Matthew 1
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · 2000 BC – 5 BC · Life of Jesus · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
25 verses · 515 words · ~3 min read · ~3 min listen
The Genealogy of Jesus
1This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Next:
12After the exile to Babylon:
17In all, then, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.
The Birth of Jesus
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.
20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
24When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
Footnotes (7)
- a v3 Greek Aram, a variant of Ram; also in verse 4; see 1 Chronicles 2:9–10.
- b v7 Greek Asaph, a variant of Asa; also in verse 8; see 1 Chronicles 3:10.
- c v10 Greek Amōs, a variant spelling of Amon; twice in this verse; see 1 Chronicles 3:14.
- d v21 Jesus means The LORD saves.
- e v23 Literally they will call His name Immanuel; Isaiah 7:14(see also DSS)
- f v23 See Isaiah 7:14,Isaiah 8:8,and Isaiah 8:10.
- g v25 Literally he did not know her
Study notes on this chapter · 4
Rahab's scarlet cord
Rahab hung a scarlet cord from her window so that her household would be spared when Jericho fell. Some early Christian writers saw the cord as a sign of Christ's blood, while the New Testament itself presents Rahab as an example of faith and in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus.
When: Joshua, c. 1406 BC (traditional date).
Ways people read this (3)
- Patristic allegory: the red cord stands for the blood of Christ that saves those inside the house (Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 12).
- The New Testament does not make this connection, and it cites Rahab as a model of faith and works (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).
- The scarlet cord most plainly recalls the Passover blood on the doorposts.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
Boaz the kinsman-redeemer
In Ruth, Boaz acts as a relative who redeems the family land and marries Ruth, preserving the name of her husband, and becomes the great-grandfather of David. The law provided for a close relative to redeem land and kin. Many Christians see Boaz as a pattern of Christ as redeemer, although the New Testament does not draw the comparison.
When: Ruth (era of the judges, c. 1100 BC).
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
A virgin will conceive and bear a son
Isaiah gives King Ahaz a sign: a young woman will conceive, bear a son, and call him Immanuel ('God with us'). Matthew says Jesus' virginal conception fulfilled this. Readers differ about how the sign worked in Isaiah's own day and how it points to Jesus.
When: Spoken c. 735–732 BC during the Syro-Ephraimite crisis; applied by Matthew, c. AD 60–85.
Ways people read this (4)
- Direct: Isaiah was speaking about the Messiah's birth.
- Dual fulfillment: a child born in Ahaz's time was a sign, and Jesus is the fullest fulfillment.
- Typological: Matthew sees a pattern in Isaiah's sign that Jesus completes.
- Hebrew 'almah' means a young woman; the Greek translation (Septuagint) used 'parthenos', which Matthew follows.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
Jehoiachin written down as childless
Jeremiah says that none of Jehoiachin's offspring will sit on David's throne, and that he will be recorded as childless. Jehoiachin had children, and his line continued through Zerubbabel, who governed Judah but was not crowned. Matthew's genealogy includes Jeconiah in the line to Jesus, and Luke traces another line through Nathan.
When: Jeremiah, c. 598 BC; Jehoiachin was exiled in 597 BC and released c. 561 BC.
Ways people read this (4)
- The word 'childless' means without heirs to the throne, and the verse was fulfilled when no descendant reigned after him.
- Matthew's line is Joseph's royal (legal) lineage, and Luke's is Mary's or another branch, so Jesus avoids the curse through his virgin birth (a common explanation).
- Jesus inherits the throne through legal adoption by Joseph, and the curse on Jehoiachin's line was later reversed (Haggai 2:23).
- The two genealogies are an unsolved puzzle and were written for different purposes.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.