Bible Names

Joseph: meaning of the name

Joseph means “increase; addition.”
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869)boy name

Joseph in Hebrew and Greek

יְהוֹסֵף H3084

Yᵉhôwçêph (yeh-ho-safe') — Jehoseph (i.e. Joseph), a son of Jacob

a fuller form of H3130 (יוֹסֵף);

Ἰωσήφ G2501

Iōsḗph — Joseph, the name of seven Israelites

of Hebrew origin (H03130);

People named Joseph in the Bible

Joseph in Scripture

“Joseph” appears in 229 verses of the King James Version; here are the first 8.

  • Genesis 30:24

    And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.

  • Genesis 30:25

    And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

  • Genesis 33:2

    And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

  • Genesis 33:7

    And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

  • Genesis 35:24

    The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

  • Genesis 37:2

    These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

  • Genesis 37:3

    Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

  • Genesis 37:5

    And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.