Joseph
Pronounced JO-suf
- Meaning
- "He will add; God increases"
- Origin
- Hebrew
Joseph means "He will add" or "God increases" in Hebrew, reflecting Rachel's prayer that God would add another son to her family. Joseph's life is one of the most detailed and dramatic narratives in the Old Testament. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph endured years of hardship in Egypt — from Potiphar's house to prison — before rising to become second-in-command of the most powerful nation on earth. His story demonstrates how God can turn suffering into salvation. Joseph's famous declaration to his brothers — "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20) — is one of the most powerful statements of divine providence in all of Scripture. In the New Testament, Joseph the husband of Mary faithfully protected the Christ child.
Spiritual meaning
Joseph's name speaks of divine increase and God's ability to multiply what seems lost. His life assures us that God is working all things together for good, even through seasons of injustice and suffering.
Related verses (KJV)
"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."
Genesis 50:20 (KJV)
"And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man."
Genesis 39:2 (KJV)