Who was Joseph, son of Jacob?
Joseph was the favored son of Jacob, sold into slavery by his brothers, who rose to become governor of Egypt and saved his family from famine — declaring, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”
Joseph’s father loved him best, stirring his brothers’ jealousy. After he shared dreams of one day ruling over them, they sold him into slavery in Egypt.
There Joseph served faithfully, was falsely accused and imprisoned, then rose to second-in-command after interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams of coming famine. His wise planning saved many lives.
When his brothers came begging for grain, Joseph forgave them with the words that frame his whole story (Genesis 50:20) — a portrait of God’s sovereignty over human evil.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.