We are in the process of finishing this page and adding details…here are some scratch notes until then…

Joseph
It is nearly impossible to examine the life of Joseph in the book of beginnings and not see the similarities of the events in the life of Jesus.

Joseph, the beloved, obedient, and innocent son of his father, was envied by his brethren, ill-treated by them, sold, and given over to the Gentiles; Joseph was the favorite child of his father, Jacob.

He was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt. Joseph was falsely accused and unjustly condemned; Jesus suffered patiently and resignedly between two malefactors.

While a slave, he was eventually falsely accused by his master’s wife and thrown into prison. While there, he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream of seven years of plenty in the land and seven years of famine. Because of that, Pharaoh promoted him to second in command of Egypt in order to prepare the country to survive the famine.

Joseph was set free from prison, and made ruler over the whole land; Jesus was raised from the prison of the tomb, and sitteth at the right hand of His Father.

Eventually, as second in command, Joseph also saves his family, including the brothers who enslaved him, and other nations from starving during the famine.

God used the bad that happened to him to save many lives. Joseph was called the savior of the world, because he saved the Egyptians from famine; Jesus is indeed the Savior of the world, because He has redeemed the whole world from sin and hell.

As Joseph forgave and excused his brethren, so did our Lord, hanging on the Cross, forgive His enemies, and pray for them: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!”

Joseph Was Loved By His Father –
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of [many] colours. [Genesis 37:3 KJV]

Jesus Was God’s Only Begotten and Beloved Son–
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. [Matthew 3:17 KJV]

Described as a Shepherd
These [are] the generations of Jacob. Joseph, [being] seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad [was] with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. [Genesis 37:2 KJV]

Described as The Good Shepherd
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. [John 10:11 KJV]

Joseph’s Brothers Did Not Believe Him & Hated Him
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told [it] his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. … And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. [Genesis 37:5, 8 KJV]

Jesus’ Family Did Not Believe Him & Thought He Was Crazy
For neither did his brethren believe in him. [John 7:5 KJV]

If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. [John 15:24 KJV]

Joseph’s Brothers Rejected His Words To Rule Over Them
And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. [Genesis 37:8 KJV]

Jesus’ Brother’s & People Rejected Him As Ruler
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us. [Luke 19:14 KJV]

Joseph’s Brother’s Conspired To Kill Him
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. [Genesis 37:18 KJV]

Jesus’ People Conspired To Kill Him
When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: [Matthew 27:1 KJV]

They Stripped Joseph Of His Garments
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, [his] coat of [many] colours that [was] on him; [Genesis 37:23 KJV]

Jesus’ Was Stripped Of His Garments
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band [of soldiers]. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. [Matthew 27:27-28 KJV]

They Sold Joseph For Silver
Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty [pieces] of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. [Genesis 37:28 KJV]

Jesus’ Was Sold For Silver
And said [unto them], What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. [Matthew 26:15 KJV]

Whetever Joseph Did Prospered
And his master saw that the LORD [was] with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. [Genesis 39:3 KJV]

Jesus’ Miracles and Works Always Prospered
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. [Isaiah 53:10 KJV]

All Was Laid Into Joseph’s Trust
And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all [that] he had he put into his hand. [Genesis 39:4 KJV]

All Has Been Laid Into Jesus’ Trust
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. [John 3:35 KJV]

Joseph’s Brother’s Did Not Recognize Him.
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. [Genesis 42:8 KJV]

Jesus’ People and Followers Did Not Recognize Him.
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. [John 20:14 KJV]

Joseph’s Was Tempted But Did Not Sin
[There is] none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou [art] his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? [Genesis 39:9 KJV]

Jesus’ Was Tempted Many Times, But Never Sinned.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. [Hebrews 4:15 KJV]

Joseph’s Was Bound & Imprisoned
And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners [were] bound: and he was there in the prison. [Genesis 39:20 KJV]

Jesus’ Was Bound & Imprisoned
And when they had bound him, they led [him] away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. [Matthew 27:2 KJV]

Joseph’s Was With 2 Prisoners
And Pharaoh was wroth against two [of] his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph [was] bound. [Genesis 40:2-3 KJV]

Jesus’ Was With 2 Prisoners
And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. [Luke 23:32 KJV]

1 of 2 Prisoners Got Freedom & Life The Other Died
And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. [Genesis 40:21-22 KJV]

1 of 2 Prisoners Promised Freedom & Life The Other Not
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. [Luke 23:43 KJV]

Pharaoh Recognized God Worked With Him
And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find [such a one] as this [is], a man in whom the Spirit of God [is]? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, [there is] none so discreet and wise as thou [art]: [Genesis 41:38-39 KJV]

Pharisees Recognized God Worked With Him
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. [John 3:2 KJV]

All Were Made To Bow To Him For Pharaoh
And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him [ruler] over all the land of Egypt. [Genesis 41:43 KJV]

All Will Be Made To Bow To Jesus For The Glory Of The Father
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; [Philippians 2:10 KJV]

About 30 Years Old When Main Story Happens
And Joseph [was] thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. [Genesis 41:46 KJV]

About 30 Years Old When Minsitry Began
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli, [Luke 3:23 KJV]

Joseph Said God Used His Suffering & Comforted Them
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for [am] I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. [Genesis 50:19-21 KJV]

Joseph Said God Used His Suffering & He Would Send Them Comforter
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. [John 16:7 KJV]

Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. [Luke 9:22 KJV]

Joseph Married A Foreign Bride The Pharaoh Gave Him
And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over [all] the land of Egypt. [Genesis 41:45 KJV]

God Gave Jesus A Gentile Bride First
We who have believed are the bride of Christ.

Joseph Was Cast Into An Empty Pit
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. … And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit [was] empty, [there was] no water in it. [Genesis 37:20, 24 KJV]

Jesus Was Cast Into An Empty Tomb
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. [John 19:41 KJV]

Joseph’s Tomb Was Discovered Empty
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph [was] not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. [Genesis 37:29 KJV]

Jesus Tomb Was Discovered Empty
The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. [John 20:1-2 KJV]

Joseph Gave Bread To Starving Egypt
During the 7 good years Joseph, as Pharaoh’s vizier had gathered up all the surplus food. When the famine started he sold this food back to the Egyptians. By the next year they had no money left, but still needed bread; so he gave them bread for their life-stock

Jesus Gave Bread To Multitudes
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to [his] disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. [Matthew 14:19 KJV]

Joseph Had His Garment Pulled By Someone
And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. [Genesis 39:12 KJV]

Jesus Had His Garment Pulled By Someone
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind [him], and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. [Matthew 9:20-21 KJV]

Joseph Jesus

Joseph was Loved by His Father – Genesis 37:3 God said about Jesus “this is my beloved son” – Matthew 3:17

Joseph’s brothers did not believe him and hated him – Genesis 37:4-5 The Jews Did Not Believe in Christ – John 7:5 and they hated him – John 15:24

Joseph’s brothers rejected his right to rule – Genesis 37:8 The Jewish leaders said “we will not have this man to rule over us” Luke 19:14

Joseph’s brothers conspired against him – Genesis 37:23 They took counsel against Jesus Matthew 27:1

They stripped Joseph of his garments – Genesis 37:23 They stripped Jesus – Matthew 27:28

Joseph was sold for silver – Genesis 37:28 Jesus was sold for silver – Matthew 26:15

Everything Joseph put his hand to prospered – Genesis 39:3 “… And the pleasure of the Lord prospered in his hand” – Isaiah 53:10

All things were laid into Joseph’s trust – Genesis 39:4-8 God hath given all things into his hand – John 3:35

Joseph’s own brothers did not recognize him. The Jews did not recognize their Messiah

Joseph was tempted and did not sin – Genesis 39:9 Jesus was tempted in all things yet was without sin – Hebrews 4:15

Joseph was bound – Genesis 39:30 Jesus was bound – Matthew 27:2

Joseph was condemned with two criminals – Genesis 40:2, 3 Jesus was crucified with two criminals – Luke 23:32

One criminal was given life and the other was condemned – Genesis 40:21-22) Jesus told one of the criminals “Today you shall be with me in paradise” – Luke 23:43

Joseph was trustworthy and wise – Genesis 41:39 God said about Jesus “this is my beloved son in whom I well pleased” – Mark 1:11

Joseph’s brothers bowed their knee to him – Genesis 41:43 “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow” – Philippians 2:10

Joseph was 30 years old – Genesis 41:46 Jesus was “about 30 years old” – Luke 3:25

God planned the suffering of Joseph in advance to save many – Genesis 50:21 Jesus said “God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall be saved” – John 3:16

Joseph was made ruler over all of Egypt – Genesis 41:42-44 Jesus said “all power has been given unto me” – 8:18

Joseph married a foreign bride who shared his glory – Genesis 41:45 Believers in Christ are “joint heirs” with him in his glory – Romans 8:17

Joseph was cast into a pit and then later delivered out of it – Genesis 37:24, 28 When Jesus died he descended into the lower parts of the earth, and later ascended into heaven – Ephesians 4:9

Joseph was imprisoned based on false charges – Genesis 39:19, 20 During the trial of Jesus false witnesses were brought in testifying against him – Mark 14:56

Joseph’s brothers later repented for what they did to him – Genesis 42:7 “and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn” – Zechariah 12:10

Likewise, Joseph is never clearly called a type of Christ, but the similarities are many. Joseph was the favorite child of his father, Jacob. He was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt. While a slave, he was eventually falsely accused by his master’s wife and thrown into prison. While there, he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream of seven years of plenty in the land and seven years of famine. Because of that, Pharaoh promoted him to second in command of Egypt in order to prepare the country to survive the famine. Eventually, as second in command, Joseph also saves his family, including the brothers who enslaved him, and other nations from starving during the famine. God used the bad that happened to him to save many lives.

What are some of the ways people have seen unmistakable similarities with Christ? Here are a few:

He was a seed of Abraham whom the nations of the earth were blessed through, even as Christ was (Gen 41:53-57; cf. Gen 22:18).

He was the beloved son of his father, even as Christ was (John 3:16).

He became a poor servant, even as Christ did (2 Cor 8:9).

His brothers hated him because of his dream that one day he would reign over them (37:4,8). The Jews hated Christ and would not have him reign over them (Lk 19:14).

The Jewish brothers would eventually bow down to Joseph, even though they previously rejected and harmed him. Likewise, Israel initially rejected Christ and killed him, but one day they will submit to him and worship him as their messiah (Zech 12:10, Rom 11:26-27).

Joseph and Jesus were betrayed by their brothers (the Jews) and sold for the price of a slave in pieces of silver (Gen 37:28, Matt 26:15).

Joseph was exalted to prince in Egypt. Everything was under Joseph’s rule except Pharaoh. In Genesis 41:40, Pharaoh said, ” Only I, the king, will be greater than you.” Likewise, God has exalted Christ. First Corinthians 15:27 says, “For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says ‘everything’ has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him.”

Joseph was given a Gentile wife, an Egyptian. Christ has been given a bride who is both Jew and Gentile, the church (Eph 2:11-22, 5:25-26, Gal 3:28, Rev 19:7-8).

Joseph wept over his brothers (Gen 45:2). Christ wept over the sins of the Jews as well (Lk 19:41).

Joseph was a prophet that received messages from God. Jesus was “the Prophet” (Deut 18:15, John 7:40, Acts 3:18-22).

Joseph saved the lives of those who came to him for help, including many nations in the world (Gen 41:57). Likewise, Christ saves the lives of those who come to him for help (John 3:16).

Again, though never clearly pointed to in Scripture as a type of Christ, Joseph’s story, in many ways, mirrors that of Jesus.

Joseph was a type of Christ in that he suffered unjustly and then was exalted to save his brethren. Undergoing a series of deaths and resurrections, Joseph typified the “sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow” (1 Peter 1:10-11). He was envied and hated by his brothers, suffered at their hands and was exalted to a place of power over the most powerful nation of the world. Jesus, the greater Joseph, was envied and hated by His countrymen and brethren, murdered by them and then exalted to the highest place of power and honor to save the world by feeding them with the rich granaries of heaven.