Home/Characters/Joseph

Joseph

malePatriarchal

Meaning: “May he (God) add / increase

The favored son of Jacob who was sold into slavery by his brothers, rose to become governor of Egypt, and saved his family from famine — a life that closes the book of Genesis.

J

Biography

Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob and the firstborn of his beloved Rachel, is one of Scripture's most vivid portraits of providence — a man wronged by his brothers, exalted by God, and used to preserve the very family that betrayed him. His story spans the closing chapters of Genesis (Genesis 37–50).

The favored son

Jacob loved Joseph more than his other children and gave him a coat of many colours, stirring his brothers' jealousy (Genesis 37:3–4). Two dreams — sheaves bowing, then the sun, moon, and stars bowing to him — deepened their resentment and even drew a rebuke from his father (Genesis 37:5–11).

Sold into Egypt

His brothers seized him, stripped off the coat, and sold him to passing traders for twenty pieces of silver, dipping the coat in blood to deceive Jacob (Genesis 37:23–33). In Egypt Joseph served Potiphar faithfully, refusing his master's wife with the words, "how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9). Falsely accused, he was thrown into prison — yet "the LORD was with Joseph" (Genesis 39:21).

Interpreter of dreams

In prison Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's butler and baker, and two years later was summoned to interpret Pharaoh's own dreams of seven fat and seven lean cattle (Genesis 41). Crediting God alone, he foretold seven years of plenty followed by seven of famine and counselled wise storage. Pharaoh set him over all Egypt, renamed him Zaphnath-paaneah, and gave him Asenath as wife (Genesis 41:41–45).

Reunion and forgiveness

When famine drove his brothers to Egypt for grain, Joseph recognized them, tested their hearts, and finally revealed himself with weeping: "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt" (Genesis 45:4). He summed up his whole life in a single sentence of faith: "ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good" (Genesis 50:20). Jacob's household settled in the land of Goshen.

Legacy

Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, were adopted by Jacob and became tribes of Israel. He died at the age of 110, asking that his bones be carried up to the land God had promised — a charge Israel kept at the Exodus (Genesis 50:25–26; Exodus 13:19). Hebrews honors that dying faith (Hebrews 11:22), and readers across the centuries have seen in Joseph — rejected by his own, yet exalted to save them — a foreshadowing of Christ.

Life Timeline

1898 BC

Sold by his brothers and taken to Egypt

Genesis 37:28
1889 BC

Falsely accused and imprisoned under Potiphar

Genesis 39:20
1885 BC

Interprets Pharaoh's dreams and is made governor of Egypt

Genesis 41:41
1876 BC

Reconciles with his brothers; Jacob settles in Goshen

Genesis 45:4
1805 BC

Dies in Egypt at age 110, asking for his bones to be carried home

Genesis 50:26

On the Bible timeline

Joseph belongs to the The Patriarchs era (c. 2100 – 1800 BC).

  1. c. 2091 BCThe Call of Abraham
  2. c. 1898 BCJoseph Sold into Egypt

Family Tree

Drag to pan · use + / − to zoom · tap the + on a relative to expand a generation · click anyone to open their page

Themes & lessons from Joseph

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Joseph appears.

Egypt56×Jacob28×Economics13×Money13×Prisoners12×Commerce10×Brother9×Civil Service9×Dreams7×Captive5×Prisons5×Servants5×Ishmaelites4×Parents4×Readings, Select4×Children3×Reuben3×Tribes of Israel, the3×

People they appear with

Jacob12×
Benjamin6×
Manasseh6×
Rachel5×
Ephraim5×
Asenath3×
Potipherah3×
Leah2×
Judah2×
Abraham2×
Isaac2×
Laban1×
Bilhah1×
Zilpah1×
Reuben1×
Potiphar1×
Simeon1×
Moses1×

Places in their story

Goshen4×
Shechem1×
Dothan1×
Rameses1×

Things in their story

Joseph’s Coat of Many Colours2×
Joseph’s Silver Cup1×

Scripture Appearances

142 verses in 2 books
Genesis138 verses

Genesis 30:24

And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son. Joseph: that is, Adding

Genesis 30:25

And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

Genesis 33:2

And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

Genesis 33:7

And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

Genesis 35:24

The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

Genesis 37:2

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Genesis 37:3

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. colours: or, pieces

Genesis 37:5

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Genesis 37:13

And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

Genesis 37:17

And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

Genesis 37:23

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; colours: or, pieces

Genesis 37:28

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Genesis 37:29

And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

Genesis 37:31

And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

Genesis 37:33

And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

Genesis 39:1

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

Genesis 39:2

And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Genesis 39:4

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

Genesis 39:5

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

Genesis 39:6

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

Genesis 39:7

And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

Genesis 39:10

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

Genesis 39:11

And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

Genesis 39:20

And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Genesis 39:21

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. shewed: Heb. extended kindness unto him

Genesis 39:22

And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

Genesis 40:3

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

Genesis 40:4

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

Genesis 40:6

And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

Genesis 40:8

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

Genesis 40:9

And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

Genesis 40:12

And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

Genesis 40:16

When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: white: or, full of holes

Genesis 40:18

And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

Genesis 40:22

But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

Genesis 40:23

Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Genesis 41:14

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. brought: Heb. made him run

Genesis 41:15

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. thou: or, when thou hearest a dream thou canst interpret it

Genesis 41:16

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Genesis 41:17

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

Genesis 41:25

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

Genesis 41:39

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

Genesis 41:41

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:42

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; fine: or, silk

Genesis 41:44

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:45

And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. Zaphnathpaaneah: which in the Coptic signifies, A revealer of secrets, or, The man to whom secrets are revealed priest: or, prince

Genesis 41:46

And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:49

And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

Genesis 41:50

And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. priest: or, prince

Genesis 41:51

And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. Manasseh: that is, Forgetting

Genesis 41:54

And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

Genesis 41:55

And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

Genesis 41:56

And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. all the storehouses: Heb. all wherein was

Genesis 41:57

And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

Genesis 42:3

And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

Genesis 42:4

But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

Genesis 42:6

And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

Genesis 42:7

And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. roughly: Heb. hard things with them

Genesis 42:8

And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

Genesis 42:9

And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

Genesis 42:14

And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:

Genesis 42:18

And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:

Genesis 42:23

And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. he spake: Heb. an interpreter was between them

Genesis 42:25

Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.

Genesis 42:36

And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.

Genesis 43:15

And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

Genesis 43:16

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. slay: Heb. kill a killing dine: Heb. eat

Genesis 43:17

And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

Genesis 43:18

And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. seek: Heb. roll himself upon us

Genesis 43:19

And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

Genesis 43:24

And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

Genesis 43:25

And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

Genesis 43:26

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

Genesis 43:30

And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

Genesis 44:2

And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

Genesis 44:4

And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

Genesis 44:14

And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

Genesis 44:15

And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? divine: or, make trial?

Genesis 45:1

Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

Genesis 45:3

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. troubled: or, terrified

Genesis 45:4

And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

Genesis 45:9

Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

Genesis 45:16

And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. pleased: Heb. was good in the eyes of Pharaoh

Genesis 45:17

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;

Genesis 45:21

And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. commandment: Heb. mouth

Genesis 45:26

And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. Jacob's: Heb. his

Genesis 45:27

And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:

Genesis 45:28

And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

Genesis 46:4

I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

Genesis 46:19

The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin.

Genesis 46:20

And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. priest: or, prince

Genesis 46:27

And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.

Genesis 46:28

And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

Genesis 46:29

And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

Genesis 46:30

And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.

Genesis 46:31

And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;

Genesis 47:1

Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.

Genesis 47:5

And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:

Genesis 47:7

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

Genesis 47:11

And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

Genesis 47:12

And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families. according: or, as a little child is nourished: Heb. according to the little ones

Genesis 47:14

And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

Genesis 47:15

And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.

Genesis 47:16

And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

Genesis 47:17

And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. fed: Heb. led them

Genesis 47:20

And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's.

Genesis 47:23

Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.

Genesis 47:26

And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's. priests: or, princes

Genesis 47:29

And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

Genesis 48:1

And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Genesis 48:2

And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

Genesis 48:3

And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

Genesis 48:8

And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?

Genesis 48:9

And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

Genesis 48:11

And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.

Genesis 48:12

And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

Genesis 48:13

And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.

Genesis 48:15

And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

Genesis 48:17

And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. displeased: was evil in his eyes

Genesis 48:18

And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

Genesis 48:21

And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

Genesis 49:22

Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: branches: Heb. daughters

Genesis 49:26

The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

Genesis 50:1

And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

Genesis 50:2

And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

Genesis 50:4

And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,

Genesis 50:7

And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,

Genesis 50:8

And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.

Genesis 50:14

And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

Genesis 50:15

And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

Genesis 50:16

And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, sent: Heb. charged

Genesis 50:17

So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

Genesis 50:19

And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

Genesis 50:22

And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.

Genesis 50:23

And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees. brought: Heb. born

Genesis 50:24

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Genesis 50:25

And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

Genesis 50:26

So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Exodus4 verses

Exodus 1:5

And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. loins: Heb. thigh

Exodus 1:6

And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

Exodus 1:8

Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

Exodus 13:19

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

Frequently asked about Joseph

Who was Joseph in the Bible?

The favored son of Jacob who was sold into slavery by his brothers, rose to become governor of Egypt, and saved his family from famine — a life that closes the book of Genesis.

What does the name Joseph mean?

The name Joseph means “May he (God) add / increase”.

What did Joseph do in the Bible?

Joseph served as governor of egypt, patriarch.

Who were Joseph's children?

Joseph's children include Manasseh, Ephraim.

Who were Joseph's parents?

Joseph was the child of Jacob, Rachel.

Where does Joseph appear in the Bible?

Joseph is mentioned 142 times across 2 books: Genesis, Exodus.

What can we learn from Joseph?

The story of Joseph touches on themes of egypt, jacob, economics, money — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Joseph's life.

Sermon Mate

Teaching on Joseph?

Organize your sermon notes, link Scripture passages, and build your outline in Sermon Mate — the workspace for ministry leaders.

Open Sermon Mate →