# Joseph — Olney Hymns character guide

> Joseph in Olney Hymns by John Newton.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Joseph the Egyptians

**First appearance:** 0014-12-joseph-made-known-to-his-brethren

## Snapshot

The dreamer sold by his brothers into Egypt, who rose to govern a nation and chose forgiveness over revenge when famine drove them to his door.

## Who they are

Joseph begins as a favored son whose dreams and bright coat earn him a pit, slavery, and a prison cell in a foreign land. What distinguishes him is not his suffering but his refusal to let it curdle into bitterness — he interprets dreams, administers plenty and famine, and when his brothers finally stand before him, he weeps rather than punishes. His arc matters because it dramatizes the hymn-writer's conviction that God's providence works through betrayal and exile to preserve a family and a promise.

## In the story

### [Plenty in the Time of Dearth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/11-plenty-in-the-time-of-dearth)

Mentioned as the one to whom the Egyptians went during the famine, serving as a type of Christ.

### [Joseph Made Known to His Brethren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/12-joseph-made-known-to-his-brethren)

Joseph, though initially stern, is moved with compassion and reveals himself to his brothers, forgiving them and providing for them.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/olney_hymns_se/characters/joseph
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/olney_hymns_se/characters