Ἰωσῆς
Iōsēs
G2500 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A male proper name in Koine Greek, representing an abbreviated or alternate form of 'Joseph' (Ἰωσήφ), principally used for personal identification. In the New Testament, refers to specific individuals, most notably a follower of Jesus and a brother or relative of Jesus. The form Ἰωσῆς appears distinct from Ἰωσήφ, though the names are closely related and sometimes overlap in use. May signify either a personal Greek adaptation or a Hellenistic diminutive of the Hebrew Yosef.
Semantic Range
proper personal name, alternate form of 'Joseph', used for male individuals of Israelite descent in a Roman/Judean and Hellenistic context
Root / Etymology
Derived as a Hellenized variant or adaptation of the Hebrew name יוֹסֵף (Yosef), possibly through an intermediate or diminutive Greek form. The exact morphological process is debated; Ἰωσῆς is sometimes considered a contracted or popularized form arising in Hellenistic Jewish communities. Compare Ἰωσήφ, which represents a direct Greek transliteration of the Hebrew original.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἰωσῆς is attested in the New Testament as a personal name used for two or more individuals, e.g., Mark 6:3 (brother of Jesus), Mark 15:40, 15:47 (son of Mary). The form reflects Greek naming patterns arising in bilingual environments among Judean and broader Diaspora populations. It functions as a distinct name but remains closely associated with the Biblical patriarch Joseph. LXX generally uses Ἰωσήφ for the patriarch; Ἰωσῆς emerges predominantly in later, Hellenistic- and Roman-period Greek. Standard English translations often use “Joses,” following the transliterated Greek, but this can obscure the connection to “Joseph/Yosef.” Unlike Ἰωσήφ, which is reserved for the patriarch and figures of earlier Israelite history, Ἰωσῆς is primarily found as a contemporary personal name in the New Testament era, likely signaling a Greek cultural setting or influence. While sometimes considered equivalent or interchangeable with 'Joseph,' the Greek usage may imply different individuals or generations within an Israelite/Judean family. Not to be confused with Ἰωσήφ (G2501).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps for Ἰωσήφ; Joses, the name of two Israelites:--Joses. Compare Ἰωσή.
Root Family
Ἰωσῆς (Iōsēs) — personal name, Joseph variant, Hellenized diminutive form
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2500-02 |
Ἰωσῆτος | iosetos | N GEN M SG |
of Joses | of Joses | Ioses | 2 |
G2500-01 |
Ἰωσῆ | iose | N GEN M SG |
of Joses | of Joses | Ioses | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2500-02 |
Mark 6:3 | Ἰωσῆτος | iosetos | N GEN M SG |
of Joses | of Joses | Ioses |
G2500-01 |
Mark 15:40 | Ἰωσῆ | iose | N GEN M SG |
of Joses | of Joses | Ioses |
G2500-02 |
Mark 15:47 | Ἰωσῆτος | iosetos | N GEN M SG |
of Joses | of Joses | Ioses |