יוֹסֵף
Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
Definition
Joseph (יוֹסֵף) is a major Hebrew personal name meaning 'may he add' or 'he adds,' derived from the verb 'to add.' In the Old Testament, it primarily refers to Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob and Rachel, whose story of betrayal, slavery, and rise to power in Egypt is told in Genesis 37–50. The name also refers to the northern tribes of Israel (often called 'the house of Joseph' in passages like Joshua 17:17 and Amos 5:6), representing the descendants of Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Additionally, it is used for other individuals, including Joseph the husband of Mary in the New Testament (Matthew 1:16), though that is a Greek form.
Biblical Usage
The name Joseph appears 193 times in the Old Testament, most frequently in Genesis (over 140 times) detailing the patriarch's life. It is also common in Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, and the historical books, often referring to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh collectively (e.g., Joshua 16:1-4). In poetic and prophetic books like Psalms 80:1 and Ezekiel 37:16, it symbolizes the northern kingdom of Israel. Key narrative references include Genesis 30:24 (his birth), Genesis 37:2-36 (his betrayal), and Genesis 41:41-45 (his elevation in Egypt).
Etymology
The name יוֹסֵף comes from the Hebrew root יָסַף (H3254), meaning 'to add, increase, or do again.' It is likely a shortened form of יְהוֹסֵף (H3084, Jehoseph), meaning 'Yahweh has added,' as seen in Psalm 81:5. The name expresses a hope for addition or blessing, reflecting Rachel's prayer for another son after bearing Joseph (Genesis 30:24). Cognates appear in other Semitic languages with similar meanings of increase.
Semantic Range
Joseph's story embodies key theological themes: God's providence and sovereignty in fulfilling covenant promises (Genesis 50:20), forgiveness and reconciliation within the family of Israel, and the role of suffering leading to redemption. His life prefigures aspects of Christ's rejection and exaltation. Understanding the Hebrew meaning 'he adds' enriches reading by highlighting God's faithfulness in adding blessings and preserving His people, as seen in Joseph's preservation of Israel during famine.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often conveyed hopes or circumstances. Joseph's name reflected Rachel's desire for more children, a significant value in a society where offspring ensured lineage and blessing. The association with the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh later gave Joseph political and territorial importance, representing a major division in Israel's kingdom. The name's meaning would have been immediately recognizable to Hebrew speakers as invoking divine increase.
יְהוֹסֵף (Yehoseph, H3084) — the longer form meaning 'Yahweh has added,' used in Psalm 81:5. יָסַף (yasaph, H3254) — the root verb meaning 'to add,' from which Joseph is derived.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →