Discovery BoxGenesis 41:49-51 
Context41:49 Joseph stored up a vast amount of grain, like the sand of the sea, 1 until he stopped measuring it because it was impossible to measure.
41:50 Two sons were born to Joseph before the famine came. 2 Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, was their mother. 3 41:51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, 4 saying, 5 “Certainly 6 God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s house.”
1 tn Heb “and Joseph gathered grain like the sand of the sea, multiplying much.” To emphasize the vast amount of grain he stored up, the Hebrew text modifies the verb “gathered” with an infinitive absolute and an adverb.
2 tn Heb “before the year of the famine came.”
3 tn Heb “gave birth for him.”
4 sn The name Manasseh (מְנַשֶּׁה, mÿnasheh) describes God’s activity on behalf of Joseph, explaining in general the significance of his change of fortune. The name is a Piel participle, suggesting the meaning “he who brings about forgetfulness.” The Hebrew verb נַשַּׁנִי (nashani) may have been used instead of the normal נִשַּׁנִי (nishani) to provide a closer sound play with the name. The giving of this Hebrew name to his son shows that Joseph retained his heritage and faith; and it shows that a brighter future was in store for him.
5 tn The word “saying” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
6 tn Or “for.”
