Joseph as a Type of Christ

There are many similarities between Joseph who was sold into Egypt and Jesus Christ. Here are just a few.

Joseph was sold by his brethren into slavery for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28). Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). Both sums represented the price for a slave. Joseph was despised by his brethren. Jesus came unto His own and His own received Him not (John 1:11).

"Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Genesis 41:46). Jesus was thirty years old when He began His ministry (see Luke 3:23).

Joseph's brothers took his coat of many colors and "killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood" (Genesis 37:31). When John sees the Savior in vision he describes Him by saying, "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:12-13).

Pharaoh made Joseph second in command and ruler over Egypt (Genesis 41:40-43; 45:8). Jesus Christ is the second member of the Godhead and will be "crowned with the crown of his glory, to sit on the throne of his power to reign forever and ever (D&C 76:108).

Joseph rode in the second chariot and "they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt" (Genesis 41:43). Paul said, "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God" (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10).

When Joseph's brethren went to Egypt he had to reveal himself unto them and he said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt" (Genesis 45:4). When Jesus returns at the Second Coming He will reveal Himself unto the house of Israel and shall say, "These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God" (D&C 45:52).

And finally, Joseph saved his brethren from famine and provided a "great deliverance" for the family of Jacob (Genesis 45:7). Jesus Christ, through His Atonement, delivers us from the "awful monster" of death and hell (see 2 Nephi 9:10-12).