Jacob's son living at the time of the Patriarchs

Joseph son of Jacob

Genesis 30:22–24; 37:2; 41:46; 50:22–26

Jacob’s eleventh son, the long-awaited first son of Rachel, whose name means “may he add” (Genesis 30:22–24). His father loved him most and made him a tunic of many colors, and his brothers hated him, all the more when he told them his dreams (Genesis 37:3–11). They sold him to merchants for twenty pieces of silver and he was taken to Egypt, where he served Potiphar and was falsely accused and thrown into prison (Genesis 37:28; 39). There God gave him the meaning of the dreams of Pharaoh’s servants, and then of Pharaoh’s own dream of seven good years followed by seven years of famine.

At 30 he was made ruler over Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, married Asenath, and fathered Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 41:37–52). When the famine brought his brothers to Egypt, he tested them and then made himself known: “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive” (Genesis 45:1–8; 50:20). He brought his father and the whole family to Egypt, and died at 110, asking that his bones be carried to the promised land (Genesis 50:22–26; Hebrews 11:22).

Born when Jacob was 91. Sold at 17, ruler of Egypt at 30, and 39 when his family arrived. Died at 110 after asking that his bones be carried to Canaan (Hebrews 11:22).

Family

Father

Jacob

Mother

Rachel

Wife

Asenath

Children

Manasseh son of Joseph, Ephraim

Show this life on the timelineFamily treeRead the 197 verses that name him