Joseph
From Slave to Ruler in Egypt
Also known as: Safenat-Paneah, Yosef, Joseph, of Joseph
Joseph was Jacob's favorite son who was sold into slavery by his brothers, but rose to become the second-highest ruler in Egypt. He saved his family from famine and showed forgiveness. His life is a picture of Christ.
Family
FatherJacobMotherRachelSpouseAsenathSiblingBenjamin (Rachel's son)SiblingReuben (Leah's son)SiblingSimeonSiblingLevi (son of Leah)SiblingJudahSiblingDan (Bilhah's son)SiblingNaphtali (Bilhah's son)SiblingGad (son of Zilpah)SiblingAsher (son of Zilpah)SiblingIssachar (Leah's son)SiblingZebulun (Leah's son)ChildManasse (Joseph's son)ChildEphraim (Joseph's son)
Key events
Dreams of Exaltation
Joseph dreamed that his brothers and parents would bow down to him.
5Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.
וַיַּחֲלֹ֤ם יוֹסֵף֙ חֲל֔וֹם וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאֶחָ֑יו וַיּוֹסִ֥פוּ ע֖וֹד שְׂנֹ֥א אֹתֽוֹ׃
6He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had.
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֕א הַחֲל֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָלָֽמְתִּי׃
7We were binding sheaves out in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose up and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to it."
וְ֠הִנֵּה אֲנַ֜חְנוּ מְאַלְּמִ֤ים אֲלֻמִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֛ה קָ֥מָה אֲלֻמָּתִ֖י וְגַם־נִצָּ֑בָה וְהִנֵּ֤ה תְסֻבֶּ֙ינָה֙ אֲלֻמֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖יןָ לַאֲלֻמָּתִֽי׃
9He had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream. This time the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."
וַיַּחֲלֹ֥ם עוֹד֙ חֲל֣וֹם אַחֵ֔ר וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ לְאֶחָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּ֨ה חָלַ֤מְתִּֽי חֲלוֹם֙ ע֔וֹד וְהִנֵּ֧ה הַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ וְהַיָּרֵ֗חַ וְאַחַ֤ד עָשָׂר֙ כּֽוֹכָבִ֔ים מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֖ים לִֽי׃
10When he told it to his father and his brothers, his father rebuked him: "What is this dream of yours? Are your mother and I and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you?"
וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר אֶל־אָבִיו֮ וְאֶל־אֶחָיו֒ וַיִּגְעַר־בּ֣וֹ אָבִ֔יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ מָ֛ה הַחֲל֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָלָ֑מְתָּ הֲב֣וֹא נָב֗וֹא אֲנִי֙ וְאִמְּךָ֣ וְאַחֶ֔יךָ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֥ת לְךָ֖ אָֽרְצָה׃
11His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
וַיְקַנְאוּ־ב֖וֹ אֶחָ֑יו וְאָבִ֖יו שָׁמַ֥ר אֶת־הַדָּבָֽר׃
Sold into Egypt
The brothers sold Joseph to Midianite merchants who took him to Egypt.
26Judah said to his brothers, "What do we gain by killing our brother and covering up his blood?
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוּדָ֖ה אֶל־אֶחָ֑יו מַה־בֶּ֗צַע כִּ֤י נַהֲרֹג֙ אֶת־אָחִ֔ינוּ וְכִסִּ֖ינוּ אֶת־דָּמֽוֹ׃
27Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him. After all, he is our brother, our own flesh." His brothers agreed.
לְכ֞וּ וְנִמְכְּרֶ֣נּוּ לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֗ים וְיָדֵ֙נוּ֙ אַל־תְּהִי־ב֔וֹ כִּֽי־אָחִ֥ינוּ בְשָׂרֵ֖נוּ ה֑וּא וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ אֶחָֽיו׃
28So when the Midianite traders came by, they pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they took Joseph to Egypt.
וַיַּֽעַבְרוּ֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים מִדְיָנִ֜ים סֹֽחֲרִ֗ים וַֽיִּמְשְׁכוּ֙ וַיַּֽעֲל֤וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִן־הַבּ֔וֹר וַיִּמְכְּר֧וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֛ף לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים כָּ֑סֶף וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃
36Meanwhile the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
וְהַ֨מְּדָנִ֔ים מָכְר֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ אֶל־מִצְרָ֑יִם לְפֽוֹטִיפַר֙ סְרִ֣יס פַּרְעֹ֔ה שַׂ֖ר הַטַּבָּחִֽים׃ פ
In Potiphar's House and in Prison
Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison, but God was with him.
2The LORD was with Joseph, and he prospered. He lived in the house of his Egyptian master,
וַיְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיְהִ֖י אִ֣ישׁ מַצְלִ֑יחַ וַיְהִ֕י בְּבֵ֖ית אֲדֹנָ֥יו הַמִּצְרִֽי׃
20Joseph's master took him and put him in the prison where the king's prisoners were held, and there he remained.
וַיִּקַּח֩ אֲדֹנֵ֨י יוֹסֵ֜ף אֹת֗וֹ וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַסֹּ֔הַר מְק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־*אסורי **אֲסִירֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲסוּרִ֑ים וֽ͏ַיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית הַסֹּֽהַר׃
21But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love, and he granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
וַיְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיֵּ֥ט אֵלָ֖יו חָ֑סֶד וַיִּתֵּ֣ן חִנּ֔וֹ בְּעֵינֵ֖י שַׂ֥ר בֵּית־הַסֹּֽהַר׃
23The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with him and gave him success in whatever he did.
אֵ֣ין ׀ שַׂ֣ר בֵּית־הַסֹּהַ֗ר רֹאֶ֤ה אֶֽת־כָּל־מְא֙וּמָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אִתּ֑וֹ וַֽאֲשֶׁר־ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֖ה יְהוָ֥ה מַצְלִֽיחַ׃ ס
Interpreted Pharaoh's Dreams
Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams about seven fat and seven lean years.
25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dreams are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹסֵף֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה חֲל֥וֹם פַּרְעֹ֖ה אֶחָ֣ד ה֑וּא אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים עֹשֶׂ֖ה הִגִּ֥יד לְפַרְעֹֽה׃
26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one dream.
שֶׁ֧בַע פָּרֹ֣ת הַטֹּבֹ֗ת שֶׁ֤בַע שָׁנִים֙ הֵ֔נָּה וְשֶׁ֤בַע הַֽשִּׁבֳּלִים֙ הַטֹּבֹ֔ת שֶׁ֥בַע שָׁנִ֖ים הֵ֑נָּה חֲל֖וֹם אֶחָ֥ד הֽוּא׃
27The seven gaunt, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven empty heads scorched by the east wind: they are seven years of famine.
וְשֶׁ֣בַע הַ֠פָּרוֹת הָֽרַקּ֨וֹת וְהָרָעֹ֜ת הָעֹלֹ֣ת אַחֲרֵיהֶ֗ן שֶׁ֤בַע שָׁנִים֙ הֵ֔נָּה וְשֶׁ֤בַע הַֽשִׁבֳּלִים֙ הָרֵק֔וֹת שְׁדֻפ֖וֹת הַקָּדִ֑ים יִהְי֕וּ שֶׁ֖בַע שְׁנֵ֥י רָעָֽב׃
28It is as I have said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.
ה֣וּא הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים עֹשֶׂ֖ה הֶרְאָ֥ה אֶת־פַּרְעֹֽה׃
29Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
הִנֵּ֛ה שֶׁ֥בַע שָׁנִ֖ים בָּא֑וֹת שָׂבָ֥ע גָּד֖וֹל בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
30but after them will come seven years of famine. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land.
וְ֠קָמוּ שֶׁ֜בַע שְׁנֵ֤י רָעָב֙ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ן וְנִשְׁכַּ֥ח כָּל־הַשָּׂבָ֖ע בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְכִלָּ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ב אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
32The dream came to Pharaoh twice because the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will bring it about soon.
וְעַ֨ל הִשָּׁנ֧וֹת הַחֲל֛וֹם אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה פַּעֲמָ֑יִם כִּֽי־נָכ֤וֹן הַדָּבָר֙ מֵעִ֣ם הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וּמְמַהֵ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לַעֲשֹׂתֽוֹ׃
Exalted to Ruler
Pharaoh put Joseph over all of Egypt, second only to himself.
39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר פַּרְעֹה֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אַחֲרֵ֨י הוֹדִ֧יעַ אֱלֹהִ֛ים אוֹתְךָ֖ אֶת־כָּל־זֹ֑את אֵין־נָב֥וֹן וְחָכָ֖ם כָּמֽוֹךָ׃
40You shall be over my house, and all my people shall submit to your command. Only in the throne will I be greater than you."
אַתָּה֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה עַל־בֵּיתִ֔י וְעַל־פִּ֖יךָ יִשַּׁ֣ק כָּל־עַמִּ֑י רַ֥ק הַכִּסֵּ֖א אֶגְדַּ֥ל מִמֶּֽךָּ׃
41And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I hereby set you over all the land of Egypt."
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֖ה אֶל־יוֹסֵ֑ף רְאֵה֙ נָתַ֣תִּי אֹֽתְךָ֔ עַ֖ל כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand. He clothed him in fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
וַיָּ֨סַר פַּרְעֹ֤ה אֶת־טַבַּעְתּוֹ֙ מֵעַ֣ל יָד֔וֹ וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֖הּ עַל־יַ֣ד יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיַּלְבֵּ֤שׁ אֹתוֹ֙ בִּגְדֵי־שֵׁ֔שׁ וַיָּ֛שֶׂם רְבִ֥ד הַזָּהָ֖ב עַל־צַוָּארֽוֹ׃
43He had him ride in the chariot next to his own, while men called out before him, "Make way!" So he set him over all the land of Egypt.
וַיַּרְכֵּ֣ב אֹת֗וֹ בְּמִרְכֶּ֤בֶת הַמִּשְׁנֶה֙ אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ לְפָנָ֖יו אַבְרֵ֑ךְ וְנָת֣וֹן אֹת֔וֹ עַ֖ל כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
44Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one in all the land of Egypt shall lift a hand or a foot."
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֛ה אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף אֲנִ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וּבִלְעָדֶ֗יךָ לֹֽא־יָרִ֨ים אִ֧ישׁ אֶת־יָד֛וֹ וְאֶת־רַגְל֖וֹ בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Reconciliation with His Brothers
Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and forgave them.
1Joseph could no longer control himself before all who stood attending him, and he called out, "Send everyone away from me!" So no one was with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
וְלֹֽא־יָכֹ֨ל יוֹסֵ֜ף לְהִתְאַפֵּ֗ק לְכֹ֤ל הַנִּצָּבִים֙ עָלָ֔יו וַיִּקְרָ֕א הוֹצִ֥יאוּ כָל־אִ֖ישׁ מֵעָלָ֑י וְלֹא־עָ֤מַד אִישׁ֙ אִתּ֔וֹ בְּהִתְוַדַּ֥ע יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶל־אֶחָֽיו׃
2He wept aloud, and the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.
וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ בִּבְכִ֑י וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע בֵּ֥ית פַּרְעֹֽה׃
3Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֤ף אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ אֲנִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף הַע֥וֹד אָבִ֖י חָ֑י וְלֹֽא־יָכְל֤וּ אֶחָיו֙ לַעֲנ֣וֹת אֹת֔וֹ כִּ֥י נִבְהֲל֖וּ מִפָּנָֽיו׃
4Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come closer to me." And they came closer. And he said, "I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֧ף אֶל־אֶחָ֛יו גְּשׁוּ־נָ֥א אֵלַ֖י וַיִּגָּ֑שׁוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֲנִי֙ יוֹסֵ֣ף אֲחִיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃
5And now, do not be distressed, and do not be angry with yourselves that you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.
וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ אַל־תֵּעָ֣צְב֗וּ וְאַל־יִ֙חַר֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י הֵ֑נָּה כִּ֣י לְמִֽחְיָ֔ה שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים לִפְנֵיכֶֽם׃
7God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant in the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.
וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהִים֙ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם לָשׂ֥וּם לָכֶ֛ם שְׁאֵרִ֖ית בָּאָ֑רֶץ וּלְהַחֲי֣וֹת לָכֶ֔ם לִפְלֵיטָ֖ה גְּדֹלָֽה׃
8So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord over all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
וְעַתָּ֗ה לֹֽא־אַתֶּ֞ם שְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם אֹתִי֙ הֵ֔נָּה כִּ֖י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיְשִׂימֵ֨נִֽי לְאָ֜ב לְפַרְעֹ֗ה וּלְאָדוֹן֙ לְכָל־בֵּית֔וֹ וּמֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Mentioned in the Bible (188)
Genesis 30:24Genesis 30:25Genesis 33:2Genesis 33:7Genesis 35:24Genesis 37:2Genesis 37:3Genesis 37:5Genesis 37:13Genesis 37:23Genesis 37:28Genesis 37:29Genesis 37:31Genesis 37:33Genesis 39:1Genesis 39:2Genesis 39:6Genesis 39:7Genesis 39:10Genesis 39:22Genesis 40:3Genesis 40:4Genesis 40:6Genesis 40:12Genesis 40:16Genesis 40:18Genesis 40:23Genesis 41:14Genesis 41:15Genesis 41:16Genesis 41:17Genesis 41:25Genesis 41:39Genesis 41:45Genesis 41:46Genesis 41:49Genesis 41:50Genesis 41:51Genesis 41:56Genesis 42:3Genesis 42:4Genesis 42:6Genesis 42:7Genesis 42:8Genesis 42:9Genesis 42:14Genesis 42:18Genesis 42:23Genesis 42:25Genesis 42:36Genesis 43:15Genesis 43:16Genesis 43:17Genesis 43:24Genesis 43:25Genesis 43:26Genesis 43:30Genesis 44:4Genesis 44:14Genesis 44:15Genesis 45:1Genesis 45:3Genesis 45:4Genesis 45:9Genesis 45:16Genesis 45:17Genesis 45:21Genesis 45:26Genesis 45:27Genesis 45:28Genesis 46:19Genesis 46:20Genesis 46:27Genesis 46:28Genesis 46:29Genesis 46:30Genesis 46:31Genesis 47:5Genesis 47:7Genesis 47:14Genesis 47:17Genesis 47:20Genesis 47:23Genesis 47:29Genesis 48:1Genesis 48:2Genesis 48:3Genesis 48:8Genesis 48:9Genesis 48:10Genesis 48:11Genesis 48:12Genesis 48:13Genesis 48:15Genesis 48:17Genesis 48:18Genesis 48:21Genesis 49:22Genesis 49:26Genesis 50:1Genesis 50:2Genesis 50:4Genesis 50:7Genesis 50:8Genesis 50:14Genesis 50:15Genesis 50:16Genesis 50:17Genesis 50:19Genesis 50:22Genesis 50:23Genesis 50:24Genesis 50:25Genesis 50:26Exodus 1:5Exodus 1:6Exodus 1:8Exodus 13:19Numbers 1:10Numbers 1:32Numbers 13:7Numbers 13:11Numbers 26:28Numbers 26:37Numbers 27:1Numbers 32:33Numbers 34:23Numbers 36:1Numbers 36:5Numbers 36:12Deuteronomy 27:12Joshua 14:4Joshua 16:4Joshua 17:1Joshua 17:2Joshua 17:14Joshua 17:17Joshua 24:32Judges 1:221 Kings 11:281 Chronicles 2:21 Chronicles 5:11 Chronicles 5:21 Chronicles 25:21 Chronicles 25:9Ezra 10:42Nehemiah 12:14Psalms 77:16Psalms 78:67Psalms 80:2Psalms 105:17Ezekiel 37:19Ezekiel 48:32Amos 6:6Obadiah 1:18Matthew 1:16Matthew 1:18Matthew 1:19Matthew 1:20Matthew 1:24Matthew 2:13Matthew 2:19Matthew 13:55Matthew 27:56Matthew 27:57Matthew 27:59Mark 6:3Mark 15:40Mark 15:43Mark 15:47Luke 1:27Luke 2:4Luke 2:16Luke 3:23Luke 3:24Luke 3:30Luke 23:50John 1:45John 4:5John 6:42John 19:38Acts 1:23Acts 4:36Acts 7:13Acts 7:14Acts 7:18Hebrews 11:21Revelation 7:8