Gospels · NT
Joseph, Husband of Mary
The carpenter of Nazareth who became the earthly father of Jesus.
Joseph of Nazareth was a descendant of King David and a tekton — usually translated 'carpenter' but covering a broader trade in wood and stone. He was betrothed to Mary when she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. Matthew describes him as 'a just man' who, unwilling to expose her to public shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife, for the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would save his people from their sins. Joseph obeyed. He took Mary to Bethlehem for the census, watched over her in the stable, named the child Jesus, and presented him in the temple. Warned in another dream, he fled with the family to Egypt to escape Herod's slaughter of the innocents, and brought them back to Nazareth after Herod's death.
The last canonical glimpse of Joseph is the Passover scene in Luke 2 when Jesus was twelve. He is presumed to have died before Jesus' public ministry, since Mary appears at the cross alone and Jesus entrusts her to John.
Key moments
Resolved to divorce Mary quietly
Until the angel's revelation in a dream.
Took Mary as his wife
And named the child Jesus.
Fled to Egypt with the child
Saving Jesus from Herod's massacre.
Settled the family in Nazareth
Where Jesus grew up and learned his trade.
Key verses
"And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily."
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"But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins."
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"Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt;"
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"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child."
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"And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing."
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Frequently asked
When did Joseph die?
Scripture never tells us. His absence at the cross and during Jesus' ministry — when Mary and Jesus' brothers appear without him — has led the historic church to assume he died sometime between Jesus' twelfth year and the start of his public ministry.
Did Joseph and Mary have other children?
Matthew 13:55 names James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas as Jesus' brothers, and mentions sisters. The historic Protestant reading takes these as Mary and Joseph's natural children born after Jesus; the Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions interpret them as cousins or as Joseph's children from a previous marriage.
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