Joh´sif
The name of several men who figure prominently in the biblical narrative. 1 The oldest son of Rachel, favorite wife of the patriarch Jacob. Joseph appears in the tradition as one of the fathers of the tribes of Israel (Gen 49:22-26). The tribe of Joseph divided into Ephraim and Manasseh when, in the history of the tribal league, Levi left the tribal structure (Gen 48:8-22). Joseph plays the central role in (Gen 37:1-50:26). 2 The father of Igal, who was one of the spies Moses sent into Canaan (Num 13:7). 3 A musician in the service of David (1Chr 25:2; 1Chr 25:9). 4 A priest in the time of Joiakim (Neh 12:14). 5 One of the sons of priests who in the time of Ezra divorced the foreign women they had married (Ezra 10:42). 6 The son of Jacob (Matt 1:16) or Heli (Luke 3:23), the husband of Mary (Matt 1:16), and, in the eyes of his compatriots, the father of Jesus (Luke 4:22; John 1:45; John 6:42). A descendant of David (Matt 1:20), he was unwilling to publicly set aside his pregnant betrothed, which showed him to be a just man (Matt 1:19). 7 A high-ranking (Luke 23:50), rich (Matt 27:57), and honorable (Mark 15:34) Jew from Arimathea who wrapped the body of the crucified Jesus in a linen shroud and buried him in a tomb newly cut from rock (Luke 23:53), perhaps the tomb he had had prepared for himself (Matt 27:60). He is called a disciple of Jesus (Matt 27:57; John 19:38). 8 The name of three ancestors of Joseph, the husband of Mary (Luke 3:26; Luke 3:30; Luke 3:34). 9 A follower of Jesus, also called Barsabbas, surnamed Justus, who was not chosen to replace Judas as one of the twelve disciples when he, along with Matthias, was put forward for that position (Acts 1:23). 10 An early Christian, surnamed Barnabas (Acts 4:36), who along with Paul was sent on a missionary journey by the church in Antioch (Acts 13:2). A later dispute over a traveling companion led them to go their separate ways (Acts 15:36-39). 11 One of the sons of Mary and a brother of Jesus (Matt 13:55) who bore the Greek rather than the Hebrew form of the name (Joses). 12 A brother of James the younger (Mark 15:40, Mark 15:47, “Joses”; cf. Matt 27:56, “Joseph”), perhaps identical with 11.
