Joseph (Genesis 30:22–24; Genesis 37–50; Exodus 1:8; Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32; Psalm 105:16–22; Acts 7:9–16; Hebrews 11:22)

Son of Jacob & Ruler over Egypt

Jacob's favored son, sold into Egypt by his brothers, who rose from slavery and prison to rule the land under Pharaoh — and so preserved his family through a great famine.

The first son of Rachel, Joseph was loved by his father above all his brothers and dreamed that his family would bow before him. His envious brothers sold him to traders bound for Egypt, where he served in the house of Potiphar and then, falsely accused, lay in Pharaoh's prison.

In Potiphar's house and in prison the narrative repeats that the LORD was with Joseph. Called to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, he was set over all Egypt, stored grain against seven years of famine, and at last stood before the brothers who had sold him. Forgiving them, he read the whole story as God's work: “ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:20).

Strengths

• Integrity
• Purity
• Faithfulness
• Wisdom
• Diligence
• Forgiveness

Weaknesses

• Youthful tactlessness
• Severity in testing his brothers

Themes

• Providence
• Forgiveness
• Integrity
• Suffering before Exaltation
• Reconciliation
• Preservation of Life

The Favored Son & His Dreams (Genesis 37:1–11)

Jacob gives seventeen-year-old Joseph a coat of many colors; his dreams of sheaves and stars deepen his brothers' hatred.

Sold into Egypt (Genesis 37:12–36)

At Dothan his brothers cast him into a pit and sell him for twenty pieces of silver; shown the bloodied coat, Jacob concludes a beast has devoured him.

Sold into Egypt

Sent by his father to check on his brothers, Joseph finds them at Dothan. They plot to kill him; Reuben persuades them to cast him into a pit instead, meaning to rescue him, and Judah proposes selling him rather than shedding his blood. He is sold to a passing caravan — the text names both Ishmaelites and Midianites — for twenty pieces of silver.

The brothers dip his coat in a goat's blood and bring it to Jacob, who concludes: “an evil beast hath devoured him” (Genesis 37:33). Jacob refuses all comfort.

In Potiphar's House (Genesis 39)

Bought by Potiphar, captain of the guard, Joseph is set over all his house; he refuses Potiphar's wife and is imprisoned on her false charge.

In Potiphar's House

“Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man” (Genesis 39:2). Potiphar sees it and entrusts everything he has to Joseph's hand.

When Potiphar's wife presses him day after day, Joseph refuses, naming the wrong both against his master and against God:

“how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)

She seizes his garment as he flees and uses it to accuse him, and Potiphar puts him in the king's prison. Even there the LORD shows him kindness, and the keeper of the prison commits all the prisoners to him.

Interpreter in Prison (Genesis 40; Genesis 41:1)

He interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker; the butler is restored but forgets Joseph for two full years.

Before Pharaoh (Genesis 41:1–46)

Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams of seven years of plenty and seven of famine, and at thirty is set over all the land of Egypt.

Before Pharaoh

Summoned from the dungeon, Joseph refuses the credit before he hears the dreams: “It is not in me: God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Genesis 41:16).

Seven fat cows and seven good ears of grain are seven years of plenty; the seven lean cows and blasted ears are seven years of famine to follow. Joseph counsels Pharaoh to store a fifth of the land's produce in the good years.

Pharaoh gives him his signet ring, fine linen, a gold chain and the second chariot, names him Zaphenath-paneah, and gives him Asenath, daughter of Poti-phera priest of On, as his wife. “Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Genesis 41:46).

Plenty & Famine (Genesis 41:47–57)

He stores grain beyond measure in the good years; Manasseh and Ephraim are born; when the famine comes, all lands come to Egypt to buy grain.

The Brothers in Egypt (Genesis 42–44)

His brothers come to buy grain and bow before him unrecognized; Joseph tests them — holding Simeon, requiring Benjamin, and hiding his cup in Benjamin's sack.

The Brothers in Egypt

Joseph knows his brothers, though they do not know him. He speaks roughly to them, calls them spies, keeps Simeon bound, and sends the rest home with their money secretly returned in their sacks, demanding that they bring the youngest, Benjamin.

When they return with Benjamin, Joseph hides his silver cup in Benjamin's sack and claims him as a bondman. Judah, who once proposed selling Joseph, now offers himself in Benjamin's place:

“Now therefore, let thy servant, I pray thee, abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.” (Genesis 44:33)

Joseph Makes Himself Known (Genesis 45:1–15)

Weeping aloud, Joseph reveals himself and tells his brothers that God sent him ahead of them to preserve life.

Joseph Makes Himself Known

Unable to restrain himself, Joseph sends out every Egyptian and weeps so loudly that the house of Pharaoh hears. “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt” (Genesis 45:4).

He does not deny what they did, but he sets it within a larger purpose:

“be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5)

He sends for his father, promising to nourish the family through the five years of famine still to come.

Jacob Comes Down to Egypt (Genesis 46–48)

Jacob's household settles in Goshen; Joseph sustains them through the famine, and the aged Jacob adopts and blesses Ephraim and Manasseh.

Forgiveness Confirmed (Genesis 50:15–21)

After Jacob dies, the brothers fear revenge; Joseph weeps, reassures them, and promises to provide for them and their children.

Death & the Charge Concerning His Bones (Genesis 50:22–26; Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32)

Dying at a hundred and ten, Joseph makes Israel swear to carry his bones up from Egypt; Moses takes them, and they are buried at Shechem.

Death & the Charge Concerning His Bones

Joseph sees Ephraim's children to the third generation. Before he dies he looks past Egypt to the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:

“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 50:25)

Generations later, Moses carries the bones out at the Exodus, and in Joshua's day they are buried at Shechem, in the ground Jacob had bought. Hebrews counts this charge among the acts of faith: “By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” (Hebrews 11:22).

Jacob (Israel) (Genesis 37:3; Genesis 37:34–35; Genesis 46:29–30)

His father, who loved him more than all his children and mourned him as dead for many days.

Rachel (Genesis 29:31; Genesis 30:22–24)

His mother, Jacob's beloved wife, who had been barren until God opened her womb.

Benjamin (Genesis 35:16–18; Genesis 43:29–30; Genesis 44)

His only full brother, Rachel's second son, over whom Joseph tested his brothers.

Reuben (Genesis 37:21–22; Genesis 37:29–30; Genesis 42:22)

The eldest brother, who talked the others out of killing Joseph and meant to rescue him from the pit.

Judah (Genesis 37:26–27; Genesis 44:18–34)

The brother who proposed selling him, and who later offered himself as a bondman in Benjamin's place.

Potiphar (Genesis 37:36; Genesis 39:1–6)

Pharaoh's officer, captain of the guard, who bought Joseph and set him over his house.

Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:7–20)

Tried to seduce him and, when he refused, accused him falsely.

The chief butler (Genesis 40:9–23; Genesis 41:9–13)

Pharaoh's officer whose dream Joseph interpreted in prison; he forgot Joseph, then remembered him before Pharaoh.

Pharaoh (Genesis 41:37–45)

The king of Egypt who set him over all the land, second only to the throne.

Asenath (Genesis 41:45; Genesis 41:50–52)

His wife, daughter of Poti-phera priest of On, mother of Manasseh and Ephraim.

Manasseh & Ephraim (Genesis 41:51–52; Genesis 48)

His sons, whom Jacob took as his own and blessed, setting the younger before the elder.

The LORD (Genesis 39:2–3; Genesis 39:21–23)

Was with Joseph and made all that he did to prosper, in Potiphar's house and in prison.

Major sections

• Genesis 30:22–24
• Genesis 37–50

More illuminations · Harbinger's Lamp