Matthew — Chapter 1

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1This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

3Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.

4Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.

5Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

6and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife,

7Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.

8Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.

9Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.

10Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,

11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.

14Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.

15Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,

16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

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.

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:

23“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).

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.

1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren;

3and Judah begat Perez and Zerah of Tamar; and Perez begat Hezron; and Hezron begat Ram;

4and Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon; and Nahshon begat Salmon;

5and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

6and Jesse begat David the king. And David begat Solomon of her [that had been the wife] of Uriah;

7and Solomon begat Rehoboam; and Rehoboam begat Abijah; and Abijah begat Asa;

8and Asa begat Jehoshaphat; and Jehoshaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Uzziah;

9and Uzziah begat Jotham; and Jotham begat Ahaz; and Ahaz begat Hezekiah;

10and Hezekiah begat Manasseh; and Manasseh begat Amon; and Amon begat Josiah;

11and Josiah begat Jechoniah and his brethren, at the time of the carrying away to Babylon.

12And after the carrying away to Babylon, Jechoniah begat Shealtiel; and Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel;

13and Zerubbabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

14and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

15and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

16and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations; and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations.

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins.

22Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

23Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us.

24And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife;

25and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.

1This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah (by Tamar), Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,

4Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,

5Salmon the father of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz the father of Obed (by Ruth), Obed the father of Jesse,

6and Jesse the father of David the king.David was the father of Solomon (by the wife of Uriah),

7Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,

8Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah,

9Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

10Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,

11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

12After the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,

14Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud,

15Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,

16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to Christ, fourteen generations.

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

19Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately.

20When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

21She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”

22This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled:

23“Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will name him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.”

24When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife,

25but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.

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 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.

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, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name 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.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

Matthew opens with a genealogy tracing Jesus' lineage from Abraham through David to Joseph, arranged in three sets of fourteen generations to present him as Israel's promised Messiah (vv. 1-17). The account then turns to Mary, found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit before her marriage to Joseph, and Joseph's plan to quietly end the engagement (vv. 18-19). An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (vv. 20-21). Matthew notes this fulfills Isaiah's prophecy of a virgin bearing a son called Immanuel, God with us, and Joseph obeys, taking Mary home and naming the child at his birth (vv. 22-25).

Authorship & Background

Author: Matthew (also called Levi), a tax collector who became one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 9:9). He was an eyewitness to Jesus' ministry. Tax collectors were despised in Jewish society — they worked for Rome and were considered traitors and extortioners. Matthew's inclusion in the twelve is itself a demonstration of grace.
Date Written: Approximately AD 50-70, making it one of the earliest Gospels.
Audience: Written primarily for a Jewish audience. Matthew quotes the Old Testament more than any other Gospel (approximately 60 direct quotes and 100 allusions), constantly showing how Jesus fulfills Jewish Scripture and prophecy.
Purpose of Matthew's Gospel: To present Jesus as the promised Messiah — the King of the Jews, the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Matthew begins with a genealogy to establish Jesus' legal right to David's throne.
Purpose of Chapter 1: The genealogy establishes Jesus' legal credentials as the Messiah — descended from Abraham (the covenant) and David (the throne). The birth narrative establishes His divine origin — conceived by the Holy Spirit, fulfilling Isaiah 7:14.
Classification: Gospel — Narrative
Key Themes: a genealogy opening the entire Gospel as a legal document rather than a story, three groups of fourteen imposed deliberately on the record rather than found in it, four women named by choice, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and the wife of Uriah, before Mary breaks the pattern of the whole list entirely, a decent man's decision to divorce quietly reversed by an angel who names the child before he is born, for he shall save his people from their sins, and the first of Matthew's fulfilment formulas, quoting Isaiah on a virgin and a name Matthew stops to translate, God with us
The Genealogy (vv.1-17): The book opens with a legal document rather than a story, and its first line states the two claims the whole Gospel rests on, the son of David, the son of Abraham. The list is arranged in three groups of fourteen, from Abraham to David, David to the exile, the exile to Christ, which is a structure imposed on the record rather than found in it. Four women are named and the choice of them is deliberate: Thamar, who posed as a prostitute, Rachab, who was one, Ruth, a Moabitess, and her that had been the wife of Urias, unnamed. Then the last link breaks the pattern of the whole list. Every other entry says begat. This one says Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus.
The Birth of Jesus Christ (vv.18-25): The account is told from Joseph's side throughout, and his first decision is a decent one made in the wrong direction, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. The angel's instruction reverses it and gives the child's name with its meaning attached, for he shall save his people from their sins. Then the first of Matthew's fulfilment formulas, quoting Isaiah on the virgin and the name Emmanuel, which Matthew translates for a reader who might not have Hebrew, God with us. The chapter ends with obedience described in two flat clauses, he did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and called his name JESUS.

Map & Geography

  • Bethlehem: The birthplace of Jesus, located about 5 miles south of Jerusalem in Judea. The city of David, fulfilling Micah 5:2.
  • Nazareth: A small village in Galilee (northern Israel) where Joseph and Mary lived. Jesus would grow up here.
  • The genealogy spans the geography of Israel's history — from Abraham in Ur/Canaan, through David in Bethlehem/Jerusalem, through the Babylonian exile, and back to the land.

Places on this map

  • BethlehemBethlehem, West BankA small town on the ridge road five miles south of Jerusalem, at the edge of the cultivated land before the Judean wilderness. Its name means house of bread, and its terraced barley fields are where Ruth gleaned and where David kept sheep. Wikipedia
  • JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia
  • NazarethNazareth, IsraelA small village in a hollow of the Galilean hills, unmentioned in the Old Testament or by Josephus. The Roman city of Sepphoris was four miles away and the Via Maris ran below, so it was obscure without being isolated. Wikipedia
  • Galileenorthern IsraelThe northern hill country above the Jezreel Valley, wetter and greener than Judah and crossed by the trade road to Damascus. That traffic is why Judeans considered it mixed and provincial, and why Jesus grew up hearing more than one language. Wikipedia
  • CanaanIsrael, West Bank, LebanonThe land bridge between Egypt and Mesopotamia, which is why armies crossed it for three thousand years. Within about 60 miles it goes from coastal plain to hill country to rift valley to desert plateau, so control of it was always local and piecemeal. Wikipedia
  • Judeasouthern Israel and the West BankThe southern hill country around Jerusalem, high, stony and dry, with the wilderness on one side and the Philistine plain on the other. Poor farming and hard access are what let it stay independent longest. Wikipedia
  • UrTell el-Muqayyar, IraqA Sumerian city near the lower Euphrates, once close to the head of the Persian Gulf before the coastline moved. Leaving it for Canaan meant leaving one of the most developed places on earth for hill country. Wikipedia
  • Babylonnear Hillah, IraqOn the Euphrates about 55 miles south of modern Baghdad. Judah's exiles were marched roughly 900 miles to get here, the long way round the Arabian desert, which is why the journey took months and the return was a genuine undertaking rather than a short trip home. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the significance of the four women in the genealogy (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba), the meaning of the three sets of 14 generations, Joseph's character as a "just man," and the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Gospel of Matthew Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1)
BibleProject

A Summary of the Book of Matthew | GotQuestions.org
Got Questions Ministries

Matthew 1:18-2:23 | Jesus' Genealogy | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Matthew 1:1-17 | Genealogy | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Saved From What? - Matthew 1:21
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Matthew -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Grace in the Family Line (vv.3-6) — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba appear in Jesus' genealogy alongside their scandal, deception, and disgrace. Does anything in your past make you feel disqualified from being used by God?
  • God's Hand in the Long Story (v.17) — Matthew arranges the genealogy into three neat sets of fourteen generations, showing centuries of ordinary and broken lives moving toward God's appointed moment. How does seeing God's patience across generations shape your trust in His timing for your own life?
  • Mercy Over the Letter of the Law (v.19) — Joseph had the legal right to expose Mary publicly but chose to protect her quietly instead. Where do you have the right to expose or punish someone but mercy would be the better path?
  • Obedience Without a Roadmap (v.20) — Joseph received his guidance through a dream, with no verse of Scripture that spoke directly to his situation. How do you seek and trust God's direction when the Bible doesn't give you a clear-cut answer?
  • Saved From Sin, Not Just Circumstance (v.21) — The angel names Jesus' mission precisely: to save people from their sins, not merely their troubles. What sin do you most need Jesus to save you from right now?
  • Emmanuel: God With Us (v.23) — The virgin birth fulfills Isaiah's promise that God Himself would come to dwell among His people. What does it mean to you personally that God wanted to be with you enough to become one of us?