To the Point

What do we know about Joseph, the husband of Mary?

Here’s what the scriptures tell us about Joseph, who was Mary’s husband.

• He was a descendant of David (see Matthew 1:1–16, 20; Luke 2:4; 3:23–38) and lived in Nazareth (see Matthew 2:19–23).

• He and Mary were engaged to be married when she learned she would be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God (see Matthew 1:18).

• He was a carpenter (see Matthew 13:55).

• He was “a just man” (see Matthew 1:19).

• When he learned Mary was pregnant, he wanted to spare her from public shame and disgrace (see Matthew 1:19–20).

• God communicated with him in a dream at least four times: (1) an angel told him Mary had conceived the Son of God (see Matthew 1:20–21), (2) an angel warned him to flee with his family to Egypt (see Matthew 2:13), (3) an angel told him to return to Israel (see Matthew 2:19–20), and (4) he was warned not to go to Judea when he returned (see Matthew 2:22).

• He went to Bethlehem to be taxed, taking Mary with him, and was there when the Savior was born (see Luke 2:1–7, 16).

• He was not Jesus Christ’s literal father, but the child Jesus honored him as though he were (see Luke 2:48, 51).

• It seems that he and Mary had at least four sons together, as well as daughters (see Matthew 13:55–56).

• He probably died sometime after Jesus was 12 years old and before the Crucifixion (see Luke 2:42–52; John 19:25–27).