The Bible does not explicitly state whether Joseph was married before he was engaged to Mary, the mother of Jesus. However, there are a few clues that suggest he likely was not previously married:
1. No mention of previous wife or children
There is no mention in the Bible of Joseph having a previous wife or children before marrying Mary. This is in contrast to some other biblical figures like Abraham, Jacob and David who are clearly described as having multiple wives and children. If Joseph had a previous family, it seems likely they would have been mentioned in the birth narrative of Jesus. The focus is entirely on Mary and the miraculous virgin conception by the Holy Spirit.
2. Portrayed as young and unmarried
Joseph and Mary are both portrayed as young, unmarried individuals when the angel Gabriel appears to Mary. Mary says to the angel “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). This indicates she had no previous sexual relations. Joseph is called “betrothed” or engaged to Mary, rather than married (Matthew 1:18-20). Engagement was a binding legal agreement, but the couple would not live together or consummate the marriage until the actual wedding ceremony.
3. No indication Joseph was significantly older than Mary
Some have argued Joseph may have been significantly older, a widower with grown children, which is why a previous family is never mentioned. But there is no real evidence to indicate a large age gap between Joseph and Mary. They are treated as a typical betrothed couple. If Joseph was considerably older, this likely would have been noted in some way.
4. Joseph’s father is mentioned, not children
When Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem for the census, the text refers only to Joseph’s father but not any children (Luke 2:4). If Joseph had other children, it would be unusual for them not to make the journey with their father.
5. Jesus is Mary’s “firstborn” son
Jesus is referred to as Mary’s “firstborn” son (Luke 2:7). This strongly implies Jesus was her first child, with no previous births. If Joseph had other children, Jesus would not be called Mary’s firstborn.
6. Joseph is told to “take Mary as your wife” after she conceived
When Joseph learns of Mary’s pregnancy, the angel tells him not to be afraid “to take Mary as your wife” (Matthew 1:20). This implies they were not yet fully married. If Joseph was previously married, he would not need to “take Mary as his wife” but she would become an additional wife.
7. Ancient practice was to identify previous marriages
It was customary in biblical times to identify when women were marrying for the second time. For example, Mark 6:17 notes Herodias was previously “the wife of Philip.” If Joseph had been previously married, this likely would have been noted in Scripture.
8. Joseph and Mary refer to parents, not prior spouses or children at wedding in Cana
At the wedding in Cana where Jesus performs his first miracle, Mary and Joseph are both invited as a couple (John 2:1-11). When the wine runs out, Mary speaks to Jesus about the problem, with no mention of other children. Jesus then addresses her as “woman” rather than mother. This scene portrays Joseph and Mary as husband and wife.
9. Joseph apparently died before Jesus’ public ministry
After the story of Jesus at age 12 in the temple, Joseph is never mentioned again during Jesus’ adult life and ministry. His absence strongly implies he died at some point after Jesus’ childhood, consistent with being much older than Mary.
So in summary, the lack of any mention of a previous marriage, children or family for Joseph in the birth and childhood accounts of Jesus, combined with details showing Joseph and Mary as an engaged couple, their similar ages, and the practice of identifying remarriages, together strongly suggest Joseph was not previously married before taking Mary as his wife.
Possible Counterarguments
Some of the potential counterarguments against the idea that Joseph was not previously married include:
- The Bible focuses on narrative and may exclude previous family deemed non-essential.
- Wives and children from a previous marriage may have died before the birth of Jesus.
- Joseph may have been older but this was not highlighted as unusual in that culture and time.
- The reference to Mary’s “firstborn” son does not necessarily mean she had no previous children.
- Joseph’s father rather than children traveling to Bethlehem may simply reflect typical census practices.
However, these counterarguments are mostly based on the absence of evidence rather than any definitive statements or details that point to Joseph being previously married. They primarily raise possibilities, rather than demonstrating probability. Taking into account the cultural and biblical evidence as a whole, the much stronger case can be made for Joseph being a bachelor until marrying Mary.
Joseph’s Life Before Mary
Even if Joseph was not previously married, the Bible does provide some insights into his life leading up to his engagement to Mary:
- Joseph was of the “house and lineage of David” (Luke 2:4). He was born into a royal bloodline.
- He was living in Nazareth and worked as a carpenter when he became betrothed to Mary (Matthew 13:55).
- He was described as a “righteous man” meaning he sought to obey and please God (Matthew 1:19).
- When he learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he planned a quiet divorce to protect her reputation.
- He demonstrated courage and fortitude by taking Mary as his wife after she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
- He showed care for his family by fleeing to Egypt to protect the infant Jesus from King Herod (Matthew 2:13-15).
- He raised Jesus and passed on his carpentry trade to him (Matthew 13:55).
So while the Bible does not directly say if Joseph was previously married or not, it paints a picture of his moral character and devotion to God’s will in the events leading up to and following his betrothal and marriage to Mary.
Significance and Meaning
The question of whether Joseph was previously married has some important implications and meaning both theologically and practically:
1. Mary likely married as a virgin
If Joseph was not previously married, it underscores the miraculous nature of the virgin conception by the Holy Spirit. Mary was a sexually pure young woman who conceived Jesus while still a virgin.
2. Joseph’s example of obedience and sacrifice
Joseph’s willingness to obey God by taking Mary as his wife under suspect circumstances highlights his faith and character. His sacrifice as an unmarried man accepting a pregnant bride has inspired many.
3. Jesus was Joseph’s only son
If Joseph had no previous children, it means he adopted Jesus as his one and only son. He invested his life wholly into Jesus as his beloved child.
4. Marital dynamics between Joseph and Mary
If Joseph and Mary were both young and starting in marriage together, this may have led to a certain closeness and dependency in their relationship different than if Joseph was previously married.
5. No half-siblings of Jesus
Some Christian groups believe the Bible mentions half-brothers and sisters of Jesus from a prior marriage of Joseph. If he was not previously married, it avoids this complication and confirms Jesus as Mary’s only child.
Studying Joseph’s possible prior marital status provides insights into his character and the nature of Jesus’ birth and earthly family. It also touches on meaningful theological issues regarding Mary.
Conclusion
In summary, the evidence strongly suggests that Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, was not previously married before becoming engaged to Mary and accepting her as his wife. The details of his life before meeting Mary are limited, but he appears to have worked as a carpenter while waiting to be married. Though never physically intimate with Mary, Joseph obeyed God when told she miraculously conceived the Messiah. He raised Jesus as his own son in the formative years. Joseph’s example provides an inspirational model of faith, sacrifice and devotion to God’s will. His relationship with Mary offers insight into her character as well. While the Bible does not provide absolute certainty on Joseph’s marital status prior to Mary, analysis of the scriptural evidence makes a compelling case that she was his first and only bride.