Friday, February 16, 2024

The name Joseph and all of its linguistic cognates (like the Spanish José and the Italian Giuseppe) come from the Hebrew name יוסף (Yōsef). However, the name's etymology is disputed. In fact, the confusion goes all the way back to the Bible, which offers two separate meanings for the name, based on two separate words. One explanation, found in Genesis 30:23, says: "She conceived and bore a son, and she (Rachel) said, 'God has taken away (אסף) my reproach'." Here the text argues that the name Joseph (יוסף) is rooted in the Hebrew verb אסף (ʾ-s-f, pronounced ʾasaf), meaning "to gather up, bring in, take away." However, in the very next verse, Genesis 30:24 claims: "And she (Rachel) named him Joseph (יוסף), saying, "May the LORD add (יסף) to me another son!" Here the text argues that the name Joseph (יוסף) is rooted in the Hebrew verb יסף (y-s-f, pronounced yasaf), meaning "to add, continue to do." The two etymologies are included in successive verses likely because there was confusion about the actual origin of the name, and since both made sense in the context of the story and sounded nearly alike, both were included in the final narrative. Either way, the name Joseph appears to have something to do with celebrating the addition of a child.