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Person · Tribe of Judah

Joses

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Joses (or Joseph) was brother of James "the Less" who was an apostle.

🗺 Places mentioned alongside Joses on the map →

Also known as Joseph

Joses, also known as Joseph, was one of the sons of "the other" Mary (Matt 28.1 with Mrk.16.1). He is the brother of James "the Less" (or "the younger" - Mrk.15.40) who is traditionally identified with James the son of Alphaeus, who would therefore be Mary's husband. Thsi may be the same Alphaeus who is the father of Matthew, though this is uncertain. His mother Mary was present at the crucifixion, burial, and discovery of the empty tomb (Mat.27.56; Mrk.15.40, 47).

Family

Father
Alphaeus
Mother
Mary
Siblings
JamesMatthew

Connections

Part of: Bethany and the Women Around Jesus · Jesus and His Family Circle

Mary, mother of James the younger and Joses

FamilyWidely accepted

Mark names a Mary as mother of James the younger and Joses. She is commonly identified with "Mary of Clopas" in John 19:25, but the texts do not say so directly. Mary wife of Clopas is sometimes linked with Alphaeus.

MaryAlphaeus or Cleopas' wifeJamesAn apostleJosesSon of the "other" Mary
Where the text shows it: Mark 15:40 — Mary mother of James the younger and JosesMatthew 27:56 — Same MaryJohn 19:25 — Mary the wife of Clopas

Sources: Scripture

Mary of Clopas as mother of James the Less

FamilyWidely accepted

Mary at the cross in the Synoptics is called mother of James and Joses; John's list has "Mary the wife (or daughter) of Clopas". Many readers identify them, but no text says that they are the same woman.

MaryAlphaeus or Cleopas' wifeJamesAn apostleJosesSon of the "other" Mary
Where the text shows it: John 19:25 — Mary of Clopas.Mark 15:40 — Mary mother of James the less and Joses.Matthew 27:56 — Mary mother of James and Joseph.
Ways people read this (2)
  • "Of Clopas" is grammatically open: wife, daughter or mother.
  • Both lists name several Marys, and Mary was a very common name.

Sources: John 19:25 · Mark 15:40

Two Joses in the record

FamilyDebated

Mark lists a Joses among Jesus' brothers (Matthew: Joseph) and names another Joses as son of Mary at the cross. Whether these are the same person depends on the Hieronymian reading.

JosesSon of JosephJosesSon of the "other" MaryJesusSon of Joseph
Where the text shows it: Mark 6:3 — Joses among the brothers.Mark 15:40 — Mary the mother of James the less and Joses.
Ways people read this (2)
  • Same: the Hieronymian view makes Mary of Clopas mother of the "brothers".
  • Different: the two Joses are separate people with a common name.

Sources: Mark 6:3 · Mark 15:40

More background: search Wikipedia ↗

Where Joses appears

3 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G2500

Matthew1
Mark2

Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.