Joseph (Hebrew Bible)

Joseph, in the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament), appears in the Book of Genesis (his name Yosef, Hebrew: יוֹסֵף means "The Lord increases", (Tiberian Hebrew Yôsēp̄), later called Zaphnath-paaneah or Tzáfnat panéach צפנת פענח, Standard Hebrew Ẓáfənat paʿnéaḥ, Tiberian Hebrew Ṣāp̄ənaṯ paʿănēªḥ : Egyptian origin "Discoverer of hidden things"), the eleventh son of Jacob, born of Rachel. He is one of the best-known figures in the Scriptures, famous for his coat of many colours and his God-given ability to interpret dreams. Owing to jealousy from his brothers, he was sold as a slave, eventually working under the Egyptian Potiphar, but was later freed, and became the chief adviser (vizier) to the Egyptian Pharaoh around 1600 BC.

Joseph according to the Bible critics

To Bible critics, almost nothing is known about the historical Joseph, and like many early Biblical figures, scholars disagree as to whether such a person ever existed. To some non-Biblical scholars, it seems unlikely that a non-Egyptian could become a member of the Pharaoh's court, although it is not impossible. There is no record of a "prime minister" in ancient Egypt called Joseph.

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Bible critics do not agree as to when the Biblical story was first written down. There is no way to independently verify which, if any, aspects of the story are true.

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But its life and meanings within the various religious traditions need not depend on its historicity.

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