Matthew 1:21 kjv

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21 nkjv

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21 niv

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21 esv

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21 nlt

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1 verses

Matthew 1 21 Meaning

Matthew 1:21 declares the divine instruction for the naming of Mary's son and the profound reason for it: "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." This verse encapsulates Jesus' identity, his mission, and the essence of the salvation he brings. It presents him not primarily as a political or military deliverer, as many expected of the Messiah, but specifically as a savior from the pervasive spiritual bondage of sin. The naming of "Jesus" directly reveals his ultimate purpose: to effectuate spiritual salvation.

Matthew 1 21 Context

Matthew chapter 1 begins the Gospel with Jesus' genealogy, tracing his lineage through Joseph to Abraham and David, thereby establishing his rightful claim as the Messiah, the son of David. This lineage includes surprising and unexpected women, hinting at God's broader plan. The immediate context of verse 21 follows Joseph's dilemma regarding Mary's pregnancy before their marriage. Joseph, a righteous man, decided to divorce her quietly. It is in this crisis that an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, confirming Mary's immaculate conception by the Holy Spirit and giving the specific instruction concerning the child's name and purpose. This angelic announcement reorients Joseph's understanding and sets the stage for Matthew's portrayal of Jesus' identity and mission, framed largely by fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (cf. Matt 1:22-23 for the "Immanuel" prophecy). Historically, the Jewish people lived under Roman occupation, eagerly awaiting a Messiah, whom many conceived of as a powerful political figure who would liberate Israel from foreign rule and restore national sovereignty. Matthew 1:21 subtly re-directs this expectation by defining the Messiah's primary role as a spiritual one, saving his people from the deeper, more pervasive enemy: sin. This emphasis establishes a direct polemic against prevailing Messianic beliefs that overlooked the spiritual plight of humanity.

Matthew 1 21 Word analysis

• She will bear (τέξεται - texetai): Greek verb in the future tense, indicating a definite future event. It signifies Mary's biological motherhood, even in the context of a supernatural conception, underscoring Jesus' full humanity. This echoes Old Testament prophecies of the virgin birth.
• a son (υἱόν - huion): Refers to the male child, critical for dynastic lineage in Jewish culture and prophetic fulfillment (e.g., Ps 2:7, Isa 9:6). This term also carries significant theological weight, later expanding to express Jesus' unique divine sonship.
• and you shall call (καλέσεις - kaleseis): Future tense verb, a divine imperative addressed specifically to Joseph. In ancient Jewish culture, the naming of a child, especially by God's decree, signifies divine ownership, purpose, and destiny. Joseph, as Jesus' legal father, is given this responsibility.
• his name (τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ - to onoma autou): In ancient thought, a name was not merely an identifier but often revealed the essence, character, and destiny of a person. To "call his name" reflects his inherent being and mission.
• Jesus (Ἰησοῦν - Iēsoun): The Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) or Yehoshua (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ). The name means "Yahweh saves" or "Yahweh is salvation." This name is deeply significant as it directly anticipates and reveals the child's ultimate purpose and identity as the Divine Savior. The direct link between the name and mission ("for he will save") makes this declaration uniquely powerful.
• for he will save (αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει - autos gar sōsei):
  • He (αὐτὸς - autos): Emphatic pronoun, stressing that He himself, Jesus alone, will accomplish this salvation, distinguishing him from other saviors (e.g., judges, kings).
  • will save (σώσει - sōsei): Future active verb, indicating a certain, ongoing, and powerful act of salvation. This emphasizes Jesus' saving agency.
• his people (τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ - ton laon autou):
  • Initially referring to Israel, God's chosen covenant people. However, throughout the New Testament, "his people" expands beyond ethnic Israel to include all who believe in Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile (cf. Rom 9:25-26, 1 Pet 2:9-10). It signifies a corporate body, united by covenant through Christ.
• from their sins (ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν - apo tōn hamartiōn autōn):
  • from (ἀπὸ - apo): Indicates liberation, deliverance from.
  • their sins (τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν - tōn hamartiōn autōn): Hamartia (ἁμαρτία) in Greek means "missing the mark," failing to meet God's standard or violating His law. This clarifies the nature of Jesus' salvation: not from political oppression, but from the spiritual bondage, guilt, power, and ultimately, the penalty of sin, which is death. This highlights the foundational human problem Jesus came to address.
• Word-group analysis: "Jesus, for he will save": This phrase directly connects the Messiah's person with his primary mission. His name IS his purpose. The very etymology of "Jesus" ("Yahweh saves") defines his identity and function, underscoring divine intentionality in His being named.
• Word-group analysis: "save his people from their sins": This defines the unique nature of Jesus' salvific work, contrasting sharply with worldly expectations. His kingdom would not be primarily a physical deliverance, but a profound spiritual liberation from the core human problem—sin. This declaration sets the entire trajectory of the gospel narrative, emphasizing atonement and reconciliation.

Matthew 1 21 Bonus section

• The angelic message to Joseph in a dream emphasizes divine communication and guidance in the early stages of Jesus' life, legitimizing his divine origin and mission from the very outset of Matthew's narrative.
• The selection of Joseph, a "righteous man," as the earthly guardian and legal father figure, highlights God's choice of instruments who act with integrity, even in perplexing circumstances, demonstrating the purity and justice surrounding the advent of Christ.
• This verse can be seen as an immediate interpretation and fulfillment of the preceding genealogy: the promised "Son of David" would bring a spiritual rather than merely a geopolitical kingdom, delivering his people from their deepest enemy.
• The precise focus on "sins" establishes that God's ultimate confrontation is not with human governments or systems, but with the rebellion of the human heart against its Creator, a rebellion which Jesus definitively overcomes through his atoning work.

Matthew 1 21 Commentary

Matthew 1:21 is a pivotal statement, concise yet loaded with theological meaning. It establishes Jesus' identity not just as the long-awaited Messiah (a descendant of David and Abraham), but specifically as the divine "Savior." The angelic pronouncement to Joseph—mirroring an earlier one to Mary in Luke's account—underscores God's sovereignty and precise plan. The name "Jesus" is not arbitrary; it's a prophetic declaration. His very being embodies the salvation of God. This salvation is defined as deliverance "from their sins," indicating a radical, spiritual transformation and liberation, distinct from socio-political redemption. This immediate clarification of Jesus' purpose at the very beginning of the Gospel guides the reader's understanding of his life, death, and resurrection as a comprehensive act of redemption from the pervasive human condition of sin and its consequences. It reveals the depth of God's grace and love, addressing humanity's greatest need.