but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
- KJV And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
- BSB But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
- NKJV and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
- NLT But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
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
Joseph refrains from marital relations with Mary until Jesus is born, then names the child Jesus. He honors the virgin birth and obeys the angel's command.
Overview
Matthew underscores that Jesus' conception was wholly the work of the Spirit, with no human father involved. The phrase "until she had given birth" is most naturally read as implying normal marriage afterward, though some Christian traditions hold Mary's perpetual virginity; faithful believers differ here. By naming the child Jesus, Joseph publicly claims him as his own legal son and heir of David.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Luke 2:21When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
- 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.
- Matt 1:21She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
- Exod 22:29“You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. “You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me.
- Exod 13:2“Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.”
- Rom 8:29For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
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 1:25 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
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