Joseph (NT)

Definition

Joseph was Jesus’ earthly father and raised him as his son. He was a righteous man who worked as a carpenter.

• Joseph became engaged to a Jewish girl named Mary, while they were engaged God chose her to become the mother of Jesus the Messiah.
• An angel told Joseph that the Holy Spirit had miraculously caused Mary to be pregnant, and that Mary’s baby was the Son of God.
• After Jesus was born, an angel warned Joseph to take the baby and Mary to Egypt in order to escape from Herod.
• Joseph and his family later lived in the city of Nazareth of Galilee, where he earned a living doing carpentry work.

(Translation suggestions: How to Translate Names)

(See also: Christ, Galilee, Jesus, Nazareth, Son of God, virgin)

Bible References

• John 1:43-45
• Luke 1:26-29
• Luke 2:4-5
• Luke 2:15-16
• Matthew 1:18-19
• Matthew 1:24-25
• Matthew 2:19-21
• Matthew 13:54-56

Examples from the Bible stories

• __22:4 She (Mary) was a virgin and was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph__.
• __23:1 Joseph__, the man Mary was engaged to, was a righteous man. When he heard that Mary was pregnant, he knew it was not his baby. He did not want to shame her, so he planned to quietly divorce her.
• __23:2 The angel said, “Joseph__, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The baby in her body is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son. Name him Jesus (which means, ‘Yahweh saves’), because he will save the people from their sins.”
• __23:3 So Joseph__ married Mary and took her home as his wife, but he did not sleep with her until she had given birth.
• __23:4 Joseph__ and Mary had to make a long journey from where they lived in Nazareth to Bethlehem because their ancestor was David whose hometown was Bethlehem.
• __26:4 Jesus said, “The words I just read to you are happening right now.” All the people were amazed. “Is not this the son of Joseph__?” they said.

Word Data

• Strong’s: G25010