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Ἰωσήφ

Iōsḗph

G2501 noun

SILEX Entry

Root Ἰωσήφ personal name, Joseph

Definition

Personal name, Joseph; commonly used as a proper noun to designate specific male individuals, especially in reference to prominent figures in Israelite and Judean history or family lines. The name identifies a male descendant, often with ancestral or familial significance.

Semantic Range

proper noun (male personal name); refers to multiple individuals in biblical and Hellenistic Jewish contexts; identifies Israelite or Judean men named Joseph; does not carry independent meaning outside of its function as a name

Root / Etymology

Greek adaptation of the Hebrew name יוֹסֵף (Yōsēf), meaning 'he adds' or 'may he (God) add' (from the Hebrew root יסף‎, 'to add, increase'). Borrowed directly into Greek without significant morphological change.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ἰωσήφ is used exclusively as a proper name in Greek texts of the Septuagint and the New Testament, referring to several individuals of significance: (1) the patriarch Joseph, son of Jacob/Israel, (2) Joseph, husband of Mary, mother of Jesus, (3) Joseph of Arimathea, and (4) several others, usually defined by context or genealogy. As a direct transliteration from Hebrew, Ἰωσήφ retains its Israelite resonance and is readily identifiable to Hellenized audiences, but lacks an indigenous Greek semantic content. The name was borne by both ancient Israelites and Judeans of the Second Temple period. English translations universally render the name as "Joseph." The Greek spelling reflects the transliteration practices for Hebrew names in the Hellenistic world; it does not connote a meaning in Greek outside of its function as a name, whereas in Hebrew the name expresses the wish for divine increase. There is no distinction between ethnic, geographic, or religious identity in the use of the name alone; meanings must be inferred from broader context. Unlike typical Greek names, Ἰωσήφ is uninflected, reflecting its foreign origin. Distinguished from similar-sounding Greek names by its consistent referent to Hebrew tradition.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (יוֹסֵף); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites:--Joseph.

Root Family

Ἰωσήφ (Iōsēph) — personal name, Joseph

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2501-02 Ἰωσὴφ ioseph N ACC M SG Joseph Joseph 35
G2501-01 Ἰωσὴχ iosech N GEN M SG Joseph of Joseph 1

Occurrences in Scripture

36 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2501-02 Matthew 1:16 Ἰωσὴφ ioseph N ACC M SG Joseph Joseph
G2501-02 Matthew 1:18 Ἰωσήφ ioseph N DAT M SG Joseph Joseph
G2501-02 Matthew 1:19 Ἰωσὴφ ioseph N NOM M SG Joseph Joseph
G2501-02 Matthew 1:20 Ἰωσὴφ ioseph N VOC M SG Joseph Joseph
G2501-02 Matthew 1:24 Ἰωσὴφ ioseph N NOM M SG Joseph Joseph
G2501-02 Matthew 2:13 Ἰωσὴφ ioseph N DAT M SG Joseph Joseph
G2501-02 Matthew 2:19 Ἰωσὴφ ioseph N DAT M SG Joseph Joseph
G2501-02 Matthew 13:55 Ἰωσὴφ ioseph N NOM M SG Joseph
G2501-02 Matthew 27:56 Ἰωσὴφ ioseph N GEN M SG Joseph
G2501-02 Matthew 27:57 Ἰωσήφ ioseph N NOM M SG Joseph
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