Matthew 1:15 kjv

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

Matthew 1:15 nkjv

Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.

Matthew 1:15 niv

Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,

Matthew 1:15 esv

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

Matthew 1:15 nlt

Eliud was the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar was the father of Matthan.
Matthan was the father of Jacob.

Matthew 1 verses

Matthew 1 15 Meaning

Matthew 1:15 lists a segment of the patriarchal line, stating that "Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob." This verse meticulously continues the lineage of Joseph, the legal father of Jesus Christ, providing an unbroken chain of ancestry from the time of the return from Babylon to the generation immediately preceding Joseph. It highlights the divine faithfulness in preserving the designated line through seemingly ordinary individuals, fulfilling the covenant promises.

Matthew 1 15 Context

Matthew 1:15 is an integral part of Matthew's opening chapter, which begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ, emphasizing His lineage from Abraham through David. This specific verse falls within the third division of Matthew's fourteen-generation schema (Matthew 1:17), which spans from the Babylonian exile to the time of Jesus. Historically, precise genealogies were crucial in ancient Jewish society for proving one's identity, tribal affiliation, rights to inheritance, and especially, claims to the Messiahship for a descendant of David. Matthew's account here, differing from Luke's for this specific section, is widely understood to trace Joseph's legal lineage, thereby establishing Jesus' legal claim to the Davidic throne through His adoptive father. The inclusion of names otherwise unknown in Scripture underscores the meticulous record-keeping of the period and God's consistent work through successive generations to bring about His plan.

Matthew 1 15 Word analysis

• Eliud (Ελιούδ, Elioud): A Greek transliteration of a Hebrew name, likely meaning "God of majesty" or "God is my praise." Outside of this genealogy, Eliud is not mentioned in other biblical narratives. His presence here signifies a link in the human chain leading to the Messiah. The obscurity of this and other names emphasizes that God works through ordinary people across generations to fulfill His extraordinary promises.
• fathered (ἐγέννησεν, egennēsen): This verb means "begat," "sired," or "to give birth to." In genealogies, it primarily denotes lineal descent, indicating the male parent in a succession. Its repeated use highlights the unbroken physical and legal lineage necessary to fulfill the covenant promises to Abraham and David, demonstrating the faithfulness of God through consistent, generational reproduction.
• Eleazar (Ελεάζαρ, Eleazar): Another Greek form of a Hebrew name, meaning "God has helped." Like Eliud, this individual is unknown beyond Matthew's genealogy. His inclusion continues the theme of God using ordinary, unrenowned figures to accomplish His divine purpose, underscoring that every generation plays a part in His larger story.
• Matthan (Μαθθάν, Matthan): A Greek transliteration of a Hebrew name, possibly derived from "gift." Also not mentioned elsewhere in biblical narrative. His position signifies the continuous and successive unfolding of God's redemptive plan through an unbroken line of fathers and sons, providing further testimony to the authenticity and detailed nature of Christ's heritage.
• Jacob (Ἰακώβ, Iakōb): A Greek form of the Hebrew "Ya'akov," the name means "supplanter" or "he grasps the heel." This is not the patriarch Jacob, but rather the immediate biological father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. The naming convention links this Jacob to the great patriarch, perhaps subtly emphasizing continuity in God's covenant dealings across millennia, even for individuals whose personal stories are not elaborated upon. Jacob's role here is crucial as the final human link in the male-lineage of Joseph.

• "Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, Matthan fathered Jacob": This repetitive, almost formulaic structure underscores the precise, linear progression of the lineage. It highlights continuity and divine providence. Each individual, regardless of personal renown, was a vital, chosen link in God's plan for the Messiah's ancestry. This pattern firmly establishes the genealogical claim without introducing additional commentary, providing a factual basis for Jesus' legal right to the throne of David. The unbroken sequence implicitly affirms God's consistent work across the generations, maintaining the specific ancestral line through which the promised Savior would come.

Matthew 1 15 Bonus section

Matthew's careful inclusion of these specific names, despite their absence from other Old Testament records, suggests the availability and reliability of genealogical records accessible to early Jewish Christians. This detail supports Jesus' legitimate claim as the descendant of David, fulfilling prophecies that stated the Messiah would come from this specific royal lineage. The verse also stands in contrast to the later verses in Matthew's genealogy where he highlights significant breaks or events, here, it's a simple, uninterrupted chain, indicating God's persistent oversight of the details of history.

Matthew 1 15 Commentary

Matthew 1:15 is a terse statement within a pivotal genealogy. It provides three more links in the seemingly ordinary but divinely ordained chain leading to Jesus the Messiah. The individuals—Eliud, Eleazar, Matthan, and Jacob—are not celebrated figures; they are quiet custodians of a promise, serving as tangible proof of God's enduring faithfulness through the generations following the exile. This verse underscores that God’s redemptive plan progresses through human history, often involving unheralded men and their familial connections. It solidifies the legal claim to David's throne through Joseph, the husband of Mary, ensuring Jesus' undisputed messianic heritage according to the Jewish understanding of lineage.