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Person · 4 Sundays

Joseph

യോസേഫ്

“He will add”

In the readings on 4 Sundays so far.

Icon of Joseph leading Mary and the Christ child on a donkey into Egypt, by Emmanuel Tzanes
Emmanuel Tzanes, c. 1660–1690

At a glance

In Malayalam
യോസേഫ്
What the name means
“He will add”
In the readings
4 Sundays, 22 November 2026 to 6 June 2027
Gospel passages
Luke 1:26–38 · Matthew 1:18–25 · Luke 2:40–52 · John 6:35–46

Name meanings and role notes are drafted with each edition and waiting for review by a priest or editor.

The life of Joseph

Joseph of Nazareth, a righteous man of the house of David, betrothed to Mary. He obeyed the angel’s word in dreams, named the child Jesus, and protected the Holy Family on the flight into Egypt.

Born
Not recorded. Matthew names his father Jacob; he was of the house and line of David ScriptureMatthew 1:16; Luke 2:4
Died
Not recorded. He is not mentioned after Jesus is twelve, and tradition holds he died before Jesus’ public ministry Tradition
Family
  • Father: Jacob ScriptureMatthew 1:16
  • Wife: Mary ScriptureMatthew 1:18–24
  • Son (by law): Jesus ScriptureLuke 3:23; John 6:42
  • Earlier family: Tradition says he was an older widower with children from a first marriage TraditionProtoevangelium of James

  1. Finding Mary with child, he plans to send her away quietly, being a righteous man.

    ScriptureMatthew 1:18–19

  2. An angel in a dream tells him to take Mary as his wife and name the child Jesus; he obeys.

    ScriptureMatthew 1:20–25

  3. He goes with Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census.

    ScriptureLuke 2:1–5

  4. Warned in a dream, he takes the child and his mother to Egypt by night.

    ScriptureMatthew 2:13–15

  5. After Herod’s death he returns, and settles in Nazareth in Galilee.

    ScriptureMatthew 2:19–23

  6. Each year he goes to Jerusalem for Passover; with Mary he searches for the twelve-year-old Jesus.

    ScriptureLuke 2:41–51

  7. He worked as a craftsman (Greek tekton), usually rendered carpenter.

    ScriptureMatthew 13:55

Remembered in the Church year

  • Annunciation to St. Joseph
  • First Sunday after Christmas (The Holy Family flee to Egypt)

Read it in the Bible

  • Matthew 1:18–25 The dream and the naming
  • Matthew 2:13–23 Egypt and Nazareth
  • Luke 2:41–52 The boy in the Temple

Sources: The Holy Bible (World English Bible); Protoevangelium of James (2nd century).

Drafted from the Bible and Church tradition. Each line says where it comes from; anything marked Tradition or History is not in Scripture itself. Waiting for review by a priest or editor.

Sundays with Joseph

  1. Third Sunday after Pentecost

    Gospel: John 6:35–46

    Named by the crowd as Jesus’ father.

    In the story

  2. Second Sunday after Christmas

    Gospel: Luke 2:40–52

    Who brings the family to Jerusalem every year for Passover.

  3. Annunciation to St. Joseph

    Gospel: Matthew 1:18–25

    A carpenter of Nazareth from the line of David, engaged to Mary.

    In the story

  4. Annunciation to St. Mary

    Gospel: Luke 1:26–38

    Mary’s betrothed, a descendant of King David.

    In the story

Also in these readings

About the icon

The Flight into Egypt. Emmanuel Tzanes, c. 1660–1690. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Everyone in the readings