Bible Characters · Gospels

Joseph of Nazareth

The righteous carpenter betrothed to Mary, who believed the angel, took her as his wife, named the child Jesus, and guarded the family into Egypt and back.

Gospels16 references in 3 booksIn theological review

The facts, as Scripture gives them

Lived
Dates not given in Scripture.
Region
Nazareth in Galilee; he was at Bethlehem for the census when Jesus was born. (Matthew 2:23; Luke 2:4)
Work
A carpenter. (Matthew 13:55)

Key verses

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.

Matthew 1:19 (BSB)

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and embraced Mary as his wife.

Matthew 1:24 (BSB)

What they did

  • Being a righteous man and unwilling to disgrace Mary publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly when she was found to be with child. (Matthew 1:19)
  • Obeyed the angel's dream and took Mary as his wife, though the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:20-24)
  • Named the child Jesus, as the angel had commanded. (Matthew 1:25)
  • Took the child and his mother by night and fled to Egypt when Herod sought the child's life. (Matthew 2:13-14)
  • Brought the family back after Herod's death and settled them at Nazareth. (Matthew 2:19-23)
  • Went up to Jerusalem every year for Passover, and searched three days for the boy Jesus before finding him in the temple. (Luke 2:41-48)

Family

Father
Jacob (Matthew 1:16)
Spouse
Mary (Matthew 1:18-19)
Children
Jesus (Luke 3:23; Matthew 1:25); James (Mark 6:3); Joses (Mark 6:3); Judas (Mark 6:3); Simon (Mark 6:3)

Connected to

  • Mary: His wife (Matthew 1:18-19)
  • Jesus: The child he raised at Nazareth, supposed by all to be his son (Luke 3:23; Luke 4:22)
  • Herod the Great: The king whose threat he fled into Egypt (Matthew 2:13)

Mentioned in

Matthew, Luke, John.

Every reference (16)

Matthew 1:16 · Matthew 1:18 · Matthew 1:19 · Matthew 1:20 · Matthew 1:24 · Matthew 2:13 · Matthew 2:19 · Luke 1:27 · Luke 2:4 · Luke 2:16 · Luke 2:33 · Luke 2:43 · Luke 3:23 · Luke 4:22 · John 1:45 · John 6:42

Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend profile passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This profile is in that queue. Sources: Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain), verified verse by verse. Name and reference data: STEP Bible (TIPNR), Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0.