Matthew 1:17 kjv

So 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.

Matthew 1:17 nkjv

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Matthew 1:17 niv

Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

Matthew 1:17 esv

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

Matthew 1:17 nlt

All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.

Matthew 1 verses

Matthew 1 17 Meaning

Matthew 1:17 provides a structured summary of Jesus' lineage from Abraham to His birth, emphasizing three distinct periods of fourteen generations each. This literary device highlights God's sovereign hand guiding history toward the fulfillment of His promises, climactically arriving at the Anointed One, Jesus the Messiah. It underscores Jesus' legal right as heir to the throne of David and the inheritor of the Abrahamic covenant promises, demonstrating a meticulously planned divine timeline for salvation.

Matthew 1 17 Context

Matthew 1:17 functions as the concluding summary to Matthew's genealogical account (Matthew 1:1-16). Matthew begins his Gospel by immediately establishing Jesus' credentials, primarily for a Jewish audience. To demonstrate Jesus' identity as the Messiah, it was essential to prove His lineage from Abraham (father of the Jewish nation and recipient of God's covenant) and David (the royal ancestor through whom the Messiah was prophesied to come). The verse places Jesus firmly within the sweep of Israel's history, not as a sudden anomaly, but as the anticipated fulfillment of prophecies and divine planning over millennia. The specific demarcation of periods around David and the Babylonian Exile highlights key historical moments, one representing the zenith of Israelite power and covenant fulfillment (Davidic Kingdom), and the other a significant period of national judgment and hope for restoration (Exile).

Matthew 1 17 Word analysis

• So all (οὕτως πᾶσαι - houtōs pasai): Signifies "thus," or "in this manner, all." This introductory phrase indicates that the following statement is a conclusion derived from the preceding list of names (Mt 1:1-16). It summarizes the numerical pattern observed.
• the generations (αἱ γενεαί - hai geneai): From the Greek genea, meaning lineage, descent, or a span of time associated with a specific group of descendants. Here, it refers to periods or segments of the genealogy rather than just individual direct father-to-son links. Matthew's counting might skip individuals, a common practice in biblical and ancient genealogies when aiming for specific patterns or emphasis.
• from Abraham (ἀπὸ Ἀβραὰμ - apo Abraam): Marks the historical starting point, significant as Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation and the recipient of God's foundational covenant promises (Gen 12:1-3; 17:4-8). His call begins God's specific redemptive work through Israel.
• to David (ἕως Δαυὶδ - heōs Dauid): Designates King David as the pinnacle and central figure of the first historical epoch. David represents the establishment of the Israelite monarchy and the everlasting covenant God made with him (2 Sam 7:12-16) concerning his perpetual seed and kingdom.
• are fourteen generations (γενεαὶ δεκατέσσαρες - geneai dekatessares): This precise number is critical. Fourteen is the numerical value of the Hebrew letters of David's name (דוד - DWD): Dalet (ד) = 4, Vav (ו) = 6, Dalet (ד) = 4, summing to 14. This use of gematria (numerical equivalence of letters) or simply a symbolic pattern highlights David's centrality and Matthew's deliberate structure to emphasize Jesus' royal Davidic lineage.
• and from David (καὶ ἀπὸ Δαυὶδ - kai apo Dauid): This repetition clearly defines the transition and the beginning of the second distinct period of history, extending from Israel's monarchical glory.
• until the carrying away into Babylon (ἕως τῆς μετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος - heōs tēs metoikesias Babylōnos): Metapoikesia refers to the forced deportation or exile. The Babylonian Exile (586 BC) was a devastating national judgment for Israel's sin, marking the end of the Davidic monarchy's reign in Jerusalem and a pivotal turning point in Jewish history. It signifies a period of divine discipline and anticipation for restoration.
• are fourteen generations: Reinforces the patterned structure, demonstrating divine oversight even through periods of hardship and national decline.
• and from the carrying away into Babylon (καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς μετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος - kai apo tēs metoikesias Babylōnos): Marks the start of the third historical period, the post-exilic era, characterized by continued foreign domination and longing for the Messiah.
• unto Christ (ἕως τοῦ Χριστοῦ - heōs tou Christou): The ultimate culmination of the entire historical narrative. Christos (Χριστός) is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ), meaning "Anointed One." This explicitly declares Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, the divinely appointed King who fulfills all the Old Testament promises and expectations, especially those concerning David's throne.

Words-group analysis

• "from Abraham to David are fourteen generations": This first segment represents the foundational period of covenant promise, nation-building, and the establishment of God's chosen kingly line in Israel. It is the era of Genesis, Exodus, wilderness, judges, and early kingdom.
• "from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations": This second segment covers the history of the united and then divided kingdom of Israel/Judah, characterized by cycles of faithfulness and apostasy, prophetic warnings, and ultimately, divine judgment leading to exile. It shows God's continued working despite human failure.
• "from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations": The third segment spans the long and often obscure post-exilic period under various foreign powers (Persian, Greek, Roman), leading to the Messianic advent. This era highlights a period of waiting, longing, and quiet preparation by God until the "fullness of time" for His Son's incarnation.
• "fourteen generations" (repeated three times): The deliberate repetition of the number fourteen signifies Matthew's theological rather than strictly chronological intent. It emphasizes God's purposeful and orderly arrangement of salvation history. The three divisions might symbolize a divine unfolding or perhaps a chiasm pointing to Christ as the central and final figure in this carefully orchestrated sequence, ensuring His messianic identity as the promised Son of David.

Matthew 1 17 Bonus section

• Symbolic, Not Strictly Exhaustive: Matthew's genealogy, and this summary, are theological constructs designed for demonstrating Messianic claims rather than complete historical listings. To achieve the precise three sets of fourteen, Matthew strategically omits several names found in Old Testament genealogies (e.g., three kings between Joram and Uzziah). This was a recognized Jewish literary convention and does not diminish the veracity of the lineage itself, but rather highlights Matthew's purposeful structuring for emphasis.
• Chiastic/Symmetric Structure: The triple repetition of "fourteen generations" creates a sense of symmetry and divine order. This chiastic (ABA') or parallel structure serves to affirm the purposeful flow of salvation history and draws a clear line from Abraham, through David and the Exile, to the anticipated Messiah.
• Legal Lineage Through Joseph: This genealogy traces Jesus' legal right to the Davidic throne through His adopted father, Joseph, as he was legally considered Joseph's son, granting him a legitimate claim. Luke's genealogy, by contrast, traces Mary's lineage, showing Jesus' biological descent. Both genealogies validate Jesus' Davidic ancestry from different, yet complementary, perspectives.

Matthew 1 17 Commentary

Matthew 1:17 concisely wraps up Jesus' genealogy, stressing its divine design and profound theological significance. The structure of three groups of fourteen generations serves to highlight God's sovereign hand guiding history toward the coming of Christ. This arrangement emphasizes Jesus' undeniable identity as the Abrahamic Seed through whom all nations are blessed and, most prominently, the promised Son of David—the rightful heir to Israel's eternal throne. Even periods of national decline like the Babylonian Exile are shown to be part of God's larger, unbreakable plan. This genealogical summary assures the Jewish reader that Jesus is not an unexpected figure, but the meticulously prepared climax of Israel's spiritual history and covenant promises. It powerfully establishes the authority and authenticity of the Messiah whose story Matthew is about to tell.