Zaphenath-paneah: this name, according to many scholars, means “The god spoke and he [the one who bears this name] lives.” Most translators will prefer to transliterate this name. It does not occur elsewhere in the Bible.

Asenath means “the one belonging to [the goddess] Neith.”

Potiphera priest of On: Potiphera is a form of the same name as Joseph’s owner in chapter 39. See there for the meaning. On refers to the temple at Heliopolis (today a residential area of northern Cairo), which was a center for sun worship. By receiving Asenath as a wife, Joseph becomes a member of the Egyptian nobility. Note that the narrator shows no disapproval of Joseph’s involvement in a foreign religion.

So Joseph went out over the land: this sentence is omitted in the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch. Westermann dismisses it as a scribal error. Revised Standard Version appears to render it as it is given in the Hebrew, but interpreters do not agree on the meaning of the verb went out. There are three possibilities that all fit quite well in the context:

(1) Good News Translation considers this expression and the similar one in verse 46 to mean the same thing, to “travel through the land.” Therefore Good News Translation combines verses 45 and 46 and translates the expression only once. New Jerusalem Bible “journey all over” and New International Version “went throughout” follow this same interpretation.
(2) Speiser argues that the literal meaning of the verb is “rose over” and means that Joseph’s name became known, that knowledge of him spread about the country. He translates it “Joseph became known throughout the land of Egypt.” The verb is used in this sense in Est 1.17, where Revised Standard Version translates “this deed of the queen will be made known to all….”
(3) The expression over the land, which follows the verb, is used three other times in this part of the story, in verses 33, 41, and 43; and each time it refers to Joseph being in authority over the whole country of Egypt. So the most likely interpretation here in this concluding verse is that the verb means Joseph “rose to” or “came to” power or authority over the land. This interpretation is followed by Revised English Bible “Joseph’s authority extended over…,” and New Jerusalem Bible “Thus Joseph emerged in charge of….” Significantly New Revised Standard Version revises Revised Standard Version at this point and says “Thus Joseph gained authority over the land.” The Handbook recommends this interpretation to translators.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .