Matthew 1:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,

NIV: Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,

NASB: Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon.

CSB: Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon,

NLT: Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon.

KJV: And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

NKJV: Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.

Matthew is tracing the line of Jesus from Abraham through David all the way to Joseph and Mary. During this time, his genealogy was very likely verifiable in Israel's historical records, in addition to several books in the Old Testament Scriptures. Ancestry was key to Jewish identity and even their worship. In other words, Matthew's Jewish readers would not likely have disputed any of the lineage he has presented so far.

In addition, it was common in a genealogy such as this to skip generations as a shorthand and for easy memorization. So it may be that when Matthew writes that Ram was the father of Amminadab (as does 1 Chronicles 2:10), he means that Ram was a direct ancestor of Amminadab and not necessarily his first birth father. This is likely the same Amminadab and Nahshon mentioned as being the father-in-law and brother-in-law of Moses' brother Aaron in Exodus 6:23. That means that four generations and about 400–450 years passed from Judah's son Perez to Amminadab.

Amminadab, though, was the direct father of Nahshon, called the "prince of the sons of Judah" in 1 Chronicles 2:10. Nahshon was the father of Salmon.

Matthew 1:1–17 begins the apostle Matthew's long Gospel with a short genealogy of Jesus Christ, beginning with Abraham. Matthew does not include every generation, but instead creates three groups of fourteen names: Abraham to King David; David to Josiah; and Jechoniah to Jesus. Matthew shows that Jesus is the direct descendant of both Abraham and David, qualifying His legal right to sit on Israel's throne. Matthew would not need to have listed the women, blatant sinners, or evil kings that he does, but the point of his Gospel is that Jesus has come to save His people from their sins. As a former tax-collector, hated by fellow Jews, this idea would have resonated strongly with Matthew.

The apostle Matthew begins his telling of Jesus' life with a genealogy. This is meant to show that Jesus is directly descended from both Abraham and King David, making Him a legal heir to the throne of Israel. He then tells the story of Jesus' birth from the perspective of Joseph, Mary's husband. Joseph had planned to divorce the woman he was betrothed to marry, once he found out she was carrying a child that wasn't his. God interrupts this plan. An angel tells Joseph in a dream that the child is from the Holy Spirit and commands Joseph to name Him Jesus, since He will save His people from their sins. Joseph obeys.

One of the original twelve disciples, Matthew begins his telling of Jesus' life with a genealogy and Jesus' birth. The listing of Jesus' ancestors shows how Jesus is directly descended from both Abraham and King David, but it also includes then-unlikely inclusions, such as women, blatant sinners, and evil kings. Instead of divorcing Mary, Joseph obeys God and takes her home. Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin birth of Immanuel, a term meaning ''God with us,'' is fulfilled. This sets the stage for pivotal events in Jesus' infancy, such as the arrival of wise men and the family's escape into Egypt.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.