him who is “The Word of Life” through His written Word.
5. The Governor of the Abode of Him who Lives. As Pharaoh appointed Joseph to be governor over all His domain, so the Father has committed all power into the hands of Christ, as He Himself says “All power (authority) is given Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand” (John 3:35).
6. The Revealer of Secrets. The Lord Jesus revealed to His disciples many things which had never been known before (Matt. 13:11, 17). He still reveals His secrets through His Spirit and Word to those who are spiritually minded (1 Cor. 2:10), even as He made known His ways unto Moses (Psalm 103:7).
7. The Man to whom secrets are revealed. It was because the Father had given the words to Christ that He was able to speak them out to others (John 14:24).

There is a sense, in a limited degree, in which what we have said of Christ applies to the believer.