Original Word: Ἰωσῆς
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Iósés
Pronunciation: ee-o-SACE
Phonetic Spelling: (ee-o-sace')
KJV: Joses
NASB: Joses
Word Origin: [perhaps for G2501 (Ἰωσήφ - Joseph)]

1. Joses, the name of two Israelites

Joses.

Perhaps for Ioseph; Joses, the name of two Israelites -- Joses. Compare Iose.

see GREEK Ioseph

see GREEK Iose

Word Origin
perhaps from Ióséph
Definition
Joses, an Isr. name
NASB Translation
Joses (3).

Name and Meaning

Iōsēs (Greek Ἰωσῆτος) is a shortened, Hellenized form of “Joseph,” a name that in Hebrew (“Yosef”) evokes the idea of God adding or increasing (Genesis 30:24). In first-century Jewish culture shortened or variant forms of family names were common, especially where Greek and Aramaic speakers mingled. The presence of both “Joseph” and “Joses” in the Gospel narratives reflects ordinary linguistic fluidity, not textual contradiction.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Mark 6:3 – listed among the half-brothers of Jesus.
2. Mark 15:40 – named as a son of “Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses.”
3. Mark 15:47 – mentioned again as Mary’s son who watched the Lord’s burial.

Identity and Relationships

• Brother of Jesus: In Mark 6:3 the townspeople of Nazareth identify Jesus by His natural family: “Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon?”. This Joses/ Joseph is one of four brothers who grew up in the same household with Jesus. The notice underscores Christ’s true incarnation in an ordinary family setting while simultaneously highlighting the unbelief of His hometown.
• Son of Mary (not the mother of Jesus): The Joses of Mark 15:40-47 is paired with “James the younger.” Their mother, another Mary, was a devoted follower who remained near the cross when most disciples fled. Many conservative commentators understand this Mary to be the wife of Clopas (John 19:25) and therefore sister-in-law to Mary the mother of Jesus, making Joses a cousin of the Lord.

Because Mark’s Gospel twice links “Mary the mother of James and Joses” with the burial narrative, the most natural conclusion is that the Joses of Mark 15 is the son of that Mary and distinct from the Lord’s brother in Mark 6:3, though the shared family name again reflects ordinary practice.

Role in the Gospel Narrative

1. Witness to Jesus’ ordinary upbringing: His naming in Mark 6:3 places Jesus squarely in a real, observable family, countering early heresies that denied Christ’s true humanity.
2. Silent yet faithful presence: Joses in Mark 15 does not speak, perform miracles, or pen epistles. Nevertheless his quiet inclusion beside the cross and at the tomb underscores the Gospel theme that many seemingly small lives surround the climactic work of redemption.
3. Confirmation of the burial: Mark 15:47 says, “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where He was laid”. Joses’ familial tie to that Mary supplies a second set of eyes within the family circle, reinforcing the historicity of Jesus’ death and burial before the resurrection morning.

Historical and Cultural Background

• Name frequency: Joseph was one of the most common Jewish male names of the period, borne by heroes (Genesis 37–50), priests (Ezra 10:42), and leaders (Luke 23:50). The Gospel writer distinguishes various bearers (Joseph of Arimathea, Joseph called Barsabbas, Joses) by context, patronymic, or nickname.
• Family loyalty: Jewish burial customs obligated relatives to attend to a corpse before sunset. Mary “the mother of Joses” fulfills that duty (Mark 15:47) despite danger, showing the high value placed on honoring the dead and foreshadowing the Easter discovery of the empty tomb by the same women.

Ministry Significance

1. Ordinary discipleship: Joses’ obscurity reminds believers that the Kingdom advances largely through nameless faithfulness—watching, waiting, standing near the cross.
2. Reliability of eyewitness tradition: Multiple individuals sharing a common name yet clearly differentiated within the text offer subtle evidence that the Evangelists drew on accurate living memory rather than creative fiction.
3. Incarnational theology: Highlighting Jesus’ natural siblings protects orthodox teaching against Docetism. The Son of God became flesh and entered a normal family structure, complete with a brother named Joses.

Doctrinal and Practical Lessons

• Christ brings meaning to commonplace identity. A name as widespread as “Joseph” becomes forever linked to the pivotal moments of crucifixion and resurrection.
• Faithfulness is measured not by platform but by proximity to Jesus; Joses’ family stands near when few others dare.
• Scripture’s internal coherence—one Gospel writer consistently differentiating between two men of the same name across separate scenes—invites confidence in the Word’s trustworthiness.

Connection to the Old Testament Joseph

While no direct line is drawn, the recurrence of the name invites meditation: both Joseph of Genesis and the various New Testament Josephs/Joses participate in God’s redemptive plan through humble obedience—saving Israel in famine, protecting the infant Messiah, or witnessing His burial. The name thus becomes a reminder of divine preservation across covenants.

Legacy in Church History

Early Christian tradition did not develop elaborate legends around Joses, perhaps precisely because the Gospels present him as an ordinary family member and eyewitness. His quiet presence has nevertheless encouraged generations of believers engaged in unseen service, echoing Paul’s exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 to “aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your hands.”

In sum, Strong’s Greek 2500 introduces us to an uncelebrated yet strategically placed figure whose very ordinariness magnifies the extraordinary gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ιωσητος Ἰωσῆτος Iosetos Iosêtos Iōsētos Iōsē̂tosInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts