Yosef's Relationship to Pharaoh

Parshat Vayigash

by Rabbi Avi Billet

After revealing himself to his brothers, Yosef tells them to go home and to tell their father that he has become an אב to Pharaoh, and an אדון to all of Pharaoh’s household, and a משל in all of the land of Egypt. Then he says to tell their father “God has placed me as an אדון for all of Egypt.” 

The words presented above in Hebrew require explanation. Most of us would likely translate the word אב, for example, as a father, or a father figure. This would only make sense, however, if Pharaoh were a child-king (which isn’t impossible), or if he were insecure enough (or perhaps secure enough!) to see Yosef in that way. 

Rashi (quoting Bereshis Raba) says that אב means לחבר ולפטרון, simply translated as a colleague and a patron. 

Sifsei Chachamim explains that if the Midrash had simply said patron, it would imply that Yosef was above Pharaoh and could make decrees over him. Therefore he is described as a colleague as well, indicating that he has a similar power to be able to decree. Had he only been called a חבר (and not also a patron) the implication would be that he’d have to run any idea past Pharaoh before making it a rule or law. Having both titles indicates that he is a colleague, who also has similar power to Pharaoh and doesn’t need to ask permission. 

Onkelos translates אב as אבא (which might mean ‘father,’ but might also mean something more along the lines of what will be presented below) and he translates אדון to be רבון (typically translated as ‘master’), and משל as שליט (‘ruler’).  Targum Yonatan doesn’t seem to be as creative as he translates both אב and אדון as רב (‘master’), while his translation for משל follows that of Onkelos. 

Ibn Ezra and R Samson Raphael Hirsch look at the root of אב and go in a very different direction than everything presented until now. 

 Quoting the verse Bereshis 4:21 in which Yuval, son of Lemech (of Kayin’s family) is described as the first master of musical instruments, אֲבִי כָּל־תֹּפֵשׂ, Ibn Ezra says that Yosef is a teacher or a guide to Pharaoh. 

Rav Hirsch says that the word אב comes from אבה, and means ‘the power of veto.’ Yosef has the power to veto any idea Pharaoh brings forward; without his consent, no one can do anything. This is also known as being an important advisor. In the Torah, the word אבה is used to describe mostly kings (except the last one) who are unhappy about how things are looking, and disagree to a particular action that is being proposed. (See Shmos 10:27, Devarim 2:30, 10:10, 23:6, 25:7) 

Seforno takes each of the three terms noted above and defines each one specifically, without bringing a comparison to a different verse or use of the word. אב – advisor to the king (less powerful than how Rashi presents him). אדון – in charge of the house (perhaps similar to his role in Potiphar’s house) משל – to rule over matters of State.

An important takeaway is if we seem familiar with Hebrew words, sometimes Hebrew words that are homophones (sound the same but have different meanings) or homographs (spelled the same but have different meanings) can throw us for a loop. The best way to get around these is to look up Biblical words in a concordance, to see if there’s a similar word we aren’t thinking of whose meaning could fit much better into the context of what we are looking at. 

It is hard to imagine that Pharaoh would take Yosef’s advice, promote him to such a great position, and then make Yosef into a father figure over him. He had even said "Only my throne will be higher than you." But to make them equals, partners, colleagues who consult with one another… that makes a lot more sense. 

 Many people may be able to relate to such a notion of finding someone who can serve as a sounding board, a person to bounce ideas on, someone to talk to, to share hangups, insecurities, the vicissitudes of life, etc. 

From the way Pharaoh relates to Yosef’s family as they come down to Egypt, it seems clear that Pharaoh and Yosef did have a special professional and personal relationship. 

All of that served Bnei Yisrael well for as long as Yosef was alive, and likely as long as all of his siblings were alive as well.