Joseph

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew Yôsēp (“he adds/increases”), reflecting the hope of added offspring (Gen. 30:24)
• Period/Era: Patriarchal Period
• Main References: Genesis 37–50
• Key Connections: Son of Jacob and Rachel; brother of Judah and Benjamin; father of Manasseh and Ephraim

Who was Joseph?

Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob and the firstborn of Rachel, within the covenant family of Israel.
He was sold by his brothers and taken to Egypt, where he served in Potiphar’s household and later was imprisoned.
Through Pharaoh’s appointment, he became a chief administrator in Egypt.
His actions helped sustain Jacob’s household during a severe famine.

Key Events & Achievements

• Sold into Egypt: Betrayed by his brothers and transferred to Egypt through slave trade (Gen. 37).
• Rise to authority: Interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and was placed over Egypt’s administration during years of abundance and famine (Gen. 41).
• Family relocation: Arranged provisions and settlement for his family in Goshen during the famine (Gen. 46–47).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Joseph’s life shows how Israel’s family came to reside in Egypt, setting a historical stage for later national developments in the biblical narrative.

Key Verse

"And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”" — Genesis 41:40, ESV