Giuseppe

Giuseppe is the Italian form of Joseph. Joseph, in turn, is derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף) meaning “(God) shall add (another son).” This is a fitting etymology since Joseph (Giuseppe) was Jacob’s (Giacobbe’s) eleventh son in the book of Genesis. In fact, Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, so much so that “he made him a robe of many colors” because he was “the son of his old age” (Genesis 37:3). As it would in any clan, Jacob’s favoritism of Joseph caused some riffs in the family; most notably, it inspired jealousy among his brothers. So much so that Joseph’s brothers conspired to sell their brother into Egyptian slavery; in essence ridding themselves of the family’s “golden child”. Although once in Egypt, Joseph rose to become chief steward to Pharaoh after wisely advising Pharaoh to stockpile food during a period of abundance (in essence, preparing Egypt for the coming seven year famine). Once the famine struck all the surrounding lands, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy corn from the very brother they had betrayed earlier. The brothers reconciled (clearly Joseph was one forgiving guy) and Jacob travelled to Egypt to be reunited with his beloved son. Aside from Joseph’s important place in the Old Testament as one of the patriarchal members of Israel’s Twelve Tribes, the name also factors prominently into the New Testament – Joseph being Mary’s husband and the foster-father of Jesus Christ. Since Catholicism has always remained alive and well in Italy (i.e., the Church’s home base), it’s no wonder why Giuseppe and Maria have perpetuated for centuries. Italian pet forms of Giuseppe include Peppi, Peppino and even Geppetto. Giuseppe remains an ϋber-favorite boy’s name for little Italian bambinos.