Joseph

Lore & Background

Joseph was the favored son of his father Israel, who made him a coat of many colors, which caused his brothers to hate him (Genesis 37:3-4). After Joseph told them a dream, their hatred increased (Genesis 37:5). His father sent him to check on his brothers in Shechem, but Joseph found them in Dothan (Genesis 37:13, 37:17). There his brothers stripped him of his coat and sold him to Midianite/Ishmeelite merchants for twenty pieces of silver, who brought him to Egypt (Genesis 37:23, 37:28). His brothers then dipped his coat in goat blood and deceived Jacob into believing Joseph was devoured by a wild beast (Genesis 37:31, 37:33). In Egypt, Joseph was bought by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer, and the LORD was with Joseph, making him prosperous and granting him favor so that Potiphar made him overseer of his entire household (Genesis 39:1-4). The LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake (Genesis 39:5). Joseph was described as "a goodly person, and well favoured" (Genesis 39:6). Potiphar's wife repeatedly tried to seduce Joseph, but he refused to lie with her or be with her (Genesis 39:7, 39:10). Eventually, when she caught him alone, she falsely accused him, and Potiphar had Joseph imprisoned (Genesis 39:11, 39:20). Even in prison, the LORD was with Joseph, showing him mercy and giving him favor with the prison keeper, who put all prisoners under Joseph's charge (Genesis 39:21-22). When Pharaoh's chief butler and baker were imprisoned, they were put in the same prison where Joseph was bound, and the captain of the guard charged Joseph with serving them (Genesis 40:3-4).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray Joseph as a figure of both suffering and divine favor. From his youth, he is marked by his father's special love, symbolized by the coat of many colors (Genesis 37:3), and by his role as a bearer of reports and dreams that provoke his brothers' hatred (Genesis 37:2, 37:5). His journey from favored son to slave in Egypt is abrupt and violent: stripped, sold, and presumed dead (Genesis 37:23, 37:28, 37:33). Yet the narrative repeatedly emphasizes that "the LORD was with Joseph" (Genesis 39:2, 39:21), a phrase that frames his rise to prosperity in Potiphar's house and later in prison. His moral integrity is highlighted in his refusal of Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:10), though this leads to false imprisonment. The passages do not explain why Joseph suffers, but they consistently show God's presence and blessing even in adverse circumstances, as the prison keeper entrusts everything to Joseph (Genesis 39:22). The text presents Joseph as a passive recipient of others' actions—sold by brothers, bought by an Egyptian, tempted by a mistress, imprisoned by a master—yet active in his faithfulness and competence.

Did You Know?

• Joseph was the son of Rachel, who named him hoping the LORD would add another son (Genesis 30:24).
• Joseph was sold to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28).
• Joseph's coat of many colors was stripped from him by his brothers (Genesis 37:23).
• The LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake while Joseph was overseer (Genesis 39:5).