Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Parallel translations
- KJV And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
- BSB and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
- NKJV And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.
- NASB Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
- NLT Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The line ends not "Joseph the father of Jesus" but with Jesus born of Mary, Joseph's wife. The careful wording guards the truth of the virgin birth.
Overview
Matthew breaks the pattern of "became the father of" to avoid saying Joseph physically fathered Jesus. Joseph is named as Mary's husband, giving Jesus legal Davidic descent, while "from whom" (referring to Mary) preserves that Jesus was born of her alone. "Who is called Christ" identifies him as the long-awaited Anointed One toward whom the whole genealogy pointed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 27:17When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?”
- Luke 3:23Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
- John 4:25The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah comes, he who is called Christ. When he has come, he will declare to us all things.”
- Matt 27:22Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
- Luke 1:31–35Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’
- Mark 6:3Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were offended at him.
- Matt 2:13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
- Luke 1:27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.
- Luke 2:48When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”
- Luke 2:7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
- Luke 4:22All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
- Luke 2:10–11The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
- Luke 2:4–5Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
- Matt 1:18–25Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Pastoral
On the genealogy and the name Immanuel.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 1:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.