In brief
Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob, the first son of Rachel, around 1700 BC by the usual reckoning. Favored by his father, he is sold by his brothers and becomes a slave in Egypt. Faithful to God and unjustly imprisoned, he interprets Pharaoh's dreams and becomes governor of the country. He forgives his brothers and saves his family from famine.
What does the name Joseph, son of Jacob mean?
Joseph is generally linked to a Hebrew verb meaning to add. The Bible explains it in Genesis 30:22-24: Rachel says that the Lord is adding another son to her.
The story of Joseph, son of Jacob
Sold by His Brothers
Genesis 37:3-28Jacob loves Joseph more than all his sons and makes him a robe. Joseph tells his dreams of ruling over them, and his brothers hate him. One day they throw him into a pit, then sell him to Ishmaelite traders who take him to Egypt for twenty pieces of silver.
Faithful in Potiphar's House
Genesis 39:1-23Joseph serves in Potiphar's house, and the Lord is with him. When his master's wife pressures him, he refuses and flees: how could I do such a great wrong and sin against God? Falsely accused, he is thrown into prison, where the Lord is still with him and gives him favor.
Raised Up Before Pharaoh
Genesis 41:14-45Pharaoh has two dreams that no one can explain. Joseph, brought out of prison, answers that God alone gives the answer: seven years of plenty, then seven of famine. He advises storing up reserves. Pharaoh puts him over all Egypt, because the Spirit of God is in him.
Forgiving His Brothers
Genesis 45:1-15Famine drives Joseph's brothers to Egypt. Joseph can no longer control himself and reveals who he is. He tells them not to be distressed, because God sent him ahead of them to preserve life. He embraces Benjamin, weeps, then provides for all of Jacob's family.
What Joseph, son of Jacob teaches us
- God is with his own even in the pit, in slavery and in prison.
- Staying faithful to God under temptation is better than giving in, even when it costs.
- God can turn for good what others intended for evil.
- Forgiveness sets free: Joseph chooses to bless his brothers rather than take revenge.
Key verses
Faced with temptation, Joseph refuses with God in mind: how could I do such a great wrong and sin against God?
Joseph tells his brothers not to be grieved, because it was to preserve life that God sent him ahead of them into Egypt.
Joseph reminds his brothers that they meant evil against him, but that God turned it to good, in order to save many people.
Sermons about Joseph, son of Jacob
- Joseph the Favorite: What Jacob's Family Teaches About God and FavoritismA sermon on Jacob's preference for Joseph and what it sets off among the brothers.
- Joseph, Prison, and Pharaoh: Climbing Out of Rock BottomA sermon on Joseph's prison and his appearance before Pharaoh, on climbing out of the pit.
- Bought at a Price: How to Live Before GodA sermon that draws in part on Joseph's faithfulness to live before God.
Frequently asked questions
Why did God choose Joseph?
The Bible does not say God chose him for his qualities. It stresses that the Lord was with him, in Genesis 39:2 and 39:21. Joseph himself acknowledges that God sent him to Egypt to save lives, in Genesis 45:5-7.
What does the name Joseph mean?
Joseph is generally linked to a Hebrew verb meaning to add. In Genesis 30:24, Rachel, at his birth, says she asks the Lord to add another son to her. The name therefore expresses a prayer.
Where can I find the story of Joseph in the Bible?
It takes up nearly the whole end of Genesis, from chapter 37 to 50, except chapter 38, which is about Judah. Hebrews 11:22 and Acts 7 also allude to it in the New Testament.