Matthew 1:3 kjv

And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

Matthew 1:3 nkjv

Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.

Matthew 1:3 niv

Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,

Matthew 1:3 esv

and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,

Matthew 1:3 nlt

Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar).
Perez was the father of Hezron.
Hezron was the father of Ram.

Matthew 1 verses

Matthew 1 3 Meaning

Matthew 1:3 traces the continuation of the Messianic lineage through Judah, specifying his sons Perez and Zerah by Tamar. It then lists Perez as the father of Hezron, and Hezron as the father of Ram, highlighting key individuals in the ancestral line leading to King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ. This verse underscores God's meticulous preservation of His promises through specific families, even amidst complex or unconventional circumstances like Tamar's story.

Matthew 1 3 Context

Matthew 1:3 is an integral part of Matthew's carefully structured genealogy of Jesus Christ, specifically falling within the first of three sections (Abraham to David). The primary purpose of this genealogy is to establish Jesus' rightful claim to be the Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. By tracing Jesus' lineage back to Abraham and David, Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited King and the culmination of God's covenant promises. The inclusion of figures like Judah, Perez, and Tamar, particularly the detail about Tamar's unconventional role, immediately signals that God's work of salvation does not adhere to typical human expectations or perfect moral lineage. This genealogy, unlike other traditional lists, notably includes four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and "the wife of Uriah," Bathsheba), each linked to unusual or scandalous circumstances. Their presence serves to highlight God's grace working through flawed human beings and to prepare the reader for the unconventional birth of Jesus himself. For the original Jewish audience, this genealogy asserted Jesus' legitimacy while also subtly hinting at a broader, more inclusive understanding of God's redemptive plan that transcends purely "clean" or "predictable" lineages.

Matthew 1 3 Word Analysis

• Judah (Ἰούδας - Ioudas): The fourth son of Jacob and Leah. His tribe became preeminent, receiving Jacob's blessing concerning kingship and messianic rule (Gen 49:8-12). He represents the specific tribal lineage through which the Messiah was prophesied to come (Heb 7:14). His inclusion signifies adherence to prophecies of a Judahite Messiah.
• the father of (ἐγέννησεν - egennesen): Literally "he begot" or "he fathered." This common Greek verb used throughout the genealogy signifies direct biological parentage, emphasizing the unbroken lineal descent.
• Perez (Φάρες - Phares) and Zerah (Ζάρα - Zara): Twin sons born to Tamar by Judah. Their birth story in Gen 38 is unconventional; Perez "burst forth" first despite Zerah initially showing his hand. This details God's sovereign choice and action over human expectation, much like Jacob chosen over Esau. Perez's line, not Zerah's, continues the Messianic lineage, as confirmed in Ruth and 1 Chronicles.
• by Tamar (ἐκ τῆς Θάμαρ - ek tēs Thamar): The explicit mention of Tamar is highly significant. Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law, who disguised herself as a prostitute to bear Judah children when he failed to provide her with an heir (Gen 38). Her story highlights:
  • God's Sovereignty: God's plan is accomplished even through complex and morally ambiguous circumstances, demonstrating divine providence over human frailty and even sin.
  • Unconventional Inclusions: Tamar is one of four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and "the wife of Uriah") explicitly named in Matthew's otherwise patriarchal genealogy. All four women have unconventional or scandalous elements in their background (Gentile status, prostitution, incest/adultery context). Their inclusion foreshadows the breaking of societal norms by Jesus' gospel and the universal scope of God's grace.
  • Faithfulness to Lineage: Despite her method, Tamar acted to preserve the lineage, highlighting the critical importance of a continued seed.
• and Perez the father of Hezron (Φάρες δὲ ἐγέννησεν Ἑσρώμ - Phares de egennesen Hēsrom): Reinforces the specific chosen line from Perez. Hezron is an essential link, appearing in Ruth 4 and 1 Chr 2 as part of the continuation toward David.
• and Hezron the father of Ram (Ἑσρὼμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν Ἀράμ - Hēsrom de egennesen Aram): Another direct link in the pre-Davidic lineage. Ram (also known as Aram in Luke's genealogy and elsewhere) is consistently present in the genealogies, confirming the line's stability.

Matthew 1 3 Bonus Section

• Messianic Implication of Tamar's Story: Rabbinic literature sometimes debates Tamar's actions. However, her inclusion in the Messiah's line legitimizes her in a profound way within a theological context. Her zeal for a divinely ordained lineage through Judah, though unconventional, could be seen as aligning with God's ultimate plan, securing the continuity of the chosen seed.
• God's Overriding Sovereignty: The sequence of Perez coming forth first over Zerah, who initially appeared to be the firstborn, is a recurrent motif in biblical genealogies (e.g., Jacob and Esau, Ephraim and Manasseh, David chosen over his older brothers). It consistently emphasizes God's sovereign choice over human logic or tradition, highlighting that God chooses according to His divine will, not according to man's order.
• Foreshadowing the Gentiles: The presence of Tamar, possibly a Canaanite, in this key section of the genealogy serves as an early indication of the future inclusion of Gentiles in God's covenant blessings, a theme central to Matthew's gospel and Jesus' ministry (Mt 28:19).

Matthew 1 3 Commentary

Matthew 1:3 concisely continues the critical Messianic genealogy, bringing into focus Judah, the ancestral father of the kingly tribe. The precise mention of "Perez and Zerah by Tamar" is deeply significant. This highlights that God's sovereign plan for redemption operates outside conventional boundaries. Tamar, through her seemingly scandalous but contextually driven actions, secures the very lineage of Christ, showing God's ability to use unexpected vessels and unorthodox circumstances to accomplish His divine purposes. Her inclusion, along with other "irregular" women in Matthew's list (Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba), powerfully prefigures the inclusive, grace-filled nature of the New Covenant—that salvation extends beyond the conventionally righteous and embraces all who come to God, regardless of background. The specific continuation through Perez, the "breaker forth," over his twin Zerah, also subtly underscores God's elective choice and priority for His sovereign plan over birth order or human expectations. The naming of Hezron and Ram then establishes the steady, unbroken continuation of the divinely preserved line, reaffirming the faithfulness of God through generations. This verse teaches us that God’s redemptive narrative is interwoven with human history in all its messy reality, yet it infallibly moves towards the fulfillment of His promises.