Overview
The Bible addresses joseph across 25 verses, drawn from the New Testament. These passages cluster most in Luke, Mark and John. Closely related themes include Pilate, Pontius, Burial, Love to Christ and Prophecies Respecting Christ. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Pontius Pilate, Joseph of Arimathea and Mary Magdalene.
Key Bible verses about joseph
New Testament
Matthew
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Mark
And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
Luke
And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
John
And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
Acts
Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
People in the Bible and joseph
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying joseph for yourself
- Begin with Matthew 27:57, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Luke, Mark and John each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Jesus, Pontius Pilate and Joseph of Arimathea and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Pilate, Pontius, Burial, Love to Christ and Prophecies Respecting Christ.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about joseph?
The Bible addresses joseph across 25 verses, drawn from the New Testament. These passages cluster most in Luke, Mark and John. Closely related themes include Pilate, Pontius, Burial, Love to Christ and Prophecies Respecting Christ. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Pontius Pilate, Joseph of Arimathea and Mary Magdalene.
How many Bible verses are about joseph?
The Bible references joseph in 25 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention joseph?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Matthew 27:57: “When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:”
Which people in the Bible are associated with joseph?
Jesus, Pontius Pilate, Joseph of Arimathea, Mary Magdalene and Nicodemus.
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