Matthew's genealogy uniquely includes four women—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba—all foreigners or associated with scandal, foreshadowing Jesus' ministry to outcasts and Gentiles.
Matthew 1
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.
3Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.
4Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.
5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
6Jesse became the father of King David. David the king became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.
7Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.
8Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.
9Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah.
10Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.
11Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.
13Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.
14Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.
15Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.
16Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.
The Birth of Jesus Christ
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
19Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
20But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
22Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”
24Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;
25and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
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Theme
Matthew opens his Gospel with Jesus' genealogy, tracing His lineage through three periods of fourteen generations each, from Abraham through David to the Babylonian exile and finally to Christ. This carefully structured genealogy establishes Jesus' legal right to David's throne and demonstrates God's faithfulness across Israel's history. The chapter concludes with the account of Jesus' miraculous conception through the Holy Spirit and Joseph's obedient response to God's angelic revelation, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of Immanuel.
Context
This opening chapter establishes the foundation for Matthew's Gospel by proving Jesus' messianic credentials before narrating His life and ministry.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-1 Introduction to the Genealogy Matthew introduces Jesus as the promised descendant of both David and Abraham.
- 2-6a From Abraham to David The first fourteen generations trace the patriarchal and tribal period through Israel's greatest king.
- 6b-11 From David to the Exile The royal line continues through the divided kingdom period to the Babylonian captivity.
- 12-16 From Exile to Christ The final fourteen generations span the post-exilic period culminating in Joseph, Mary's husband.
- 17-17 Summary of the Genealogical Structure Matthew highlights the deliberate three-fold division of fourteen generations each.
- 18-25 The Virgin Birth of Jesus Joseph learns of Mary's miraculous conception and obediently accepts his role in God's plan.
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
1:1–1:17 genealogy narration solemn
Matthew presents Jesus' genealogy tracing his lineage through Joseph back to David and Abraham, establishing his messianic credentials and connection to God's covenant promises.
person_contrast
Matthew's genealogy uniquely includes four women—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba—all foreigners or associated with scandal, foreshadowing Jesus' ministry to outcasts and Gentiles.
The Birth of Jesus Christ
1:18–1:25 gospel narration tender
Matthew narrates the miraculous conception and birth of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, emphasizing Joseph's righteous response to divine revelation and the fulfillment of prophecy.
quotation_chain
Matthew uniquely translates Isaiah's "almah" (young woman) as "virgin" while adding the interpretive phrase "God with us," creating Christianity's foundational virgin birth doctrine through strategic translation choices.
Insights
Matthew uniquely translates Isaiah's "almah" (young woman) as "virgin" while adding the interpretive phrase "God with us," creating Christianity's foundational virgin birth doctrine through strategic translation choices.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Matthew 1:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 7:8 Lexical
He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isa…
Acts 7:32 Lexical
‘I am the God of your fathers: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled and dared not…
Luke 13:28 Lexical
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, a…
Acts 3:13 Lexical
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and…
Matthew 8:11 Lexical
I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingd…
Matthew 1:3 1 reference
Matthew 1:5 1 reference
Matthew 1:6 1 reference
Matthew 1:12 1 reference
Matthew 1:16 1 reference
Matthew 1:18 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 1:27 Lexical
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Luke 2:26 Lexical
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Acts 10:45 Lexical
They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was a…
Luke 1:41 Lexical
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 2:5 Lexical
to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
Matthew 1:19 1 reference
Matthew 1:20 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 2:13 Lexical
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the youn…
Matthew 2:19 Lexical
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
Luke 1:13 Lexical
But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will…
Luke 1:35 Lexical
The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore…
Luke 1:27 Lexical
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Matthew 1:21 2 references
Matthew 1:22 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 2:15 Lexical
and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, say…
Matthew 4:14 Lexical
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
Matthew 2:23 Lexical
and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he w…
Matthew 13:35 Lexical
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter…
Matthew 8:17 Lexical
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took our infirmities and bore our di…
Matthew 1:23 5 references
Lexicals 4
Luke 1:31 Lexical
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’
Revelation 12:2 Lexical
She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.
Luke 19:2 Lexical
There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
Acts 9:11 Lexical
The Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one na…
Matthew 1:24 1 reference
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Exile
586-538 BCThe forced deportation of Judah's population to Babylon after Jerusalem's destruction. This pivotal event reshaped Jewish identity and theology, leading to the compilation of much of the Hebrew Bible.
The genealogy marks the Babylonian exile as a pivotal point in Jesus' lineage.
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ